Anne Stuart's No-Frills List
of Resources for Writers and Editors
Selective rather than comprehensive; in progress rather than complete.
- Journalism Stuff
- Media Resource and News Sites
- Research and Source-Finding Sites (see also Reference Stuff, below)
- Journalism Reviews
- Creative Nonfiction Journals
- Journalism Job Sites
- Journalism Mailing Lists
- Journalism Usenet Newsgroups
- Other Online Forums
- Journalism Schools
- Other Journalism Education Programs
- Miscellaneous Journalism Stuff
- Other Writing Stuff
- Technology Stuff (for reporters)
- Business Stuff (for reporters)
- Reference Stuff (for reporters)
- Fun, friends, family links
- Romenesko: (formerly Jim Romenesko's MediaNews): One-of-a-kind media news, gossip, and slugfest site. When a magazine where I used to work was sold, Romenesko reported it first. If I could bookmark just one site, this would be the one. Links to many other news sites.
- Journalist Express: Key media links in one easy-to-use stack. Build your own front page; venture from there to the world. Links to many news sites. "Slow News Day" is an amusing place to start.
- SreeTips.net: Terrific collection of Internet and technology advice and links from Columbia U journalism professor Sree Sreenivasan.
- Journalism.org: Tools for journalists, students, teachers, citizens.
- PowerReporting.com: Outstanding collection of free tools for journalists, including beat resources, awards info, tips for finding people and information, and more, edited by computer-assisted reporting (CAR) expert Bill Dedman.
- IWantMedia: Media news, arranged by industry (TV, radio, magazines, etc.); links, columns.
- American Journalism Review
- MediaBistro: Laurel Touby's site for media and Web people -- a place to meet, greet, share news and resources, post or place ads for jobs, and find schmoozy and literary events.
- MediaLife Magazine
- Mediaweek
- Nelson: The Search Engine for Journalists: Poynter Institute for Media Studies search engine that combs more than 200 journalism-related sites.
- NewsLink
- Poynter Institute: Comprehensive collection of links to news sites and journalism publications, schools, organizations, resources, libraries, jobs.
- Editor & Publisher's MediaInfo: Articles, links, searchable journalism classifieds, lots of new-media info.
- Folio: Magazine industry news site.
- Mr. Magazine: Comprehensive magazine-industry news site created by "Mr. Magazine," j-school prof and magazine consultant Samir A. Husni.
- Web Sites for Journalists: Annotated collection of links.
- International Journalists Network: Online arm of International Center for Journalists.
- AssignmentEditor.com: Great collection of news resources, some available free, many requiring a paid subscription.
- Reporter.org: IRE's well-stocked Web site for journalists, including beat-by-beat resource list.
- FACSNET: Primers, guides, seminars, tools, beat backgrounders and other resources for journalists. Free, but registration required. (Pronounced "FACs-net," for the Foundation for American Communication.)
- ProfNet: Source-finding service and searchable expert database. Free to reporters.
- Research Connect: Database of expert sources and research papers on business, economic, legal, medical, scientific, technical, political and social topics. Free to reporters. .
- Bznet:Source-finding service for business stories. Free to reporters..
- Bacon's MediaMap SourceNet: MediaMap's source-finding service and searchable expert database (registration required).
- JournalismNet: Links for finding people, places, and facts.
- RefDesk.com: All-purpose reference site.
- Journalist's Toolbox, American Press Institute
- CensusScope: Census information portal.
- CBS News Disaster Links: Resources for covering everything from biowarfare to tsunamis.
- FedStats: Federal statistics on almost anything, compiled from 100 federal government agencies.
- Stats.org: George Mason U site monitors media use -- and misuse -- of statistics.
- Forbes Best of the Web: The magazine's favorite sites in every category.
- Newswise Services for Journalists: Sources, news archives, access to embargoed news. Membership required.
- A Journalist's Guide to the Internet: Christopher Callahan's site, packed with reporting tools, but last updated in early 2003. Companion to Callahan's book of the same title (Allyn and Bacon, 1999).
- DeadlineOnline.com: Tips and tools for researchers and reporters; companion site to Alan M. Schlein's Find it Online.
- Other reference sites
- American Journalism Review: Articles, links, and interactive help-wanted section.
