COMPUTER-ASSISTED REPORTING PROJECT

1999 RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Completion of this annual questionnaire will require only a few minutes. Answer each item as completely and accurately as possible. Prompt return of the questionnaire by mail or fax is appreciated by March 5, 1999.

PART 1: INSTITUTIONAL AND PERSONAL INFORMATION

1. NEWSPAPER NAME __________________________________________________________

 2. DAILY CIRCULATION _________________________________________________________

 3. YOUR NAME ________________________________________________________________

 4. NEWSPAPER ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

5. YOUR POSITION / TITLE ________________________________________________________________

 6. YOUR BUSINESS TELEPHONEÊ (________) __________________________

 7. YOUR PRIMARY ROLE INVOLVING COMPUTERS IN THE NEWSROOM (Check or mark an ãxä in only one box):

qÊÊÊÊÊ CAR supervisorÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Overall supervisorÊ qÊ Projects supervisor
   qÊ Systems liaisonÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ News researchÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Tech coordinator
   qÊ ReporterÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ EditorÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Production
   qÊÊÊÊÊ Other____________________________________________________

PART 2: COMPUTER-ASSISTED REPORTING

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 1. Does your newspaper currently use computers for newsgathering÷ in addition to writing-word processing and production? (Check only one).

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Yes
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ No
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Donât know

Dr. Bruce Garrison, director, CAR Research Project
Journalism and Photography Program
P.O. Box 248127, Coral Gables, FL 33124-2030
305-284-2846 (voice) and 305-284-3648 (fax)
bruce@miami.edu
www.miami.edu/com/car/index.htm

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ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 2. How many reporters, editors, librarians, and / or other news personnel are involved in CAR work on a regular basis at your newspaper?

________________________________________________________________________

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 3. Describe the best recent daily story or project using databases conducted by your newspaper (or, better, send a photocopy, reprint, or tearsheet of your favorite project). Use an additional page if necessary.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 4. In terms of growth and advancement in your own CAR work, what new computer tools (e.g., hardware or software) do you plan to add or learn in 1999?

a. _____________________________________________________________________

 b. _____________________________________________________________________

 c. _____________________________________________________________________

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 5. Indicate the most important computer skills that new reporters need for their work in your newsroom in 1999 (Check all that apply):

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ DatabasesÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ General online skills
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ GraphicsÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Mapping
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ SpreadsheetsÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Windows, Mac operating systems
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Word processingÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ World Wide Web
   qÊ E-mail or messaging
   qÊ Other ____________________________________________________
   qÊ None

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 6. From the list in the question above, which computer skill is most important? ______________________________________________________________________

PART 3: THE WEB AND ONLINE RESEARCH

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 1. Does your newspaper currently use online services for reporting?
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Yes (if yes, go on to question #3)
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ q ÊÊÊÊ No
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ q ÊÊÊÊ Donât know

2. If no, why not? ______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

-Page 3-

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 3. How often does your newspaper use online research to supplement reporting?

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ At least daily
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ At least once a week
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ At least once a month
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Less than once a month
   q            Never used

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 4. Please indicate which of the following online resources your newspaper regularly uses (Check all that apply):

ÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ America Online
qÊÊÊÊÊ Autotrack Plus
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ CDB Infotek
qÊÊÊÊÊ CompuServe
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ DataTimes
qÊ Dialog / Knowledge Index
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Dow Jones News / RetrievalÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
            qÊÊÊÊÊ FedWorld
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ GEnieÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
   qÊÊÊÊÊ Information America
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Lexis / NexisÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
            qÊÊÊÊÊ Microsoft Network
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ NewsNetÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
            qÊÊÊÊÊ PACER (federal courts)
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Credit information servicesÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
   qÊÊÊÊÊ U.S. Datalink
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Usenet NewsgroupsÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
   qÊÊÊÊÊ Westlaw
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ World Wide WebÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
            qÊÊÊÊÊ Any bulletin board systems
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Any local government online
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Other ________________________________________________
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ None

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 5. Briefly describe the best recent use of online research to assist in reporting a news story (enclose a photocopy, clipping, or tearsheet if you prefer):

 _______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 6. List, in order, up to three most frequently used online databases or services that you or your newsroom staff uses for reporting:

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Most used_________________________________________________

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 2^nd most used ______________________________________________

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 3^rd most used_______________________________________________

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 7. List, in order, up to three most frequently used World Wide Web sites that you or your newsroom staff uses for reporting:

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Most used _________________________________________________

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 2^nd most used _______________________________________________

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 3^rd most used________________________________________________

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 8. What, in your own view as a journalist retrieving information from the Internet, makes a high quality World Wide Web site? (Check all that apply):

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Downloadable, delimited dataÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Easily accessible information
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ IndexedÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Minimum graphics
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Reputable sourceÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Searchable
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ SpeedÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Valid, accurate information
   qÊ Other __________________________________________________
   qÊ None

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ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 9. What are your favorite World Wide Web search engines, directories, or indexes? (Check all that apply):

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ All-in-OneÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ AltaVista
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ DogpileÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Excite
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ HotBotÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ InfoSeek
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ LycosÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Netscape
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ SnapÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ WebCrawler
   qÊ Yahoo!
   qÊ Other ___________________________________________________
   qÊ None

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 10. Which search engine is most important to your work? ___________________________________________________________________

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 11. How do you decide which search engine you are going to use? Please explain.

