Online Research

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"If we do not change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed." -- Chinese Proverb

An introduction to News on the Internet

Video News Clips
At MSNBC.com you can download video clips to supplement the news stories you read.

Did you hear the news? A spaceship landed in Yellowstone Park. Do you know who was piloting it? Elvis, of course. At some point you've probably come across a story like this while reading tabloids in supermarket checkout line. And while you probably found it amusing, did you believe it? Why not? Probably two reasons: 1) Common sense; 2) It wasn't from a reliable source.

When you're reading news online, you should evaluate it the same way you would when you're in line at the market. The common sense test is easy enough even on the Internet, but what about a source's reliability? There are so many news sources on the Internet, how do you know what's reliable and what's not?

News Sources You Can Trust on the Internet

Any good journalist knows that a story is only as good as its source. Who, what, why, when, and where don't mean much if your source isn't reliable. Whether you're researching news on the Internet for a school term paper or a business plan, your research sources must be reliable, or you'll lose credibility. So what gives news credibility on the Internet?

News Wire Services

No matter where you see a news story on the Web, if AP (Associated Press), UPI (United Press International), or Reuter appears at the beginning or at the end of the piece, it's a good bet the story is from a reliable source. These are among the most reputable news wire services with the highest standards of journalistic integrity. And all of these wire services have Web sites:

Web sites that want to provide their visitors with reliable news content typically contract with one of these major news wire agencies. The next time you read a news story on the Web, look for a reference to one of these services and you'll know it's from a trusted source. The Big Four

Other sources of reliable news on the Internet come from the major television networks. Media giants like ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN all operate news sites on the Internet. Again, as with the news wire services listed above, these are brand names in the news business that have reputations to uphold. Here are their Web addresses:

Whether you're looking for national or local news, business news, healthnews -- you name it -- these sites are some of the best places on the Internet to find it. Some of the larger Internet service providers have even partnered with these networks to provide reliable news to their subscribers. MSNBC, for example, provides news on the Prodigy home page.

Newspapers on the Internet

Don't Forget Many local newspapers are available online, too. Look for yours -- it's probably on the Web.

It used to be that if you wanted a newspaper, you had to run down to the local newsstand and plunk down some loose change to get one. Not any more. These days, you can take a virtual run down to a digital newsstand on the Internet. Many of the newspapers you'll find there are free, too, so you can save that loose change for premium access.

Where Do You Find a Digital Newsstand?

The Internet Public Library is an excellent resource for online newspapers. Here's a direct link to it along with links to some other digital newsstands:

The Science Times -- Every Tuesday a special section called the Science Times appears in The New York Times on the Web. If you have any interest in the future and how science is reshaping our world, check it out for some of the best stories on science you'll find anywhere.

These sites allow you to search for newspapers by state, country, or news category. You can browse through the different newspaper titles or go directly to the ones you want.

Worth Checking Out

Some of the most important newspapers in the U.S. and the World have digital counterparts you can access on the World Wide Web. While many of these require that you register with a user name and a password, most do not charge a fee for their online versions. Major U.S. Metropolitan Newspapers Online.

Here's a list of some major newspapers from around the country available online:

Respected business newspapers are becoming more available online as well. Unlike the national newspapers online, however, most of these business publications charge for premium access. Here's a list of some of the more important ones if you're doing financial research:

International Newspapers Online Besides The New York Times, a host of other international newspapers are available online. Here are some of the more prominent ones:

Advantages of Reading a Newspaper

Online You'll get an idea of the advantages a digital newspaper has over its wood pulp cousins, as we leaf through the online edition of the venerable New York Times.

It's Free

That's right. The New York Times on the Web like many newspapers you can research online won't cost you a penny to access. To get a free subscription, just follow these easy steps:

  1. Point your Web browser at http://www.nytimes.com
  2. Register a user name and password to obtain free access to the entire contents of the paper
  3. You're ready to start leafing through the paper with your virtual thumbs

It Talks Back to You So to speak

When's the last time you talked to a newspaper or, for that matter, when's the last time a newspaper talked back to you? Online newspapers like The New York Times on the Web offer a forum section where you can post your opinions and read others at the same time. You can join in a real-time discussion on news issues at selected times as well. It's an interactive feature unique to newspapers online. To access the forum section, follow these steps:

  1. From the site index on the home page, click on Opinion. You will arrive at the Opinion page. From there, click on Forums.
  2. Select from one of several topics and read messages from other people or post your own.