- Columbia Journalism Review: Articles, links, journalism awards info.
- Online Journalism Review: Just what it sounds like.
- New York Observer "Off the Record" columns.
- On the Media: NPR's lively weekly media review.
- AP Industry News
- Journalism.org: Online home of Project for Excellence in Journalism and Committee of Concerned Journalists.
- Creative Nonfiction
- Brevity: CNF's online journal of short works
- Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction
- Points of Entry: Cross-Currents in Storytelling
- River Teeth
Collections of links to other literary journals:
Journalism Conferences
- American Society of Journalists & Authors (ASJA): Major public gathering in New York each spring is a must for professional freelance writers and nonfiction book authors.
- National Writers Workshops (NWW): Inexpensive, wide-ranging seminars, coordinated by the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, held in cities nationwide each spring.
- Nieman Narrative Journalism Conference: Premiere conference for staff and freelance print, broadcast, and Web journalists, journalism instructors, and book authors, held in Cambridge, Mass., each fall.
Journalism/Freelance Job Sites
- American Journalism Review: Searchable jobs database; e-mail alerts for job-hunters.
- NewsLink
- JournalismJobs.com: Searchable database of jobs, internships, fellowships; links to other job sites; affiliated with Columbia Journalism Review.
- NewsJobs: Links to many journalism job sites.
- American Society of Newspaper Editors: Ditto; focus on newspapers.
- MediaInfo: Editor & Publisher's online classifieds.
- BusinessJournalism.org: Listings for business journalists.
- IRE (Investigative Reporters & Editors): Online job database.
- J-JOBS: UC-Berkeley's national jobs listings; generally, few listings.
- MediaBistro: Listings for print, new-media, broadcasting, photography, and design jobs. Heavy on Web, magazine, and New York listings; includes freelance jobs.
- Online Journalism Review: Nationwide job listings, online and off.
- IWantMedia.com
Education Job-Search Sites
- HigherEdJobs.com: Includes jobs for journalism and writing instructors.
- Chronicle of Higher Education: Ditto.
General Job-Search Sites
- BostonWorks: Search by media/publishing or journalism.
- CareerBuilder.com
- Flipdog
- Jobfind
- Monster.com
Layoff/Networking Resources
- DigitalEve: National networking group for women in new media and digital technology.
- IWantMedia media layoff tracker
- Layoff Lounge: Many cities nationwide. Events and services for job-hunters.
- Monday Network: Boston area. Professionals "in transition" meet for coffee on Monday mornings to kick off the job-hunting week. Speakers, support, Web forum and resources.
- WIND: Boston, suburbs, New Hampshire. WIND stands for "Wednesday is Networking Day," but groups now meet on different days in different location. Speakers, support.
Electronic mailing lists (sometimes called "listservs") are special-interest discussion groups run by e-mail. They're a terrific way to schmooze with other journalists or track areas you cover. But beware: A lively list can clutter up your inbox in a hurry. Here's more information on finding and using mailing lists.
Newsgroups are Internet-based special-interest discussion groups. They are free, unmoderated, and usually highly specialized (for instance, one might cater to photographers, another to freelancers, another to copyeditors). You can read them online rather than as separate e-mail messages. I never use newsgroups myself, but these sites list what's available:
- American Society of Journalists & Authors: Terrific forums on issues of interests to freelance journalists and authors. Membership required.
- Byline: Lively, practical conference for freelance non-fiction writers; requires membership in the WELL.
- Freelance Success: More terrific forums for freelance journalists. Membership required.
- Romenesko's MediaNews Letters: Discussion on today's media news and gossip.
- Boston University College of Communication
- University of California-Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
- Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
- Emerson College: Journalism Department /Writing, Literature and Publishing
- University of Maryland School of Journalism
- Michigan State University School of Journalism
- University of Missouri School of Journalism
- New York University Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Northeastern University Journalism Department
- Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism
- Stanford University Department of Communication
- S.I. Newhouse School of Journalism, Syracuse University
- Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- Freedom Forum
- Knight Center for Specialized Journalism, University of Maryland
- Nieman Narrative Journalism Program, Harvard University
- The Poynter Institute for Media Studies
- The National Press Foundation
- Poynter links to other programs: long-term fellowships, foundation programs, etc.
