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Accuracy & fact-checking
Tips for Fact Checking - Web style Guide
Northern Ireland's government gives advice on fact checking and ways to
improve accuracy. Specifically, tips are offered for self-editing and
fact checking, with emphasis on providing documentation and correctly
publishing sources.
ASNE handbook - Accuracy section
As part of the American Society of Newspaper Editor's handbook on
journalism, the "Details Matter" section is presented as a combination
of personal anecdotes, advice and techniques to improve journalistic
accuracy. Featured are checklists for writers to reference while
putting together a story, as well as fact-checking statistics and help.
American Press Institute Fact-Checking Resources
Here’s a collection of links to resources that aid in fact checking.
Though mainly pertaining to political issues and politicians, also
included are language, biographical and geographical reference tools.
Fact Checking Tips and Pitfalls
Aimed primarily at reporters, but also journalists and writers of all
backgrounds, The News and Observer, a North Carolina newspaper,
presents a checklist of accuracy tips as well as potential pitfalls.
The newspaper encourages journalists to "find a routine" for
fact-checking that "works for you," while offering general background
information as well.
Fact Checkers and Copy Editors
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Park Library offers
advice on "smart, safe and efficient fact checking" to encourage
greater accuracy. Offering advice on how to carry out research,
websites to find resources and links to professional fact checkers,
this presentation offers a wealth of resources.
My Research Needs Dot Com
Here’s a fee-based service for new and aspiring writers that offers
them the chance to work with a professional fact checker. Katrina
O’Brien offers fact checking, research, interview, image search and
several other background investigation services.
Media Fact Checker
Given a list of myths and actual facts, users are given the chance to
pick out the true information and separate it from misinterpreted data.
ResponsibleOpposing.com's Media Fact Checker presents journalists and
writers with examples of media hoaxes and exaggerations that are easily
debunked through fact checking.
Fast Fact Check
The library in Arlington, Virginia, offers a list of resources for
quick fact checking, mostly of a political nature. Categories of
resources include political information, directories, and reference
books and websites.
Poynter Online: Getting it Right - A Passion for Accuracy
Poynter Online offers not only many accuracy guidelines but also
personal anecdotes and links to other websites to promote improved
accuracy practices. In this article, Chip Scanlan offers practical
advice to fellow journalists to increase the accuracy level of any
piece.
O'Reilly Digital Media: 10 Journalism Tips for E-Writers
Even online journalists and bloggers sometimes need pointers on how to
write a better story. These tips offer advice on accuracy and
organization as well as several other related topics.
Publicity Hound's Accuracy Tips
A short article that contains relevant tips for those engaging in
interviews with contacts. Pre- and post-interview guidelines and
checklists along with corresponding links to other helpful material are
provided, as is a collection of suggestions about how a journalist
should carry him/herself during an interview.
Is That a Fact?
Though designed primarily for students, journalists of any age can
stand to benefit from the pointers and advice offered by
Classroomtools.com. In addition, the site also offers 13 how-to
examples of fact-checking and accuracy tests.
Accuracy in Media
Accuracy in Media strives "for fairness, balance and accuracy in news
reporting" and posts several stories a week on various topics that
illustrate this commitment. Unlike other sites, this page and its
related content are best used as examples of accuracy in the media
rather than as a collection of helpful hints and tips.
Delusions of Accuracy
In an article for the Columbia Journalism Review, Ariel Hart suggests
we should become more comfortable with the fact that we make mistakes -
and more open about admitting and correcting them.
Thoroughness
J-Lab
J-Lab says it "helps news organizations and citizens use new
information ideas ... to develop new ways for people to engage in
critical public policy issues." To this end, the site provides case
studies of political issues from the media (many of these are
multi-media and interactive), as well as blogs and podcasts with a
similar function. Additionally, a half dozen examples of participatory
content on websites are listed as a means of providing an example for
those seeking to take the Web to the next level.
Brandeis University's Institute for Investigative Journalism
Brandeis University's Institute for Investigative Journalism provides
case studies for citizen journalists who seek to promote thoroughness
and accuracy in their work. Additionally, the site offers a special
section for students, along with areas of emphasis that include
political/social/gender justice projects and an examination of flaws in
the mainstream media. Offline, the Institute also has internships
devoted to budding citizen journalists, and offers programs in which
students can learn more about investigative journalism and research
techniques.
