1. Intro to Computer-Assisted Reporting

2. Why I’m here In a few short lessons, I will try and show you all the possibilities of the Internet and the wealth of information you can gather This sort of information can add depth and focus to your reporting.

3. Computer assisted reporting is frustrating! Most online databases were not created to be easy for reporters to use. Trial and error is the key to figuring it out. Don’t give up!

4. First a disclaimer These lessons are to help with your research on articles and stories In-person interviews will always be the best method for journalists to gather information

5. “Interviewing” the Web site Never trust a Web site at face value Check for: a professional layout spelling and grammatical errors site and contact info More tips at http://copia.library.cornell.edu/t/help/res_str ategy/evaluating/evaluate.html http://copia.library.cornell.edu/t/help/res_str ategy/evaluating/evaluate.html

6. Different types of Web sites.gov = government Web sites.mil = military Web sites.edu = educational Web sites.com = commercial Web sites.org = organization Web sites.net = network Web sites

7. Country Codes U.S. =.us (but we don’t use it often) Great Britain=.gb Germany=.de China=.cn

8. Using Google to its full advantage Advanced searches using multiple key words site: ______, date ranges Quotations searching common words leaving out words or phrases synonyms, Query modifiers: allintitle, inurl, allinurl, link, cache

9. When Google fails Google can be compromised: In 2007, when one Googled “idiot” George Bush’s profile was the first result in the queue

10. When Google Fails Companies and corporations know how Google works and creates search engine optimized (SEO) words and phrases on their Web sites to increase their standing on Google

11. When Google Fails Some companies PAY Google to appear higher on the search result list

12. When Google Fails Google and Yahoo! alter their search results in different countries. For example, Google France will not let you research Nazis; Google China does not recognize the Tank ManTank Man

13. Help and More Information www.buffscar.synthasite.com Kylee.perez@colorado.edu