Library Guides: JOUR 2311: Multiplatform Reporting &amp; Writing: Topic Background

Gathering Background Information

Whenever you start researching a good topic, it's good to do some background. Background research helps you identify:

Events related to your topic. Could be recent or more long term depending on the topic
Major players, including both people and organizations.
Viewpoints: what is up for debate about this topic.

CQ Researcher
explores hot topics in the news. Every 12,000 word report is written by an experienced journalist and features comments from experts, lawmakers and citizens on all sides of a given issue.
Opposing Viewpoints
Opposing Viewpoints covers a wide range of both perennial and newer issues that are controversial. Topic pages provide an overview of the topic, viewpoints on different sides of the issue, and links to newspaper, magazine and journal articles as well as statistics, video and audio reports.