Diversity Toolbox
The Society of Professional Journalists provides a list of tips and
recommendations for journalists trying to provide fair and balanced
coverage of any story. "This is not at all about being politically
correct; it’s about doing good journalism. Fair, accurate, balanced,
solid and thorough journalism."
Journalism and Mass Communication Resources
Combining links from dozens of websites and listing them under several
distinct categories (CyberJournalism, Gender relations, Media Law,
etc.), this site at the University of Iowa is an excellent starting
point for citizen journalists who seek to learn more about the subjects
of their stories. The wealth of links listed here provide a useful
resource for the promotion of thorough and accurate writing.
Research Databases from CSU Long Beach
Though designed primarily for CSU Long Beach students, this site serves
as a guide for various internet resources, databases to locate
articles, and other research tools. The goal of the site is to "provide
a comprehensive starting point for research in the field of
journalism," and to promote thoroughness in citizen journalism.
Research in Journalism and Communication, University of Oregon
This site is a repository for other databases that can help journalists
in researching the topics of their stories. Pointers include not only
web resources but also links to databases for finding scholarly
articles, contacting experts and doing basic background research on
almost any topic.
Journalistic Research at University of Oregon
Research is integral to maintaining journalistic thoroughness, and this
site provides (in PDF form) a list of tips as well as a walk-through of
how to compile information that can be used to write an article or
story. The document contains not only a list of questions that can be
used as a guide for obtaining relevant and practical background
material but also a list of potential research tools and tips.
Journalist Express
The Journalist Express serves as a central collection of links to
various news organizations and websites that can be used to obtain
background information for a news article or story. Though the sources
presented here are mainly in the mainstream media, a few citizen
journalism and other sites are also present.
CyberJournalist.net SuperSearch
CyberJournalist.net's SuperSearch feature allows users to easily comb
through encyclopedia, major news sites, citizen journalist sites or
major search engines to find out more about a subject. By condensing so
many resources into a single page, the SuperSearch tool can be
extremely useful for performing background research on almost any
topic.
Web Resources for Journalists
Unlike other resource mongers, this site has links to online resources
only. These range in type from search engines, to reporting tools, to
legal resources to the Internet Movie DataBase (IMDB). All are
potentially useful tools for ensuring a greater degree of thoroughness
and accuracy in citizen journalism.
Completeness and Exclusion in Journalism Ethics
This site provides a case study in which journalistic integrity and
thoroughness were not maintained, and serves as an example of "what not
to do." While the article itself originates from the Journal of Mass
Media Ethics, its implications and high regard for journalistic
integrity are universal and equally applicable today.
Webtips
This site contains the "25 most useful resources" for journalists
seeking to improve the depth and accuracy of their stories. For
journalists looking to learn more about their quarry or to find out
background material, the site is equally valuable. Setting Webtips
apart from other collections of links is its list of hints and tips
that accompany each link.
Web Resources for Newsrooms
Though ostensibly designed with TV news reporting in mind, this site
provides a plethora of online research tools to aid journalists in any
field to better find what they need. The databases include UC's
Datamine, guides to almanacs and encyclopedias, and the requisite
search tool for use with mass media news sites.
Journalism Publications and Resources for Writers
With a small collection of links to various international newspapers,
the Sun Oasis site is best suited to journalists seeking to write or
learn more about international affairs. The site also has a special
resource section devoted to 9/11 that contains links to articles and
resources regarding both the attack and the war on terrorism.
Journalism Research Pages
The API provides a list of citizen journalist pages for reference
purposes and to help writers learn about current events without the
bias of the mass media. The collection is especially notable for its
emphasis on facilitating independent resources rather than CNN or other
"big name" sites.
nuzGeeks.com
NuzGeeks provides a database of videos, articles and other publications
devoted to improving thoroughness in citizen journalism and exposing
shortcomings in the mass media. Its strongest point is the inclusion of
audio and video tools to help facilitate an understanding of what's
needed in citizen journalism.
No Frills Jumplist
As produced by San Francisco State University's Journalism School, the
No Frills Jumplist provides links to online reference works, local
government websites, a "people finder" link and links to most major
news media organizations. In addition, it links to sites designed to
specifically help journalists achieve the goal of more balanced and
thorough reporting.
Fairness
Webdiary Ethics
An Austrialian blogger presents his professional journalistic code of
ethics in this piece. Though placed in the "Fairness" section, this
article could rightly be placed under almost any of our modules due to
its emphasis on all five principles that we hope citizen journalists
will internalize. The code of ethics as presented here is in the form
of two lists: one that the author expects from himself as a journalist,
and the other of what he expects from his contacts. All tips presented
are useful and encourage respect and fairness toward sources and fellow
journalists alike.
