Super Searchers in the News: The Online Secrets of Journalists & News Researchers (Super Searchers series) [Paperback]

Paula J. Hane (Author), Reva Basch (Editor), Scott Simon (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: Super Searchers series | Publication Date: March 1, 2000

Ten of the world’s leading news researchers share their hard-earned tips, techniques, and strategies for using the Internet and online services to get the scoop, check the facts, and nail the story. Interviews with these researchers probe the evolving structure of the newsroom, showcase various strategies for organizing and sharing information, and provide insights into the changing nature of modern news research. Included are Super Searcher power tips, a glossary of terms, and a directory of sites and sources.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paula J. Hane is a writer and editor at Information Today, covering the online information industry. She lives in Plano, Texas. Reva Basch lives in the Sea Ranch, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Information Today, Inc. (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0910965455
• ISBN-13: 978-0910965453
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,526,481 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good for "News Junkies", December 5, 2000

By 

Barbara P. Semonche (Chapel Hill, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Super Searchers in the News: The Online Secrets of Journalists & News Researchers (Super Searchers series) (Paperback)

This book is worthwhile and inspirational reading for the news research pros and for the "news junkies" of the world. Paula Hane has done an impressive job interviewing stellar news researchers and investigative journalists. These two professional groups (news librarians and reporters) may not share identical strategies or resources, but their common goal is shared: to get the information first and to get it right. The experiences offered in this book are worth telling and retelling. I enthusiastically recommend "Super Searchers in the News" for the perfectionistic research pros and for those who are simply fascinated with the endless challenge of tracking down data on deadline. J-School students as well as library/information science students could profit from these true life stories. It should be required reading.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable insights from news researchers, March 5, 2001

By 

Jim Hunter (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Super Searchers in the News: The Online Secrets of Journalists & News Researchers (Super Searchers series) (Paperback)

What a lovely surprise this book turned out to be!

Those of us who work in news research might fancy we know the implications of Internet research in our newsrooms, but absorbing the ideas of "the best in the business" helps to fill out the larger picture. Super Searchers in the News is a quick read and contains a few useful gems. The surprise was a higher degree of insight than you might expect from the format.

The interview format is not one I usually find very useful but Paula Hane got a lot from her subjects. Her writing is good and she lets the voice of her subjects be heard. There is an interesting mix of professional news researchers and journalists each with a point of view and something valuable to say.

There are plenty of ideas in this book that range far outside news research:

Nora Paul-"...there is a new job for the news researcher and an evaluator and qualifier of sources", "...a coordinator of the group effort to make collective intelligence available to everyone".

C.B. Hayden "The Intranet is the main focus of our activity. On-demand research is still our biggest product".

The diminishing reliance on commercial vendors and the implications that has in news libraries and newsrooms.

The growing training and teaching aspects of news researchers.

This book shaped my thinking about the kind of library I run and the tools and techniques I use to manage our research service. As a result we are more focused on the Intranet as a research platform and the growing importance of news researchers.

I highly recommend this book.