{"id":9861,"date":"2013-05-05T10:32:00","date_gmt":"2013-05-05T15:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.johntedesco.net\/blog\/?page_id=9861"},"modified":"2025-09-17T12:28:54","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T17:28:54","slug":"a-journalists-checklist-of-tips-and-resources","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/johntedesco.net\/blog\/a-journalists-checklist-of-tips-and-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"A journalist’s handbook of tips and resources"},"content":{"rendered":"

Web searches<\/a> |\u00a0Breaking News<\/a> |\u00a0Newspaper, Blog and Media Searches<\/a> |\u00a0Open Records<\/a> |\u00a0People Finders<\/a> |\u00a0Backgrounding Tools<\/a> |\u00a0Experts, Issues<\/a> |\u00a0Campaign Finance<\/a> |\u00a0Business<\/a> |\u00a0Nonprofits<\/a> |\u00a0Government<\/a> |\u00a0Cops, Courts<\/a> |\u00a0Medical<\/a> \/ Military<\/a> |\u00a0Environment<\/a> |\u00a0Crashes, Disasters<\/a> |\u00a0Libraries<\/a> |\u00a0Reference\/Stats\/AI<\/a> |\u00a0Maps<\/a> |\u00a0Smart Phone Apps, Software<\/a> |\u00a0Databases, Visuals<\/a> |\u00a0Writing Tools<\/a> |\u00a0Privacy, Security<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

For journalists — students and professionals alike — it\u2019s easy to get lost in all the tipsheets, books, articles, conferences, and blogs that discuss the latest ways to conduct research and find people.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s easy to forget the old-school methods that faded from memory, but might work just as well as the newest trend.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a way to keep track of it all.<\/p>\n

Create your own system, your own tipsheet, in the format that works best for you. Every time you learn about a new resource, write it down in your own web page or document. If it\u2019s an online resource, link to it. Organize your checklists by topics, such as “People Finders” and “Backgrounding.”<\/p>\n

Refer to your checklists when you\u2019re working on a story. Add new tools that work. Get rid of the ones that don’t.<\/p>\n

You can use your checklist throughout your career. It will help you remember techniques you haven\u2019t used in years but might suddenly be valuable for the story you\u2019re currently working on.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Web Searches and Strategies<\/strong><\/p>\n