The Internet Handbook for Writers, Researchers, and Journalists 2000/2001 Edition

by McGuire, Mary; Stilborne, Linda; McAdams, Melinda; Hyatt, Laurel

• ISBN13: 9781572305502
• ISBN10: 1572305509
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-06-13
• Publisher: The Guilford Press

Summary

Written specifically for writers, researchers, journalists, and students, this handy resource helps novice and experienced computer users take full advantage of Internet and World Wide Web capabilities. Bursting with helpful graphics, sample web pages, and hints and tips in the margins, the book demonstrates how to:
*Develop and trouble-shoot effective Internet search strategies
*Avoid unnecessary library trips
*Generate leads and make contacts by posting queries to mailing lists
*Cite online references appropriately, and steer clear of copyright trouble
*Access hundreds of newspapers around the world in a matter of seconds
*Communicate by e-mail to cut down on irritating phone tag--and expenses!
*Write effectively for publication online

The book also provides focused descriptions of specific Internet applications and technologies, as well as insight on current Internet trends. Bonus features include the full Associated Press Policy for Using Electronic Services, a comprehensive glossary of terms, and numerous lists of professional and general interest Web sites.

Author Biography

Mary McGuire is Associate Professor of Journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Linda Stilborne is an Ottawa-based educator, Internet technology consultant, and writer. Melinda McAdams is Knight Chair Professor of Journalism at the University of Florida. Laurel Hyatt is a freelance journalist whose work on computer-assisted reporting has received extensive coverage in specialized journals such as Scan.

Table of Contents

Introduction	x
Coming to Terms with Cyberspace	1	(17)
Beyond the hype: What's really available on the Net?	3	(6)
E-commerce on the Net	4	(2)
Health information on the Net	6	(1)
Education on the Net	7	(1)
Media on the Net	8	(1)
Internet tools: Keys to unlock the world of information	9	(3)
World Wide Web	10	(1)
Electronic mail	10	(1)
Other Internet applications	11	(1)
Challenges and opportunities in electronic communications	12	(6)
Looking ahead: Will the Internet ``disappear''?	13	(2)
Focus on... 10 neat things you can do online	15	(1)
Further reading	16	(2)
Getting the Most Out of the Web	18	(26)
WWW: An overview	19	(1)
Browsers	19	(4)
Netscape vs. Explorer	19	(2)
Other browser options	21	(2)
Navigating basics	23	(8)
URLs	24	(2)
Browser features	26	(1)
Setting preferences	26	(2)
Browser hotlists	28	(1)
Tips for using browsers	29	(2)
Portal sites	31	(2)
Dancing with your browser: Other Internet applications	33	(8)
Streaming and other media	33	(2)
M3P	35	(1)
Video on the Web	35	(3)
Web conferencing	38	(2)
Focus on... PDF files	40	(1)
Online chat	41	(1)
Desktop videoconferencing	41	(1)
A last word	42	(1)
Further reading	43	(1)
Search Strategies and Techniques	44	(28)
Searching the Web for information	45	(3)
Developing a search strategy	46	(1)
The best place to start...	46	(1)
Search tools	47	(1)
Subject directories---a bird's-eye view	48	(4)
Focus on... UnCover Web	52	(1)
Search engines---the most comprehensive results	52	(11)
Metasearch tools	63	(2)
Starting pages for journalists---a place to browse	65	(3)
Comparing search tools	68	(1)
A last word	68	(3)
Further reading	71	(1)
Beyond Search Engines: The Undiscovered Web	72	(22)
Subject guides	73	(2)
Libraries on the Net	75	(3)
Focus on... Telnet	78	(2)
Databases	80	(5)
Media on the Web	85	(5)
Government information on the Net	90	(2)
A last word	92	(1)
Further reading	93	(1)
Beyond the Web: E-Mail; Finding Sources; Listservs, Newsgroups, and FAQs	94	(23)
Electronic mail as a research tool	95	(5)
A comparison of e-mail programs	97	(2)
A word of warning about e-mail	99	(1)
Finding people and experts on the Net	100	(6)
Finding e-mail addresses	100	(1)
Finding phone numbers, addresses, and reverse directories	101	(3)
Finding experts online	104	(2)
Listservs and newsgroups	106	(8)
Listservs: Where experts share information	107	(3)
Focus on... Listservs for networking	110	(3)
Newsgroups: Where people share opinions	113	(1)
Spying on people online	113	(1)
Conducting interviews online	114	(1)
Getting the FAQs	115	(1)
A last word	115	(1)
Further reading	116	(1)
Managing and Verifying Online Information	117	(17)
Evaluating information resources	118	(2)
Managing information overload	120	(2)
How to organize a hotlist	122	(4)
Focus on... Bookmark organizers and Net search assistant software	126	(1)
Personalized news	127	(2)
Managing e-mail overload	129	(2)
Personal information managers	131	(1)
Keeping up to date	132	(1)
A last word	132	(1)
Further reading	133	(1)
Writing for the Web	134	(40)
What is HTML?	135	(3)
Basic HTML tags	138	(12)
Tags that should be in all HTML documents	141	(2)
Common text-formatting tags	143	(1)
Hypertext links	144	(3)
Adding images to Web pages	147	(1)
Other tags and codes	148	(1)
Other HTML capabilities	149	(1)
Focus on... Making a Web page yourself	150	(3)
Web graphics	153	(5)
Clip art	153	(1)
Your own original images	154	(1)
Scanned images	155	(1)
Keeping image size in check	155	(1)
Web graphics file formats	155	(1)
Recommended graphics software (shareware)	156	(1)
Screen colors and Web browsers	157	(1)
Adding color to text and backgrounds	157	(1)
HTML editor software	158	(2)
Designing Web content	160	(3)
Page design	161	(1)
Navigation	162	(1)
A word about graphics	162	(1)
How to write for the Web	163	(6)
Putting your own Web pages online	169	(1)
How to publicize your Web site	170	(1)
A last word	171	(1)
Further reading	172	(2)
Technology: Beyond the Basics	174	(87)
Getting connected	175	(3)
Computers	175	(1)
Modems	175	(1)
Getting an Internet account	176	(2)
High-speed modems	178	(2)
Cable modems	178	(1)
Digital subscriber lines (DSLs)	179	(1)
Client/server computing---the skinny	180	(1)
Browser plug-ins	180	(3)
Offline browsers	183	(1)
Downloading software	184	(2)
Compressed files	186	(2)
Computer viruses	188	(4)
Epilogue	190	(2)
Appendices
A Resources on the Web	192	(62)
I Professional and Internet Resources	193	(41)
II General-Interest Resources	234	(20)
B Citing online sources	254	(2)
C Copyright issues	256	(2)
D Associated Press policy for using electronic services	258	(3)
Glossary	261	(11)
Index	272