Tips for finding news articles from your country

3 ways using Google… 1. Change the Region 2. Change the Edition 3. Search International Domain Suffixes

Google Advanced Search (the most effective): google.com/advanced_search Change region Put your topic and country name in the top box In results list, click News along the top Go back and set language to English if you get results in other languages

Google News Search In Google, click on News Change the “edition” to your country (note: will change language!)

International domain suffixes Find the domain suffix for your country & run a Google Advanced Search within that domain Not foolproof (ICANN is no longer restricting domains). The minus sign will remove things from a search. Ex: pollution site:.ly –bit.ly level_domains#Country_code_top-level_domains

2 Ways Using Databases… 1. InfoTrac 2. ProQuest

InfoTrac Visit Under “Research” (drop-down menu) Choose “A-Z Resources” Choose InfoTrac Choose Advanced Search Limit “to documents with full text” Can choose newspaper titles under “Title”

ProQuest Visit Click on ProQuest Log in with username and password provided by IHS librarian Choose either e-library or SIRS Click Advanced Search Limit to “Newspapers” Search for your topic

Freedom of the Press Keep in mind that not all news sources are independent and neutral In many countries, news is censored, reporters can be fired or even killed for telling the truth And many news sources are simply mouthpieces for the government Even in countries with strong press freedom, some sources have goals beyond reporting the news

General Interest Periodicals Try to find general interest periodicals… …that is, ones whose goal is to report the news… …rather than those with a specific agenda, such as a periodical published by an environmental organization or by a political or religious group.

What if I can’t? If you can’t find a general interest periodical… …or your periodical may not be independent… …investigate your periodical’s mission and take that into account, describing it in the Comparison section of your Periodical Review chart…

RIA Novosti describes the withdrawal of troops in the Rostov region as a normal part of the ending of their training in that area, “the process of returning troops to regular station after their participation in…drills” while CNN calls it “The troop buildup near the Ukrainian border.” RIA Novosti was founded by an order from Vladimir Putin and is considered by independent press freedom organizations as a state-controlled news source, so they would be unlikely to publish information that contradicts President Putin.

How do I evaluate an article? : “3 Ws” Who: WHO created the source and are they an expert on my topic? For news sources, specifically: Find the “About Us” section of the news source’s main page Who writes & edits for them? Who is the publisher? Who created the source? Who funds the source? If any doubt, Google them to look for conflicts & check an international media watchdog organization like Reporters Without Borders

Why WHY did they create it? Are they trying to educate you, persuade you, or sell you something? (“Bias”) NEWS SOURCES:  News sources should be trying to inform people about what’s happening.  Look for their mission in the About sections of the site.  Consider the goals of founders and funders.  Check outside sources if any doubt!

When WHEN did they create it? Is it too old? (“Currency”) Good NEWS SOURCES will ALWAYS have a date. Dates will be at the top of the page, under the author’s name or article title (byline).

Freedom of the Press? The following sites can help you determine to what extent journalists in your country are free to report the truth, and to what extent they are controlled by the government or other forces…

Press Freedom Orgs: ◦ Reporters Without Borders: ique= ◦ Committee to Protect Journalists: ◦ IFEX (80 orgs, started in Canada):