American University Library
Reporting of Public Affairs, COM-724
Fall 2007-- Professor Schafer and Professor Chuang
AP StyleBook--the essential writing guide for journalists.
Sources for Getting Background Information
- AllPolitics (CNN)
- CQ Researcher and CQ Weekly--The Researcher contains very readable synopses of important issues of the day. A good source not only of background information, but also of contacts organizations involved with the issues. CQ Weekly is a great source on what is happening in Congress week by week.
- CRS Report Search--Provides a variety of in-depth policy analyses and background summaries on every subject of interest to Congress.
- Lexis-Nexis Academic --full text of newspapers, both U.S. and international, and news broadcasts.
- National Journal Group's Policy Central--Tracks political and policy news through several publications (National Journal, The Hotline, CongressDaily, Markup Reports, etc.)
- NewspaperDirect PressDisplay-- access to 400 papers on the day they were published, with a 60 day archive.
- Roll Call
- Washington Times Daybook--breaking news and what's going on in Congress today.
- ProQuest Research Library -- Covers a broad range of disciplines, providing everything from scholarly articles to news.
- Academic Search Premier-a similar database to ProQuest, providing scholalarly and general interest articles in all subject areas.
Sources for Identifying Stakeholders and Contacts
- Carroll's GovSearch--Look up an agency, a federal staff member, or news about them.
- CQ Researcher
- Political Advocacy Groups--Web directory of lobbyists and other advocacy groups.
- Political Science Resources/Think Tanks--From the University of Michigan Documents Center
- PolicyFile--This database allows you search for topics on think-tank and advocacy group websites. May be useful for identifying organizations interested in a topic, reports and other documents, and contacts.
- Washington Information Directory--through CQ Political Reference Suite
- Encyclopedia of Associations (REF Desk HS17 .G32)
- Washington Information Directory (REF Desk F 192.5 W34), the Capital Source (REF Desk F 192.3 .C26) and Columbia Book's Washington (REF Desk F 192.5 .W3)--three directories on goverment, business, cultural institutions, lobbyists, organizations, etc. for the Washington metropolitan area.
- Public Interest Profiles (REF Desk JK1118 .P79) and Washington Representatives (REF Desk JK1118 .D58)--directories of advocacy groups and lobbyists.
Information about Congress
Other Government Information
Helpful Reference Books (on the first floor of the Library)
- Congressional Districts in the 2000's (REF JK 1341 .C66 2003) and the Almanac of American Politics (REF Desk JK 1341 .A46) -- Sources of information about history and character of districts and issues important to votersCQ's Politics in America 2006 (REF Desk JK1010 .P64)--find out what's going on with a congressperson in DC and at home .Washington Information Directory (REF Desk F 192.5 W34), the Capital Source (REF Desk F 192.3 .C26) and Columbia Book's Washington (REF Desk F 192.5 .W3)--three directories on goverment, business, cultural institutions, lobbyists, organizations, etc. for the Washington metropolitan area.
- Public Interest Profiles (REF Desk JK1118 .P79) and Washington Representatives (REF Desk JK1118 .D58)--directories of advocacy groups and lobbyists.
Created
by