- Newswise guide to journalism fellowships and grants
- The Onion: News satire site.
- Feed: World news site with "feeds" from many sources; other resources include global list of cybercafes.
- Inkstain: Narrative journalism site.
- Salon
- Slate
- Who Owns What: Columbia Journalism Review guide to which media companies own what (this week, anyway).
- American Society of Journalists and Authors
- American Society of Magazine Editors: Includes links to winning entries in the annual National Magazine Awards, the Pulitzers of the magazine industry.
- Associated Writing Programs: Lists of writing conferences and programs; articles.
- Author's Guild
- Donald W. Reynolds Center for Business Journalism at the American Press Institute (a.k.a. BusinessJournalism.org): Workshops and other resources for business journalists
- Editorial Freelancers Association
- Investigative Reporters and Editors
- Poets & Writers: Terrific site for information on writers' conferences, workshops, contests, awards, grants, readings; companion to Poets & Writers magazine.
- Poets & Writers links to other literary organizations and sites.
- National Writers Union: Organization for freelance writers.
- PEN American Center: Programs, awards, literary events, freedom-of-expression info
- PEN's Grants and Awards for American Writers -- big annual guide for sale.
- Society of American Business Writers & Editors (SABEW) -- offers seminars, conferences, and other resources for business writers, primarily from newspapers.
Resources
- Travelwriter Marketletter: This e-newsletter is THE source for the latest travel-writing opportunities -- and for lots of other freelance markets as well.
- Freelance Success: Online newsletter, community, and marketplace for freelance writers. Subscription required.
- Pilot-Search: Literary search engine with 11,000 links on topics from awards to 'zines.
- Missouri Review's literary links: Outstanding collection of links to literary journals and sites.
- Oyster Boy Review: Comprehensive list of links to journals and magazines.
- Rejection Collection: Your work just got turned down again? Share the misery here.
- DebCentral: One writer's impressive collection of rejection letters.
- Writers' Digest: Articles, classes, listings, markets, guidelines database, more.
- Writer's Toolbox: Freelancing info, bookstore, resources, mailing lists for all writers.
- The Writer's BBS: Chatroom, bookstore, 50 discussion forums.
- WritersNet: Resources and forums for writers, editors, agents.
- Internet-Resources.com: More links for writers. Text-heavy home page looks overwhelming at first, but drill down for valuable, frequently updated links.
- Writers' Digest 101 Best Sites : Links to best sites for writers.
- Wooden Horse Publishing: Great site for freelance writers. Offers wonderful free e-mail newsletter with magazine-industry news and info. Also offers detailed market reports, classes, and a massive, regularly updated publications database (fees required for these features).
- Writing World: Online classes, articles, tips, calls for submission.
- Amherst Writers & Artists: Workshops, retreats, training for workshop leaders.
- Shaw Guide to Writing Conferences: List of events.
- Writers' Calendar: List of events.
- Poets & Writers: List of events.
- Associated Writing Programs comprehensive list of writers' conferences.
Selected Conferences and Courses
- Bread Loaf Writers Conference
- Castle Hill-Truro Center for the Arts Writing and arts workshops on Cape Cod.
- Fine Arts Work Center, Provincetown: Prestigious winter fellowships, summer and fall arts and writing workshops, in a famous, almost magical community at the tip of Cape Cod.
- Iowa Summer Writing Festival
- Nieman Narrative Journalism Conference, Cambridge
- WritingClasses.com: Online creative-writing classes through Gotham Writers group.
- Literary Horizons: Online classes through Poets & Writers organization.
- Writers.Com: Online writing classes.
- UCLA Extension: Online journalism, creative writing, and literature classes.
- New School Online University: Online journalism and creative writing courses.
- Cambridge Center for Adult Education
- Freelance Success online classes for professional writers.
- WritersOnlineWorkshops: Online classes offered by Writer's Digest
- Writing World: Nonfiction writing classes by e-mail.
- Fathom.com: Portal site for online classes in many fields.
- American Press Institute: Online journalism seminars
TECHNOLOGY STUFF (for reporters)
- ABCNews.com business coverage.
- Ananova interactive news service, featuring virtual newscaster. Based in U.K.; strong European news focus. Click on technology link from home page.