ASNE: JVI Values: Fairness and Balance
The American Society of Newspaper Editors provides a list of ways
providing fairness and balance in citizen journalism. Also provided are
tips for aspiring journalists and professionals, as well as ways of
improving balanced coverage in of controversial topics in the media.
Rethinking Objectivity
As authors such as Dan Gillmor maintain, objectivity in news reporting
is nearly impossible to achieve. This article explores the
ramifications of this perspective against the backdrop of the war on
terror and other contemporary news issues. The piece’s author, Brent
Cunningham, does not entirely dismiss the importance of objectivity to
journalism (citizen and otherwise) but instead calls for a different
kind of objectivity when pursuing highly contested media events.
Journalism and Objectivity
Fairness, journalism and objectivity are deconstructed from the point
of view of a journalist blogger in this erudite essay. A comparison
between forms of objectivity and fairness in more traditional forms of
media and contemporary, internet journalism are presented as well.
Fairness.com
Fairness.com is an overarching website that includes dozens of links to
news stories with case studies in media fairness. In their own words,
"Fairness.com provides database resources, message boards, and
searchable article links for exploring virtually any fairness-related
topic."
Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting
This website features articles exploring fairness in several
categories, with dozens of real-life examples of unfair or unbalanced
reporting. Topics include the war in Iraq, the conflict in the Middle
East, and immigration in the United States. In addition to these case
studies, the site also serves as a repository for articles in the media
that are critical of current mass media biases.
AIM: Accuracy In Media
AIM is a citizen media group designed to encourage accuracy and balance
in mass media as well as among grassroots groups. AIM provides case
studies and commentaries as well as a host of regular columnists and
blogs regarding the aforementioned journalistic practices. Though it
lacks any list of tips for journalists seeking fairness and balance,
the site makes up for this in the sheer volume and number of columns
and examples presented.
Rhetorica: Media and Political Bias
Rhetorica is devoted to detecting bias in the media and in politics.
The site offers a checklist of "Critical Questions for Detecting Bias"
as well as a structural breakdown of types of bias in the mass media.
In addition, a theoretical approach to bias prevention and a raison
d'etre for the practice of fairness assertion are offered.
The Hill.com: Media fairness and elections
The Hill, the newspaper for and about Congress, presents a series of
examples exposing and explaining political biases in the media, with
commentary from both the conservative and liberal sides of the issue.
Common Dreams: Fairness and accuracy in reporting
Common Dreams offers another example of bias in the mass media from a
political perspective. The media advisory presented here addresses
problems with coverage of the Iraq War and examines the American
response to revelations that Iraq did not possess weapons of mass
destruction.
The Free Press
The Free Press is an online news magazine devoted to promoting fairness
in the media and to producing its own articles that meet a high degree
of accuracy and balance. Putting out its own "columns and dispatches,"
the Free Press addresses the issues of journalistic integrity while
also presenting numerous case studies that demonstrate what to do and
what not to do as a journalist.
Media Research Center
The Media Research Center offers not only case studies in media bias,
but also assessments and extensive analyses of topics related to media
balance and bias. Their "Media Bias Basics" walk users through the
finer points of fairness in the media and each offers an extensive
study on each topic complete with statistics and history. Notably, the
site also offers a wealth of case studies in media bias through the use
of posting videos, an exceptionally useful multimedia tool. The videos
can be found here.
Fairpress.org: Citizens Coalition for Responsible Media
Fairpress.org examines bias in the media through blogs, case studies
and the "Media Bias Outrage of the Week," a column devoted to pointing
out the most egregious acts of unbalanced coverage in the mass media.
Notably, these also take the form of both video feeds and written
articles, enhancing the multimedia quality of the site.
Media Awareness Network: How to Detect Bias in the News
Unlike other sites devoted to asserting and pointing out media biases,
the Media Awareness Network instead offers guidelines and tips for
aspiring journalists seeking to eliminate bias in their work, while
also offering a checklist of ways in which both journalists and
observers can find bias in the newspaper and online. Though the link
here is only to a checklist/handout, other, similar articles are also
available from the handout's parent site.
AlterNet
AlterNet.org, a venerable site for exploring bias and accuracy problems
with the mass media, has added a new dimension with AlterNet Video, a
section of the site devoted to exposing bias from a multimedia
perspective. The site may be useful not only in disseminating case
studies in media biases, but also as a teaching tool, as the site
provides a daily stream of articles and blogs devoted to the same ends.
