SOURCES OF INFO A brief overview

WHERE DO YOU FIND FACTS ? NOT the internet It’s quick and easy and looks credible, yes But it is NOT Anyone can put up unchecked information which may look entirely credible Your reputation in a production company will be over if you use info from the internet rather than info you have checked yourself

HOW TO USE THE INTERNET Use the internet like a phone directory It is good for giving you names of relevant organisations and their contact details. Use it for gauging the amount and areas of interest in a subject. Read Wikipedia overview Use it for finding what programmes have already been made on it, what books written Gather as much info as possible from reading

WRITTEN SOURCES OF INFO Use Lexus Nexus for newspaper research Go to Amazon to see what books there are on this particular subject Look at the bibliography /references of a book Go to specialist databases for subject research Look at websites and press releases but check the source. Compare with other info sources

OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION National government and Local government Quangos / NGOs Trade unions or professional associations Clubs and societies for leisure interests Charities, self help groups Campaign groups, pressure groups, lobbyists Universities, museums, journalists, writers

FIRST STEPS Look at the material you have researched Decide what specifically you need to know Write out 3 key questions you need answering When you make your research phone call ask just a few questions the first time – not lots. Make it clear you have already done some research into the subject. You want specifics.

SECOND STEPS Go to the specialist organisation and get more specific information from them. Make sure you have done your own research Look at their website first. Call their press office second. SPEAK to a relevant expert based there third. Get talking, ask about their sources of information, what do they base their facts on

THIRD STEPS Always keep a written record in a bound book (not loose bits of paper), of who you spoke to and on what date. And their phone number Record sources of info : what book, what page. What newspaper, what date. Which organisation, which web address etc Make yourself a contact book (folder) by subject.

WHO DO YOU TRUST ? When presenting a fact you ALWAYS need to present its source at the same time. NEVER rely on just one source of information for your facts. Get a range of sources. Consider what interest that organisation has in interpreting facts that way. Compare with figures from an organisation with a different point of view

WHEN ARE FACTS NOT FACTS Consider figures on binge drinking. Who is supplying them. What is their point of view ? Consider facts about vivisection. Who is supplying them ? What is their interest in this Consider the role of a charity in reporting a problem. What is the “benefit” to them ? Compare this with the role of a company /government in seeing the problem as less.

BE SCEPTICAL ! It is the job of a radio or TV researcher to find a range of sources of information not just one It is the researcher’s job to be sceptical about what they are being told and consider, could there be another interpretation of these facts Researchers need to weigh up the info they are given and consider is it the full story ? How else could it be looked at ? By whom else ?

BEING SCEPTICAL 2 This is also a valid way to live your life Is there just one version of what you see ? Who else might have a different set of facts or a different way of interpreting them ? Being critical and enquiring is what makes life interesting and rich and complex. You become active in understanding the world It is the point of a University education !!!

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS Campaign groups will have a different set of figures and agendas to fit their point of view You have to note what their agenda is and consider their “facts” in the light of that. You have to weigh up which ones are most authoritative /neutral. Ignore fringe /extremist

EXERCISE Find figures for animals used in experiments Find facts on how dangerous cannabis use is Find facts on what an unborn foetus can feel Find facts on benefits of “light” cigarettes Find facts on benefits of a few glasses of wine Find figures for UK jobs given to immigrants Consult 5 very different sources for each fact