Research Skills for Journalists

Research Skills for Journalists is a comprehensive, engaging and highly practical guide to developing the varied skillset needed for producing well researched, quality journalism across a range of platforms.

Illustrated with original interviews and case studies, the book guides readers through a clear understanding of sources of news, as well as illustrating the skills needed to undertake successful digital and non-digital research and to conduct interviews for a variety of media. It examines the skills needed for basic data journalism and presents an in-depth exploration of the different research skills specific to producing print and online text, as well as those for broadcast and multimedia journalism.

Key research skills explored in the book include:

• Developing digital research skills, including researching through search engines, messages boards, discussion groups and web forums, social media, apps, and using user generated content
• Working with data, including sourcing, auditing and analysing data, data visualisation and understanding the importance of accuracy and context
• Essential non-digital research skills, including telephone technique, using libraries and working with librarians, understanding copyright, working with picture libraries and research services, and producing freedom of information requests
• Working directly with people to research stories, including the power of persuasion, tracking down great contributors, managing and protecting sources, planning and managing interviews, and interviewing vulnerable people
• Researching for multimedia production of stories, including researching a radio story, podcast or video story, and planning for outside broadcasts.

Research Skills for Journalists also explores specialist research skills needed for working overseas and investigates new areas, which could be used for journalism research in the future.

The book is illustrated with original contributions by journalists from a variety of backgrounds; including veteran investigative journalist John Pilger, pioneering data journalist Simon Rogers and The Bureau of Investigative Journalism’s award-winning reporter Abigail Fielding-Smith. It is an invaluable guide for students and practitioners of journalism to the skills needed for finding and developing original news stories today.

Vanessa Edwards is a journalist, broadcaster and educator with nearly thirty years’ experience. She began her career in local independent radio and regional television before spending more than a decade as a broadcast journalist at the BBC in London. Vanessa spent several years teaching journalism at Bournemouth University. She now works as a freelance journalist and consultant.