Transparency
Our Media Voice: Campaign for Accountability
With a focus on broadcast television, Our Media Voice points out bias
in the mainstream media, as well as instances in which transparency is
absent. "Our media, owned by only a handful of conglomerates, has a
profound influence upon our society. They have created a universal
culture that shapes how we see our world and drives public opinion and
public policy," the site says. Unlike other media outlets, Our Media
Voice also promotes citizen journalism through an emphasis on feedback
from readers and journalists alike.
CyberJournalist.net: Media Transparency
Here’s a repository of resources for citizen journalists looking for
more information in transparency in the mass media and among fellow
bloggers and other citizen journalists. Additionally, the site features
case studies as well as news articles related to the topics of
transparency in blogging and citizen media reports.
Media Matters
Media Matters is a progressive website that aims to "systematically
monitor a cross section of print, broadcast, cable, radio and Internet
media outlets for conservative misinformation" and bias. To this end,
the site presents numerous examples of conservative influence over the
mainstream media through several different forms of presentation:
video, audio and print. These case studies are integral to citizen
journalists seeking to point out (or avoid) the biases inherent in the
mainstream media.
FEMA's Dirty Little Secret
A trailer park housing refugees in the wake of Hurricane Katrina serves
as a backdrop for this case study, as it examines the topic of
transparency in news reports originating with the federal government.
As part of the interview, the issue of press freedom is delved into,
and readers can choose mp3, streaming video or written transcripts as
their medium of choice for learning more.
SPJ: Freedom of Information
This section of the Society of Professional Journalists’ website is
devoted to opening government records to scrutiny. To this end, it
provides links and resources to journalists regarding government
cover-ups and the like. The site also provides a case study of
reporters covering stories in prisons as a means of demonstrating a
lack of transparency and how to get around it.
How Mass Media Simulate Political Transparency
This academic essay from Yale University examines the lack of
transparency in the mass media. Through the use of case studies and
examples (with special emphasis on political scandals), the site
demonstrates the causes and effects of a lack of transparency in the
major news reporting organizations in the United States.
Media Transparency: The Money Behind Conservative Media
Media Transparency lists articles citing sources of funding for
Republican and conservative Christian groups, and demonstrates through
case studies the negative effects this funding has on mainstream media
outlets. Additionally, the site provides a history of conservative
manipulation of the media and a database containing hundreds of grants
given by conservative organizations to media groups and think tanks.
Transparency Now
An eclectic mix of video, sound and written articles, Transparency Now
examines the issues of funding and bias in film/TV as well as the
press. Composed almost entirely of former journalist Ken Sanes' essays,
the site also contains examinations of pop culture in relation to
American society as a special section devoted to simulation and
transparency in the mass media.
Accuracy, Transparency and Fairness
Using Indonesia as a case study of a nation in which the accuracy,
transparency and fairness journalism are not present in journalism
outlets, UCLA's AsiaMedia institute gives tips and pointers to
journalists in the United States through the use of the Indonesian
media as a foil. Though brief, the article also chronicles why bias
occurs as well as its effects on the public when media transparency is
non-existent.
Case Study in Media Corruption
Though difficult to understand for those not directly involved with
internal medicine, presented here is a "case study of media corruption"
with regards to the pharmaceutical industry and Readers Digest. It
examines the links between funding of advertisements and the featuring
of books that promote advertisers' products in the magazine.
Methods and Bias of the Media
In this essay, Kuro5hin.org poster Michael Leza examines bias in the
media through a comparison of mainstream sitcoms and other fictional,
staged television programs. "What many of these same people are not
aware of (and how could they be?) is that when they sit down to watch
the nightly news, or their favorite artificial news-flavored product,
they are in fact watching a show that has been just as managed,
planned, and scripted as any episode of Seinfeld was."
Center for Media and Democracy
Investigative journalism and the influence of politics on mass media
are the focus of the CMD. As part of its PR Watch tool, the CMD
presents case studies of journalism in which bias and a lack of
transparency are both evident and detrimental. The site says, "The
nonprofit Center for Media and Democracy strengthens participatory
democracy by investigating and exposing public relations spin and
propaganda, and by promoting media literacy and citizen journalism,
media 'of, by and for the people.'"
Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America
Both accuracy and transparency are of paramount importance in citizen
journalism, and this site attempts to tackle both these issues in
regard to journalism and the Middle East. Despite its geographic focus,
the site is a virtual repository for case studies of mass media biases.
Reporting Wars
Reporting Wars targets media bias with a special eye on current events
in Iraq and the United States. Additionally, and perhaps more
helpfully, the site presents on its homepage a side-by-side comparison
of headlines from various newsgroups reporting on the same events.
Evidence of slanting the news is laid bare, and each example can
readily be used as a case study to show the lack of transparency in the
mainstream media.
Media Lens
Similar to many other sites on this list, Media Lens focuses on
"correcting the distorted vision of the corporate media" in major
stories around the world. Specifically, the site targets the BBC,
though it also offers criticism of the U.S. news media and offers tips
and insights from a number of bloggers whose works are posted on the
site.
What's Wrong With the News?
Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting offers a critical assessment of the
mainstream media, dividing examples of bias and a lack of transparency
into nine categories as well as case studies and analyses of bias,
though the site does not offer any specific tips for citizen
journalists regarding transparency.
Blinded by Science
The article offers a case study in science and political bias carrying
over into and adversely affecting the mass media. Chiefly, it discusses
the problems of politicized reporting and issues of bias, accuracy and
corruption in the media from a scientist's perspective.
Podcasting as a Weapon for the Right
From mediatransparency.org comes this single case study that analyzes
the possibility that the media, while embracing new technology on par
with that of citizen journalists, is simultaneously falling prey to the
same conservative groups who exacerbated a lack of transparency in
radio. The issue should be of concern to citizen journalists not only
because it deals with the compromising of a medium long known for its
progressive outlook but also because it demonstrates the inability of
mass media to escape bias regardless of technological advancements.
Journalism, Transparency and the Public Trust
Here’s an academic analysis of transparency in the mass media, and its
effects on the public. Most importantly, the study deals with the
issues of blogs and transparency. It also includes recommendations for
improving transparency in the media and examines the implications of a
public that has no access to a dialogue with the mass media.
Independence
The Memory Hole
The Memory Hole is a collection of case studies dealing with government
shortcomings and corporate fraud and whose goal is to preserve
information for journalists that would otherwise be either lost or
unreleased. To this end, the site contains numerous "government files,
corporate memos, police reports, congressional testimony" and similar
documents. Additionally, the Memory Hole seeks to preserve independent
journalism that is allowed to be critical of the government and those
in power.
Freedom Forum
Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan foundation dedicated to a free press and
free speech, collects and analyzes articles gleaned from the mainstream
media. Its utility as a repository of articles is aided in part by the
fact that the site also has a separate set of links related to the
upholding of First Amendment rights and journalistic independence. With
additional links to the First Amendment Center and Newsroom Diversity Programs, the site provides services to journalists aside from research tools.
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Focusing mainly on journalists themselves rather than the stories they
cover, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press promotes
journalistic integrity and independence in the face of intimidation
from the mass media and the government. Mainly a collection of articles
related to journalists and their exploits, the site also provides
guidelines on how to access juvenile courts and electronic records, a
guide to state-by-state phone taping laws and other sections that may
be helpful to journalists seeking greater independence.
Poynter Online: The Value of Independence
Poynter author Bob Steele gives advice and pointers to journalists
seeking to promote a higher degree of independence in their work.
Pulling from two sources, including from the Society of Professional
Journalists, Steele offers citizen journalists advice on what it means
to be an independent reporter and steps that can be taken to enhancing
credibility while also upholding ethical journalistic standards.
The Ethics of Civic Journalism: Independence as the Guide
The relationship between journalists and the public they serve is
examined in this article, which raises the questions, "Should reporters
be investigators of system failure or initiators of solutions? Should
journalists be detached observers or activist participants?" and gives
advice on how journalism can best meet the needs of an author's home
community. Through championing an approach that is independent both of
the government and the petty disputes some journalists become bogged
down in, author Bob Steele hopes to reinvigorate public trust and faith
in journalists.
Journalism Tools
Journalism.org has an extensive section of tools for citizens,
professional journalists, students and teachers on independence and the
other foundation topics. While not focused on citizen media, these link
provide advice and examples from professionals and major media
organizations such as CBS that are easily adaptable.
Inside BBC Journalism: Independence
As part of its series on journalistic integrity and ethics, the BBC
presents this module on independence, which chronicles the importance
of the ideal as applied to the BBC's many reporters. As related through
numerous case studies, the section "examines how BBC journalists strive
to make programmes independently of commercial, political and other
interests" in order to provide the public with a factual, unbiased view
on world events.
