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Journalists urged to advance their Internet research
For all of you who have become dependent on Google to answer all your burning questions -- especially on deadline -- there's a much bigger World Wide Web of help out there beyond your favorite search engine.
By Lori Weisberg, San Diego Pro Chapter
Staff writer, San Diego Union-Tribune
For all of you who have become dependent on Google to answer all your burning questions -- especially on deadline -- there's a much bigger World Wide Web of help out there beyond your favorite search engine.
That was the message delivered by Web gurus Alan Schlein, Los Angeles-based author of the book "Find It Online," and Neil Reisner, a professor at Florida International University, at a recent SPJ-sponsored panel discussion.
"Relying only on Google only gets you 10 to 15 percent of what's out there," Schlein told the audience.
Said Reisner: "Google is the devil: It makes us lazy. Google is an angel: It's great if you focus your research."
Among the nuggets they offered:
- Always use more than one search tool.
- Try reference sites instead of a basic search, like www.answers.com, www.refdesk.com and www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/, from the Library of Congress.
- Don't rely on www.wikipedia.com. It's written by amateurs and is not considered a credible authority.
- Take advantage of Yahoo shortcuts, which are categorical searches, including everything from weather and travel to calculators.
- Google has a "search by number" feature that even tracks vehicle ID and patent numbers: www.google.com/help/features.html#number.
Reisner advises journalists to be very focused in their Internet searches, emphasizing that organization is important when launching a query. "I want to know a search engine so well that I can get exactly what I want online," he said.
To learn more about searching the Web, go to this link, where Reisner posted the SPJ presentation: www.nreisner.com/sdspj.htm. An audio recording of the seminar is also posted on the SD-SPJ Web site, www.sdspj.org, under "Need Net Research Tips?"