- BayArea.com: San Jose Mercury News and other Silicon Valley resources.
- Blogs:
- NetWatch with D.C. Denison: Boston Globe/Boston.com tech/business columnist
- Dan Gillmor's e-Journal (tech news and info by the well-known columnist).
- Declan McCullagh's PoliTech
- Business 2.0
- Business Week Technology
- CIO: Executive business-technology magazine; fine online resource centers. My former employer.
- CNET: Everything you need to know about the consumer side of technology and the Internet; I particularly like the reviews and price-comparison service.
- CNN science and technology coverage.
- Computerworld: Venerable weekly covering all aspects of high-tech industry.
- DigitalMASS at Boston.com: News, features, columns, events.
- Inc: Leading magazines for entrepreneurs and small-biz folks.
- International Data Group (IDG): Publishes many technology and business magazines (including Computerworld and CIO).
- IDGNet: Technology news and resource mega-site.
- Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) technology news links.
- Mass High Tech: Weekly New England tech newspaper and Web site.
- MSNBC
- NewsFactor Network: Major collection of e-business and tech news sites, including E-Commerce Times, TechNewWorld.com, TechExtreme.com, and others. Free news feed, free specialty newsletters. Bookmark it!
- The New York Times technology and Internet coverage
- Public Relations Society of America Technology Section: Offers annual awards for excellence in technology journalism.
- Salon technology news and commentary
- SciTech Daily Review blog
- Silicon Alley Reporter
- TechWeb, the IT Network (part of CMP Media)
- USA Today technology coverage.
- The Wall Street Journal (subscription required for most access).
- The Washington Post technology coverage (WashTech.com)
- Wired News
- ZDNET: More news and reviews; links to many computer, tech, Internet glossaries.
- Buzzwhack: Defines and demolishes buzzwords like "monetizing," "eyeballs," and "24/7."
- Click2newsites.com tracks Web site launches, rates business and other sites, provides news on "sites making waves in the virtual world."
- ClickZ tips for online writing.
- Conferenza: THE site for high-tech events: searchable calendar, independent coverage of past conferences, free newsletter, wireless alert service for Palm devices.
- Columbia Guide to Digital Publishing: Available both online and in print.
- CNET Tech Glossary: Words, acronyms, technologies -- it's all here.
- Edupage: Terrific -- and free! -- e-mail newsletter summarizing technology news from dozens of publications. Sent three times weekly.
- Great Moments in Multimedia History: From the prehistoric paintings at Lascaux, France, to the debut of Napster, it's all in this concise timeline. Same site has tips on Web writing.
- Internet Press Guild: Membership group promoting excellence in covering technology and the Internet; active e-mail networking lists.
- Internet Marketing Index
- InternetStats.com: Good searchable site for Internet news, info, statistics.
- Newsbytes: Technology news service and site.
- National Association of Science Writers
- Online Journalism Review list of courses in new media and online journalism.
- Techweb's Encyclopedia: Another great glossary and reference guide.
- ScheduleEarth.com: Online guide to conferences, courses, events.
- WriteNews tech list: Links to lots of technology-related sites and publications.
- Web Economy BS Generator: Randomly combines business/tech phrases into sadly realistic buzzword phrases (examples: monetize sticky eyeballs; brand cutting-edge portals).
- WebSmith: Nancy Duvergne Smith's guidelines on writing for the Web.
BUSINESS STUFF (for reporters)
Business Publications and Web Sites
BusinessJournalism.org: Best overall site for business journalists, with news, workshop listings, commentary, and resources. A service of the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism at the American Press Institute.
- ABCNEWS.com business section and resources.
- American City Business Journals: Local biz journals from many cities nationwide.
- Bankrate.com
- Barron's Online
- Business Week
- Business 2.0
- CBS MarketWatch
- CNBC
- CNNfn
- Fast Company
- Financial Times
- Fleet Street Online: Outstanding collection of links to U.S. business newspapers and journals, arranged by state.
- Fortune
- Forbes
- Forbes Best of the Web: The magazine's favorite links in many business categories.
- Harvard Business Online: Info on Harvard Business Review and related newsletters: Harvard Management Update, Harvard Management Communications Letter, Balanced Scorecard Report; also HBS Press.
