Subject Guides: Journalism: Major Topics

New@AU: Journalism Books

AEJMC: Book Reviews

Major Topics in Journalism Studies

Major topics in journalism research vary from program to program, as well as from one historical moment to the next. At the same time, because of its on-going interest on the impact of news on the general public, journalism usually has a strong ties the following areas:

Social change & social media;
Investigative reporting;
Media watchdog groups & activities.

Use the links below to find additional resources related to major topics in journalism.

Useful Links: Media Watchdog Groups

Media Research Center
The Media Research Center is a 501(C)3 organization whose mission is to educate the public and media on bias in the media. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA.
FAIR: Fairness and Accuracy in News Reporting
An anti-censorship non-profit organization that highlights and criticizes media bias. FAIR also publishes the magazine "Extra!" and produces the weekly radio program "CounterSpin."
Accuracy in Media
A non-profit, grassroots citizens watchdog of the news media that critiques "botched and bungled news stories and sets the record straight on important issues that have received slanted coverage." Founded in 1969.

Useful Links: Investigative Reporting Websites

Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting
Founded in 1977, the Center for Investigative Reporting is the nation's oldest nonprofit investigative news organization, producing multimedia reporting that has impact and is relevant to people's lives.
Center for Public Integrity
The mission of the Center for Public Integrity and iWatch News is to produce original investigative journalism about significant public issues to make institutional power more transparent and accountable. Recent investigative topics have included the environment, public health, public accountability, federal and state lobbying, war profiteering, and financial disclosure.
Global Investigative Journalism Network
A network composed of nonprofit investigative journalism organizations that produce stories, conduct training, provide resources and encourage the creation of similar nonprofit groups.
Investigative Reporters and Editors
A grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of investigative reporting. Formed in 1975 to create a forum in which journalists throughout the world could help each other by sharing story ideas, news-gathering techniques and news sources.
Investigative Reporting Workshop
A professional journalism center in the School of Communication at American University that (1) conducts significant, multimedia investigative journalism projects on a national and international scale, and (2) researches and experiments with new models for creating and delivering investigative projects.
PBS Frontline
A television program that has served as "American public television's flagship public affairs series" since 1983. Well-known venue for investigative documentaries.
PRWatch
A non-profit investigative reporting group that focuses on exposing corporate spin and government propaganda. Publishes PRWatch, SourceWatch, and BanksterUSA.

Useful Links: Social Change & Social Media

Center for Social Media
An AU research center founded in 2001 by SOC professor Patricia Aufderheide, CSM "showcases and analyzes media for public knowledge and action—media made by, for, and with publics to address the problems that they share."