ENGL 127 Research Writing: Social Sciences (Pittser)

This research guide is for students enrolled in Lina Pittser's English 127: Social Science Research Writing with a Focus on Family, Gender, and Sexuality

Find Current Journalism in Newspapers and Magazines

Find Newspaper and Magazine Articles

Read magazine and newspaper articles for reporting, analysis, or opinion on current issues.

Search Tips:

What should you type into the search fields? 
  • Type in simple keywords that capture your topic and what you want to learn about.
    • Example: women veterans
    • Narrower: women veterans AND homelessness
Refine your Search with Database Limiters
  • KEY: To limit your search to only magazine and/or news articles, select magazines or newspapers at Source or Publication Type.
  • If you choose newspaper articles, look for substance! Try limiting to cover stories and features for longer articles.
  • To find opinion, limit to opinion, commentary, or editorials. 
  • Use limiters to select a date range, find useful subject terms, limit to a specific publication, and more.

Library Databases:

Alternative News Media

You can also go directly to the alternative press: 

Local Mainstream Print News

See what's happening locally and how different communities talk about themselves and their issues in the pages of these publications.

Local Alternative Press

Sample Searches for Magazine and Newspaper Articles

  • in Academic Search Complete
  • This search uses the keyword combination homeless* OR unhoused AND women veterans OR female veterans.
    • I added limiters at Source Type to find just magazine and newspaper articles.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Academic Search Complete search - see text for details

Here is the same search in ProQuest Combined Databases:

Search in ProQuest for magazines and newspapers

Current Journalism: A Valuable Source of Information

Why Use Magazines?

Mother Jones cover

(image citation below)

When you search the library's periodical databases, most articles in your results are either from a newspaper, magazine, or journal.

  • A magazine article is a great source of information and analysis on current events and issues. 
  • Magazines may offer opinion.
  • Most magazine articles are written by journalists for a general adult audience. 
  • They tend to be longer and more substantive than newspaper articles, but more accessible than scholarly articles.

Image source: "Cover image for November/December 2013." 2013. MotherJones.com, Mother Jones and the Foundation for National Progress., 2013, www.motherjones.com/mag/2013/11/toc/. Accessed 3 Oct. 2020.


Suggested Magazines

 

 

Why Use Newspapers?

newspapers

(image citation below)

  • Newspaper articles provide us with a daily snapshot of current events and issues. 
  • Read newspaper articles for news and analysis of current and past international, national and local issues. 
  • Newspapers also give us insight into opinion on what's happening in the world.
  • Read editorials, op-eds, and opinion pieces to learn about viewpoints on current and past international, national and local issues.

Image source: Sollok29. News-media-standards.jpg. 8 Apr. 2016. Wikimedia Commons, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:News-media-standards.jpg.

Alternative News Media

You can also go directly to the alternative press: 

Suggested Newspapers

Search Google News for current and archived headlines from around the world.

For more on newspapers, you can link to the Holman Library Newspaper Subject Guide.