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Libraries Indiana University Bloomington

Media Studies

Media Studies refers to the broad range of interdisciplinary subjects focusing on media culture and production.

Introduction & News Literacy

The News & Newspapers section of this guide will help you learn how to evaluate and fact-check sources. It also offers resources that will connect you to local news outlets and other news/newspaper sources at IU Bloomington.

News & Newspaper Research Keywords

  • Broadcast
  • Editorial
  • Journalism
  • Local Media/News
  • News Companies/Outlet/Publications
  • Press
  • Print Media
  • Public Television
  • Reporting

Evaluating News Sources

When doing research, you're going to encounter a large amount of information. How can you tell if it's reliable and good information? One way to evaluated sources is by using the CRAAP Test created by the Meriam Library at California State University, Chico:

Currency: the timeliness of the information

  • When was the information published or posted?
  • Has the information been revisited or updated?
  • Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work as well?

Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs

  • Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
  • Who is the intended audience?
  • Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
  • Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this one is one you will use?
  • Would you be comfortable citing this source in your research paper?

Authority: the source of the information

  • Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
  • What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
  • Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
  • Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?

Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content

  • Where does the information come from?
  • Is the information supported by evidence?
  • Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
  • Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
  • Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
  • Are there spelling, grammar, or typographical errors?

Purpose: the reason the information exists

  • What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain, or persuade?
  • Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
  • Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda?
  • Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
  • Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?

Fact Checking & Bias Checking Sites

Website What's There? Why Use It?
AP Fact Check

Fact-checking, accountability journalism and misinformation coverage from AP journalists around the globe.

 The Associated Press provides a large network of journalists that work to provide accurate information. Focuses on public figures on an international scale.
Fact Check.org A nonpartisan fact checking project based out of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Provides fact-checking within U.S. politics and government. Partnered with Facebook to help fight misinformation surrounding political content on social media.
Lead Stories "Just because it's trending, doesn't mean it's true." Lead stories focuses on correcting major stories that can be deceptive or exaggerated. Primarily focuses on headlines or social media content going viral or that has a large following. 
Snopes Fact-checking and research exploring commonly misunderstood topics from popular media, major world events, politics, and user-submitted topics. Provides a wider range of what will be researched as misinformation and biased information including some popular media or folklore.
AllSides Analyses on major political events, lawmaking decisions, and global issues through multiple political stances.  Shares different perspectives on major issues as well as evaluates major news networks for media bias. Aims to share as much unbiased news as possible.
Hoaxy Data-visualization of the spread of tweets through Twitter Search API. Provides a visual of the spread of misinformation on social media and the amount of people misinformation can impact.

Video: How to Spot Fake News, FactCheck.Org (2016).

For more critical engagement with the media ecosystem, read about some of the problems with the current system and how you can stay informed and aware when engaging with various kinds of media.

Local Media

Campus and Local Newspapers

The Herald-Times 

Local newspaper for Bloomington, Indiana, and surrounding communities.

Indiana Daily Student  

Indiana University Bloomington's student-run newspaper. Available in print at stands around campus and online. Publishes on a variety of issues relevant not to IU and surrounding community.

Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism 

The IU Media School has launched the Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism, which includes posts on current events.

B Square Bulletin  

Independent news coverage by local journalist David Askins. Focus is primarily on government meetings and other city and county issues with special focus on elections, budgets, and local hot-button issues.

The Bloomingtonian  

Features local news for Bloomington, Indiana as well as photojournalism from other locations.

WFYI - Indianapolis Public News  

The NPR and PBS affiliate for Indiana's state capital.

NUVO  

Independent community journalism for Indianapolis.

Historical Newspapers & Newspaper Archives

Hoosier State Chronicles  

Monroe County newspapers 1869–1932. Searchable by keyword. Part of the Indiana State Library's Digital Historic Newspaper Program.

Monroe County Timeline

The Monroe County Timeline, an authoritative and popular index of our county's historical and curiously interesting events, was created through a partnership between Monroe County History Center, the Office of Archives and Records Management at Indiana University Bloomington (part of IU Libraries), and the Library. Built by the community, it showcases county events in a timeline format.

Indiana Newspaper Bibliography

Historical accounts of all Indiana newspapers published from 1804 to 1980 and locational information for all available copies, both original and microfilm.

WBWB - 96.7 FM 

WFIU - 103.7 FM Classical & Jazz

WTTS - 92.3 FM  Rock

WGCL - 1370 AM News, Sports, Talk

WHFB - 93.1 & 98.1 FM Community Radio

WHCC - 105.1 FM Country

WIUX - 99.1 FM Indiana University Pure Student Radio

WCLS - 97.7 FM  

Bloomington Community Access Television

Bloomington Community Access Television, commonly known as CATS, is made possible through the cooperative support of the Monroe County Public Library, the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, the town of Ellettsville, HoosierNet, and Insight Communications.

WTIU - Indiana University Television

Bloomington's Public Television Station is WTIU - Indiana University Television. WTIU features local shows and news, as well as nationally-known PBS programming. WTIU receives support from Indiana University, local government, area business partners, and individual members.

Limestone Post

Online nonprofit magazine which has recently shifted to include more content on community issues. Publishes less frequently, but articles are often in the long-form style.

Bloom Magazine

Bloom Magazine is the culture and lifestyle publication for Bloomington, Indiana, and surrounding areas.

WIUX Podcasts

Indiana University student run media group's podcast collection.

The Ryder Magazine and Film Series

The Ryder is famous for hosting film screening all over town, but they also publish a magazine full of event listings, articles, and media reviews. You can find them online, or pick up free issues near many IDS stands and at local businesses.

Indianapolis Monthly

Indianapolis-based general interest magazine.

Databases

Below, we've provided a selection of databases to help you find newspapers and other news sources. For a more extensive listing, navigate to the "Databases" page of our Recommended Resources for Media Studies and select one of the two Newspapers tabs.

Citations