On the Internet — Uplink Archive

A guide for journalists on designing and evaluating research web pages, including planning questions, features to include, and criteria for assessing website quality and usefulness.

On the Internet

For an in-depth look at problems with databases, check out "Computer-Assisted Reporting: A Practical Guide" by Brant Houston. It can be ordered from NICAR or Investigative Reporters & Editors for $26 plus shipping. Call (573) 882-2042.

laws, and an excellent listing of sources on journalism ethics.

www Virtual Library: Journalism http://www.cais.com/makulow/vlj.htm) John Makulowich, Internet trainer and early compiler of resources for journalists created this compilation of journalism related links. Section 8. Other Resources and Services, lists a number of research web pages.

Creating research pages

Think about the following when you go to design and compile lists of links. The answers to these questions will help give the page focus and clarity.

Planning and design:

WHAT is the purpose of the web site? WHO is the audience for the site, who will be seeing the site? WHAT types of resources do you want to make available? WHAT kind of description will be made about the sites? WHO will evaluate recommended sites? HOW can sites be recommended? HOW will the sites be evaluated? WHO will maintain links to sites? What is the process for checking and maintaining? HOW will the site be organized? (around beats, topic areas, needs?) HOW will the site be searchable, how will be it navigated? SHOULD "non-Internet" resources be included? If so, which ones and how can they be?

Research Web features: Annotation: Why this site is useful, what the site contains, specific news applications. Instruction: Information about how to use the link (hints about searching). Searchability: How can you get to the exact site you need? Controlled vocabulary?: Is there a set of terms being used by the newsroom; if so, use them again! Links to non-Internetted resources: Pointers to internal databases, records

Guidelines for evaluating sites: WHO put the site/page together? What is their agenda? Why was it put together? WHO was the site designed for? WHAT does the site/page contain? WHAT perspective/side does the site take? WHEN was the information last updated? WHERE did the information come from? HOW is the information updated? HOW can this site help the journalist; what need is filled by this site? HOW easy is it to use (or how frustrating?)

Nora Paul can be reached at (813) 821-0583, or send e-mail to npaul@poynter.org