___________________________________________________________________

 ___________________________________________________________________

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 12. When you link to a search engine, do you use any advanced search options?
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Yes, alwaysÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Yes, sometimes
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ NoÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Donât know

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 13. What is the page that your browser automatically opens to each day when you start your browser?

____________________________________________________________________

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 14. What, in your own view as a journalist retrieving information from the Internet, makes a low quality World Wide Web site? (Check all that apply):
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Bad, out-dated linksÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Cannot search site
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Inaccurate informationÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ No attribution
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Pointless graphicsÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Poor site organization
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Public relations contentÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Slow to load
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ URL, site hard to findÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Useless, bad content
   qÊ No time or date stamp on page
   qÊ Other ____________________________________________________
   qÊ None

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 15. From the list in the question above, which is the worst quality of all? ____________________________________________________________________

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 16. From your experience in preparing news stories, what are the main problems you have encountered that are related to use of information found on the World Wide Web? (Check all that apply):
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Badly sourced informationÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Lack of site credibility
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ No verificationÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Truthfulness
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Unreliable informationÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ URL, site hard to find
            qÊ No contact name, phone, or e-mail
   qÊ Other ____________________________________________________
   qÊ None

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 17. From the list in the question above, which Web problem is most troubling? ____________________________________________________________________

-Page 5-

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 18. Which World Wide Web browser is the one most commonly used in your newsroom? (Check the one most often used):
   qÊ Microsoft Internet ExplorerÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
             qÊ Netscape Navigator/Communicator
   qÊ America Online browserÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
   qÊ CompuServe browser
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Other ___________________________________________________
   q            None

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 19. Which of the following Internet-related applications is used in newsgathering at your newspaper? (Check all that apply):
   qÊÊÊÊÊ Audio conferencingÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Audio streaming technology
   qÊÊÊÊÊ Bulletin board systemsÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Electronic mail
   qÊÊÊÊÊ File transfer protocol ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Internet telephony
   qÊÊÊÊÊ ãPushä technologyÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ Video conferencing
      qÊÊÊÊÊ Video streaming technologyÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ None
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Other ____________________________________________________

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 20. Who most often completes the online research at your newspaper?
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ The reporter working on the assignment
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ A librarian or news researcher
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ The editor overseeing the assignment
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Anyone in the newsroom who knows how to use the online service
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Other ____________________________________________________
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ No one

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 21. Does your newspaper have its own World Wide Web site?
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ YesÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ No ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Donât know

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ If yes, please list the address: http://___________________________________

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 22. In terms of general news reporting, how important or unimportant is the World Wide Web at your newspaper:
   qÊÊÊÊ Very importantÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Not sureÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Unimportant
   qÊÊÊÊ ImportantÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊÊÊÊÊ Very unimportant

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 23. What do you feel is your newspaperâs biggest success with online research? Why?

 ____________________________________________________________________

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 24. What do you feel is your newspaperâs biggest failure with online research? Why?

____________________________________________________________________

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 25. Do you have an E-mail account?
   qÊÊÊÊÊ YesÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ qÊ No (if no, go to Part 4 on the next page)

Address ________________________________________________________

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 26. What are your primary uses of E-mail? (Check all that apply):
   qÊÊÊÊÊ Correspond with sourcesÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
   qÊ Correspond with colleagues, superiors
            qÊÊÊÊÊ Subscribe to mailing listsÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
            qÊ Subscribe to discussion/news groups
   qÊ Other ____________________________________________________

 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 27. If you subscribe to a mailing list, which one is your favorite?

___________________________________________________________________

-Page 6-

 PART 4: GENERAL COMMENTS

1. What, in your view, are the main advantages of using computer-assisted reporting?

 ______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

2. What, in your view, are the main disadvantages of using computer-assisted reporting?

______________________________________________________________________

 ______________________________________________________________________

Thank you very much!

Please place this questionnaire in the enclosed self-addressed and stamped return envelope today and mail it as soon as possible. It must be returned by March 5, 1999. The completed questionnaire may be faxed to 305-284-3648 at any time.