Journalistic Integrity and Independence of the Press
Journalistic independence is applied to Africa through two case studies
in this document from Stanhopecentre.org that chronicles the struggle
to first create and then preserve an independent media in three east
African nations. The document contains a list of duties for independent
journalists.
The Fund for Independence in Journalism
A non-profit organization aimed at providing for and supporting
investigative reporting, the Fund for Independence in Journalism helps
fund various programs designed to counter the efforts of the mainstream
media to introduce bias into journalism. The site provides a list of
facts, each of which chronicles an instance in which politics took
precedence over journalistic integrity and the news story that emerged
was steeped in bias. The site also chronicles press intimidation,
control of information and sponsored news.
A Handbook of Reuters Journalism
Reuters provides its own guidelines and advice for journalists seeking
to provide balanced and independent reporting of current events.
Independence is "crucial to Reuters' ability to report on companies,
institutions and individuals in the financial markets, many of whom are
also their customers, without regard for anything other than accuracy,
balance and the truth." As with the guidelines set forth by CBS, these
are not originally designed with citizen journalists in mind, though
they are readily applicable.
Digital Independence
While most sites promote the formation or upkeep of independent media
outlets, the Digitalindies.com site serves as a helpful resource for
independent and citizen journalists. The small site is devoted
primarily to two topics: globalization blowback and independent media.
With its emphasis on digital media, however, the site's true value lies
in its collection of links to other resources that might be of use to
citizen journalists.
The Media's Independence Problem
As part of the World Policy Journal, author Jonathan Mermin uses the
2003 invasion of Iraq as an example of non-independent media and the
problems associated with having journalists colluding with the military
and government when writing their stories or reporting. Focusing on the
First Amendment’s provision for an independent press, Mermin explores
the journey of the American mass media from an independent entity to
one dependent on the government for its information and funding.
The Rise of Media Independence
This article by blogger-journalist Doc Searls in the technology
publication Linux Journal is important for its examination of media as
a one- or two-way interaction between journalists and the public. While
the author encourages efforts to increase media independence, he also
recognizes that today's media is anything but that and makes
suggestions for reforms. The article is also important for its emphasis
on news that can be consumed or produced with equal ease, a topic of
definite interest and importance to citizen journalists.
Media Independence: Is Self-Regulation an Answer, from worldbank.org
In light of the problems associated with government-regulated media,
the World Bank explores the possibility of self-regulation among media
outlets as a means of creating a responsible press corps in developing
nations. Though not aimed primarily at U.S. citizen journalists who
focus on domestic issues, the article does make a number of insights
into citizen journalism in the developing world and the need for a
responsible cadre of journalists to accurately and responsibly serve
the populations of developing nations.
Celebrating Media Independence
An editorial in the alternative publication the Berkeley Daily Planet,
this piece decries criticism of articles in the New York Times that are
themselves highly critical of the Bush administration's policies after
9/11. The author calls for greater oversight of politicians and a
loosening of the reins currently used to keep the mass media in the
service of those in power. Though it features no pointers or tips, the
essay is valuable for its insights into the contemporary media's role
in restricting public information access.
Independent Media Center
The Independent Media Center describes itself as "a collective of
independent media organizations and hundreds of journalists offering
grassroots, non-corporate coverage." The site both encourages and
provides examples of independent news media that are not part of larger
media conglomerates, and also features an option that allows users to
publish their own stories or videos on the site, a priceless tool for
citizen journalists seeking to get their story out.
The Big Ten at thenation.com
The Nation provides a list of the 10 largest media conglomerates, including any subsidiaries.
Other citizen media resources
J-Learning
Numerous online journalism tutorials related to reporting and the Web.
News U
Run by the non-profit Poynter Institute, it has a number of good, free online journalism courses open to everyone.
Personal Media Learning Center
A good resource containing interviews with citizen media pioneers, summaries of media law and more.
EditTeach.org
A site funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation with many
resources for editors, as well as a growing online section.
Investigative Reporters Resource Center
The center offers tips on developing leads and using public records.
You can also buy cleaned public data from them if you’re interested.
Check out the IRE listserv as well.
Reporters Cookbook
A wiki with how-tos, particularly related to computer-assisted reporting.
Florida Public Records Handbook
In this valuable handbook, Joe Adams highlights Florida stories that have used public records in them.
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