- Inc.
- Investors Business Daily
- Marketplace program of Public Radio International.
- Money
- MSNBC
- The Motley Fool
- The New York Times business coverage.
- Nightly Business Report: American Public Television show and companion Web site.
- Salon business news and commentary.
- Smart Money
- TheStreet.com
- USA Today business coverage.
- The Wall Street Journal (subscription required for most access).
- The Washington Post business coverage.
Business News and PR Wire Services
- ABCNEWS.com business section.
- Associated Press Wire
- Bloomberg
- Reuters
- PR: Business Wire
- PR: PR Newswire
- Wall Street Executive Library: Premiere business links site, with more than 800 links to major newspapers, business magazines, journals and wires, top business news sites, and dozens of info and research sites.
- CEO Express: Another good general business research site, with a customizable home page.
- Fleet Street Online: Outstanding collection of links to U.S. business newspapers and journals, arranged by state.
- American Business Media: (formerly American Business Press): Offers annual Neal Awards for business and trade publications.
- American Society of Business Publication Editors: Offers awards, conferences, code of ethics.
- Business: The Ultimate Resource: Companion site to the 2002 book, an encyclopedia with contributions from dozens of business leaders, thinkers, and writers. The hefty print guide includes profiles, best-practice essays, a comprehensive dictionary, and much more; sample selections available online.
- BusinessJournalism.org glossary of business terms
- Business Magazine Watch: Summaries of who's reporting on what, from BusinessJournalism.org
- CNNfn Financial Glossary
- FinancialGlossary.com: Searchable list of terms.
- Hoovers corporate research site; much info available free.
- Washington Post Glossary of Business Terms
- New York Times Glossary of Business Terms
- Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) business links.
- Securities and Exchange Commission, including EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval) database of SEC filings.
- ScheduleEarth.com: Online guide to conferences, courses, events.
- Knight-Bagehot fellowships for business journalists, Columbia U.
- Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW). Offers networking, conferences, workshops, and other activities for business journalists.
- Wharton seminars for business journalists.
- National Press Foundation (offers occasional seminars for business journalists)
- Analyst sites: Forrester Research, IDC, Jupiter Communications
- Catch-all analyst site: NUA Internet Surveys: Summarizes reports from many analysts.
- Books, magazine articles and other print resources for business journalists.
Under construction; more to come
- Executive Library: Excellent collection of links to online publications, libraries, dictionaries, encyclopedias, fact-and-fiture sites, calculators, and other online resources and references.
- Library Spot: Portal site to online libraries -- academic, medical, business, film, state, presidential, etc. Also links to hundreds of other useful sites (currency calculators, biography databases, map sites, dictionaries, almanacs, etc.)
- RefDesk (formerly Virtual Reference Desk): Great all-purpose reference site.
- Reference Shelf: Census figures, atlases, dictionaries.
- InfoPlease: Online, searchable almanac; don't miss the addictive quizzes.
- MapStats: Database of federal statistics with user-friendly map.
- Nolo: Wealth of user-friendly legal information, dictionaries, resources.
- Online Conversion: Calculators not just for standard measures such as mileage and volume, but for unusual conversions such as your age in dog years, your name in Morse Code, and what you'd weigh on Jupiter. .
- How Stuff Works: How night-vision goggles work. How mortgages work. How quicksand works. How 3-D glasses work. How microwave ovens work...
- Biography.com: A&E's searchable site with biographical info on 25,000 people.
- Library of Congress
- U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
- U.S. Census Bureau
- Thomas: Congressional information center.
- Alter Ego: Same name, different writer, different work. Visit the bawdy world of the other Anne Stuart.
- Coffee & Pie with Fawn Fitter: My favorite site run by another writer.
- St. Martin/St. Maarten: I spent Christmas 2000 in this Caribbean paradise. I shall return.
- The Straight Dope: Ever wondered why there aren't any "B" batteries? Or whether cats have belly buttons? Or whether it's possible to make a streetlight go out simply by walking past it? Search "The Straight Dope" Q & A database, or ask Cecil yourself.
- Gomez: Before you buy online, check the ratings here; or compare products at MySimon.
Updated September 2004
More to come