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Communications: Journalism

Get General Information and Overviews on Journalism

Find Sources for journalism

Databases on Journalism:

Newspapers can provide:

  • information on local, national or international events
  • in-depth reports on selected current issues
  • editorials and opinions on issues

When & Why to Use Newspaper Articles:

Newspapers are often the only source of information for events that are so new that they have not yet made it into other print or online sources.  Still, some newspapers can display a social or political bias.  As with all information, it is good to evaluate the source as well as the information being provided.

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  • African American Historical Serials Collection
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    Features 173 periodicals spanning from 1816 through 1922. The periodicals in this collection include newspapers and magazines, in addition to reports and annuals from various African American organizations, including churches and educational and service institutions.
  • Alternative Press Index
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    Alternative Press Index is a bibliographic database of journal, newspaper and magazine articles from hundreds of international alternative, radical and left periodicals. Covering 1991 to the present, it provides access to emerging theories and practices of social change.
  • American Historical Periodicals from the American Antiquarian Society, Part I–V
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    Collection of books, pamphlets, broadsides, newspapers, periodicals, music, and graphic arts material printed through 1876. Common themes depicted include industrialization, western expansion, and regional political differences.
  • Baltimore Sun
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    Access to the Baltimore Sun from 1990-present.
  • Chronicle of Higher Education
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    News & information covering all aspects of higher education. Faculty and students with personal Chronicle accounts, please be advised of the Chronicle's recent Data Breach
  • Chronicle of Philanthropy
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    An important news source for charity leaders, fund raisers, grant makers, and other people involved in the philanthropic enterprise.
  • Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers
    Provides access to information about historic newspapers and select digitized newspaper pages.
  • Education Week
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    Independent news publication covering K-12 education.
  • Ethnic NewsWatch
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    Database of the newspapers, magazines and journals of the ethnic, minority and native press. Contains over 830,000 full-text articles from 240 publications. Covers 1990 to present.
  • Historical New York Times (1851-2020)
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    Includes full text from the New York Daily Times (1851-1857) and the New York Times from 1857 to 2020. For current New York Times articles, use the ProQuest Newspapers database.
  • Historical Wall Street Journal (1889-2012)
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    Includes full text from the Wall Street Journal from 1889 to 2012.
  • Historical Washington Post (1877-2007)
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    Articles from the Washington Post and the Times Herald from 1877 to 2007. For current articles from the Washington Post, use the ProQuest Newspapers database.
  • International Newsstream (ProQuest)
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    ProQuest International Newsstand provides full-text articles from more than 660 of the world's newspapers.
  • Lexis+
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    Best Bet
    Includes primary law, secondary sources, and practical guidance. In addition, it contains a Shepard's citator, a Practice Advisor, Litigation Profile Suite, and public records.
  • Montgomery College Student Newspapers
    Features MC student newspapers including Excalibur, published on the Takoma Park Campus, The Spur published on the Rockville Campus, and The Globe published on the Germantown Campus. The time period covered includes newspapers from the 1940's through the 1990's.
  • ProQuest Newspapers
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    A full-text, cross-searchable database of the newspaper collections of the Baltimore Sun, Christian Science Monitor, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. See also: Historical New York Times, Historical Washington Post, and Historical Wall Street Journal.
  • ProQuest Primary Sources Collection
    • E-Book
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    • Video
    Collection of over 160 multidisciplinary primary resources, including books, journals, dissertations, primary-source documents, and videos.
  • RaptorSearch
    RaptorSearch allows you to find items located physically at the library along with most content that MC Library subscribes to online. Results may include articles from scholarly journals, books, e-books; videos and other media, newspaper articles, and more.
  • Regional Business News
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    Best Bet
    Full text coverage of 75 business journals, newspapers and newswires from metropolitan and rural areas in the U.S.
  • Times Literary Supplement Historical Archive, 1902–2019
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    The TLS (Times Literary Supplement) Historical Archive includes over 300,000 reviews, poems, letters, and other articles - The complete run from 1902 to five years ago.
  • WestlawNext Campus Research - News + Law
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    Best Bet
    This full text legal database includes encyclopedia and law reviews; federal, state and Supreme Court cases; federal (USCA) and state statutes and administrative materials; and legal news. You can search a document by citation if known or search a case by title. You can also search by keyword, natural language or West "Terms and Connectors."

Research Skills & Tips: 

Magazine Articles Can Provide:

  • information in everyday, non-technical language
  • in-depth reports on selected current issues
  • editorials and opinions on issues

When & Why to Use Magazine Articles:

Magazine articles share many characteristics in common with newspapers. They can be a good source when you are unfamiliar with a topic and need a general overview. While not produced as frequently as daily newspapers, many magazines are weekly or monthly publications and therefore can provide information on a topic that would not be covered in a peer-reviewed journal article or book until much later.  Also like newspapers, magazines and magazine articles can display a social or political bias.  As with all information, it is good to evaluate the source as well as the information being provided.

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Research Skills & Tips:

The MC Library has access to streaming videos and audio (as well as DVDs and CDs). You can find documentaries, educational videos, and mainstream movies. 

When & Why to Use Videos:

  • You need to include an expert's point of view, and a documentary on your topic includes an interview 
  • You are doing a presentation and need to include a visual

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Suggested Websites

Where Do I Go in the Library?

Books at the MC Library are organized by subject according to the Library of Congress Classification system. Browse the library shelves in these call number areas to find materials relating to journalism.

P87-96 Communication and Mass Media
PN1990-1992 Broadcasting (radio and television)
PN4001-4355 Public Speaking
PN4600-5650 Journalism
TR820 Photojournalism