[REQUEST: In future columns, I’ll occasionally run tips from readers about sites they find particularly useful in their journalistic work. Got one for me? Please e-mail a SHORT tip, including your name, affiliation, city, and phone number to poynter@sree.net. The best tips will run here in the weeks ahead.]
Just to prove the request above is not fake, here are some recent tips sent in by Poynter.org readers. Keep ’em coming, folks.
- Tom Pfeifer, director of communications, Rep. Elton Gallegly of California: “Here’s a website I stumbled upon that should be useful for journalistic
research: ‘CyberCemetery’ — permanent public access to the electronic websites and publications of defunct U.S. government agencies and commissions: www.npr.gov.”
- Dan Shortridge of Wooster, Ohio: “I’ve found www.searchsystems.net to be a FANTASTIC site. I just stumbled across it the other day. It’s got links to public record databases from all 50 states, with very few paid services. In my state of Ohio, it’s got everything from campaign finance reports to athletic trainer licensing to a directory of ancient flint rocks (don’t ask). Some excellent stuff for people on deadline and those just surfing around for story ideas and resources.” [SREE NOTE: I praised this site in an Oct. 2001 column; Dan’s right – it’s become even better since then.]
- Josh Fruhlinger, freelance editor, Berlin, Germany: “I just read your article on where to go online for references on the various nations of the world. I have another one for you: http://www.worldstatesmen.org. It’s called ‘World Statesmen’ and it looks to be maintained by a hobbyist. Still, it has extremely complete lists of the heads of state and government for every country and colony in the world over the past 300 years. It also has pocket histories of each country/colony, images of each country and colony’s flags, and in many cases links to constitutions, national anthems, and so on. Also updated fairly regularly.”
Max Hartshorne, editor, GoNomad.com: “For a site that uses a lot of paid freelance travel writers, visit us at www.gonomad.com. Alternative travel, destination guides, and an editor who promises to reply to every query he gets.” [SREE NOTE: I won’t post every plug I get, but this is a good site for those covering travel. Plus, it’s not often that an editor promises to reply to every query! Here’s another list of sites for writing about travel, compiled from suggestions by travel writers.]
NOTE: In past columns, whenever I mentioned a reader, I would put in a hot link to his or her e-mail address, so that readers could write directly to that person, if necessary. Some of you pointed out that in doing so, these addresses might be “harvested” by spammers. As a result, I have stopped the practice. If you need to track down someone I mention, feel free to write to me and I will connect you. In the meantime, I continue to foolishly list my e-mail address.
Feedback is welcome at poynter@sree.net.
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