Archives

If you need to research newspapers, you know how difficult it is to find and wade through back issues to get what you're looking for. On the Internet, previous editions of an online newspaper can be digitally archived. The New York Times on the Web, for example, offers an extensive archive of articles that make researching old news articles a breeze. This is a premium service, but well worth it if you're looking to save time on your research. Just follow these steps to access the archives:

  1. From the home page, click on Archives. At the Archives page type in what you're looking for in the search entry box and hit Enter.
  2. The results that come closest to your query will be displayed as short synopses of articles. You can read the synopses for free. Premium access is available for a fee.

Newsgroups and Message Boards The Man on the Street Speaks -- But Can You Trust Him?

Keep in Mind some messages you'll see in newsgroups are actually cleverly disguised advertisements. Keep an eye out for those. Try to recognize the difference between solid news and a sales pitch.

Do you remember the last time you were at a party? Most likely there were animated conversations all over the room; some voices louder than others. They all sounded interesting but where should you direct your attention? On the Internet, newsgroups and message boards are like that party. Everyone believes they have something important to say and they're all clamoring to be heard. But should you listen? If you're researching news on the Internet, can newsgroups and message boards be of any use to you?

Take It with a Grain of Salt

The answer is yes and no. The fact that anyone can make statements that reflect their opinions, without being required to back them up, is the downside of news groups messages. But, in those cases where someone does substantiate what they say, newsgroups can be a valuable research tool to add to your repertoire. Think about it. By researching newsgroups you might stumble upon some information you wouldn't have otherwise seen. And, if the information is referenced by reliable news sources that you can check independently, maybe you have something good.

Where Can You Research Newsgroups on the Internet?

One of the best places to access newsgroups and message boards, or Usenet, is Deja.com, a leading source for news groups access on the Web.

You can research newsgroups at Deja.com by following these easy steps:

  1. Log on to Deja.com at http://www.deja.com/usenet/
  2. In the search entry box under Search Discussions, type in the subject you would like to research and hit Search.
  3. All the newsgroups related to the subject you typed in will be listed. Click on one and a list of messages from that news groups will be displayed. You can either read through each one or post your own.

Some Tips to Keep in Mind When Researching Newsgroups

Because you'll encounter everyone from bona fide experts in their fields to junk bond salesmen, follow these guidelines when researching newsgroups:

Okay, you've been busy foraging around the Internet for news. Are you ready for something different? How about news that comes directly to you?

Research Made E-zier with E-zines

Who would you rather be? The poor soul who trudges through snow and ice every day just to pick up the morning paper from the local convenience store, or the person who gets it delivered to their doorstep?

On the Internet you have that choice too. If you want to take a break from wading through the digital morass in search of news, you might consider subscribing to an e-zine and let the news come to you.

What is an e-zine?

Something to Think About
It's probably a good idea to limit your e-zine subscriptions to a select few that really interest you. Otherwise, they'll pile up so fast in your inbox that you'll never get around to reading them all.

An e-zine is an electronic newspaper or magazine distributed most commonly by e-mail. There are thousands of e-zines you can subscribe to on the World Wide Web on subjects ranging from business news and current events to health news  and entertainment news. How

Do E-zines Make Research E-zier?

Since there are so many e-zines available on the Net, there are very likely several that cater to the subject you wish to research. As you receive them on a weekly or even daily basis, copy them to a folder on your desktop and very shortly you will amass an archive of news articles that you can research at your leisure.

How Do You Subscribe to E-zines?

To subscribe to e-zines you should visit an e-zine directory on the Internet to get a better idea of which ones interest you. Here are some excellent e-zine resources you'll want to check out:

All you have to do now is pick the e-zine or e-zines of your choice from the lists you'll find at these sites and supply them with your e-mail address. Then just sit back and watch your e-mail inbox fill up.