Journalism research projects can include various types of information sources, like scholarly research articles, newspaper articles, company and industry information, and demographic data. Using a combination of quality sources helps paint the most complete picture of a topic. 

Follow these steps to get started on your research project: 

1. Develop your thesis statement or research questions. 
    
2. Identify keywords that you can use for search terms. These could be the name of person or company, theory, or key concepts from your research questions. 
    
3. Identify the databases and resources that will help you find the sources you need for your project. Check the tabs to the left to find the databases most relevant to your topic. 
    
4. Conduct a search in these databases using your keywords. Refine your keywords and search strategy and repeat the search until you find the most appropriate materials. Watch the Smooth Operator video to the right for developing an advanced search strategy.  
    
5. Need more research help? Book a research appointment with the librarian for journalism and mass communication.