The following set of resources were compiled by University of Minnesota librarian Van Houlson. As the Journalism and Strategic Communications collection specialist, he keeps his eye out for key information resources. For students at the University of Minnesota, the links will take you to the sign in for access. Others looking at this guide might need their own subscriptions or access through a university, public, or corporate library.
University Libraries Website
https://www.lib.umn.edu/
• Find collections, locations, and services
• Search for books, articles, media and online content using MNCAT Discovery
• Find databases by subject
• Find online journals, magazines, or newspapers
• Get help
Journalism Library Website
https://www.lib.umn.edu/journalism
• Find databases for strategic communication or journalism
• Use Library Course Pages to find class readings, textbooks, and databases
• Citation guides and other information management tools
• Get help from the Journalism Librarian
Business Information Website
https://www.lib.umn.edu/business
• Company directories, profiles, and financial information
• Industry and market research reports
• Articles from business publications
• International business resources
• Library assistance from business information experts
ProQuest Newsstand
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/4487
Full text access to daily newspapers including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and regional newspapers like the Star Tribune. Dates of coverage vary, but range from 1990-present.
Factiva
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/12681
A global source of news content with features to limit by geography, language, or types of publications. Strong coverage of news from wire services and business sources good for company research.
LexisNexis Academic
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/3317
Large database of full text articles from newspapers, wire services, business publications, legal sources, transcripts, blogs, college and university newspapers.
Google News
https://news.google.com/
Aggregator of news from both news websites worldwide. Articles often include additional social media posts, videos, and supplementary information.
NewsLibrary.Com
http://nl.newsbank.com/
Search engine for local and regional newspapers for the United States. Searching is free but articles are fee based. Articles can be obtained from Hennepin County Library using a similar Newsbank database called World Access News.
EBSCO Megafile
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/12737
A large multidisciplinary database of articles from magazines, academic journals, trade magazines and selected newspapers that go back over 50 years.
Expanded Academic ASAP
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/16007
General article database for magazines, journals, and news sources with coverage back to 1980.
Communication and Mass Media Complete
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/13292
Articles from journals and trade magazines on topics in mass media, film, television, marketing, and communications in business, health, and other communication studies.
Film and Television Literature Index
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/15190
Articles from trade magazines, journals, books on film and television.
SRDS Media Solutions
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/18762
Directory of trade magazines, professional magazines and consumer magazines and other media outlets such as websites, television, cable, radio, outdoor advertising, and direct marketing. Find advertising rates, audience metrics, website analytics, media kits, profiles, and contacts.
Google Scholar
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/11143
Find articles from a wide variety of academic publishers, professional societies, and universities, and reports from research centers.
MNCAT Discovery
http://www.lib.umn.edu
Limit searches to articles from journals, news, magazines, and reports.
JSTOR
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/2670
Full text articles in academic journals and books in the arts, humanities, and social sciences that is useful for historical research.
Web of Science
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/3050
Index to articles from the highest ranked academic journals in all subject disciplines. Includes unique features for researching articles by cited literature.
Databases by Subject
http://www.lib.umn.edu/subjects
Find article databases by subject areas
Associations Unlimited
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/11167
Search for associations and professional societies by keyword or category. Get contact information or visit websites of these specialized information producers.
Research Centers Directory
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/18928
Search for research centers in the United States to locate experts and specialized information from scientific, social science, or humanities institutes.
Leadership Library
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/18442
Detailed information about people and organizational structure of corporations, nonprofits, news outlets, associations, law firms, courts, and local, state, and federal government.
GuideStar
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/9285
Directory of nonprofits in the United States to locate organizations by geography, type, income, keywords and other criteria. Includes 990 tax return with financial information and other details about operations.
Foundation Directory
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/13877
Directory of grantmakers, companies, and awards. Profiles of mission, analysis of expenses and revenue and other financial information including IRS 990 tax returns.
Emarketer
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/19471
Search engine for statistics and studies gathered by market researchers, trade organizations, scientific publications, and government sources. Includes opinion polls.
Statista
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/18950
Search engine for statistics and studies gathered by market researchers, trade organizations, scientific publications, and government sources. Includes opinion polls.
Proquest Statistical
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/2222
Finding tool for statistical publications from government agencies, international organizations, trade associations, commercial publishers, research institutes, and universities.
Data Planet
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/18637
Thousands of datasets for locations worldwide to create charts, maps, or rankings.
iPoll Databank
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/18255
Resource from the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research that allows searching of datasets from 150 polling organizations that include all major survey firms, academic, commercial, and media polls.
Pew Research Center
http://www.pewresearch.org/
Research institute that conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other social science research on issues, attitudes and trends shaping America.
Polling The Nations
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/2825
Surveys from 700 polling organizations in the United States and other countries organized by topic.
CQ Researcher
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/1820
Publisher of research on public policy, politics, history, and current affairs.
Proquest Congressional
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/2363
Find congressional documents and reports, including Congressional Research Service reports on current topics.
Government Accountability Office
http://www.gao.gov/browse/topic
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress and investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars.
PolicyFile
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/6902
Content from think tanks, university research programs, research organizations and publishers.
Journalist’s Toolbox
http://www.journaliststoolbox.org/archive/public-records
Lists of websites for journalists to find organizations, public data, and other public records data.
Mintel
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/11269
Market research reports on consumer products, services, and lifestyles. Each report describes the economic drivers, leading companies, market share, market size, trends, segmentation, and consumer attitudes and purchasing habits.
Passport
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/11022
Market research on countries, companies, markets, and consumers. Statistics, profiles and lifestyle analysis on countries worldwide.
Sports Business Research Network
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/4648
Reports and statistics on sports participation, sporting goods, sports fan markets, consumer expenditures, brands, attendance at sports facilities, online media and television demographics.
IBIS World
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/14593
Profiles of industries across all sectors in the United States and China. Find key statistics, leading companies, market characteristics, industry conditions, and sources of more information.
NetAdvantage
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/9568
Reports from S&P Capital IQ on large industries in the United States. Each report describes the current environment, trends, leading companies, comparative financial statistics, key ratios, a glossary of terms, and sources of information for an industry.
GfK MRI Reporter
http://www.mri.gfk.com/solutions/the-survey-of-the-american-consumerr/
Demographic and psychographic information about products, brands, and attitudes. Survey data used to perform cross tabulation of consumer preferences to find target audiences for marketing and advertising campaigns. Requires registration for personal account.
Simmons Oneview
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/18044
Survey data to find target markets and consumer profiles for brands and products. Use for advertising campaigns, market research, and business plans. Search brands or products to cross tabulate against demographic variables such as age, income, and education.
ComScore
http://mymetrix.comscore.com
Web analytics and rankings of websites for companies and organizations to find demographic profiles of consumers. Request a password or use a computer at the Journalism Library.
Local Market Audience
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/18762
Demographic analysis and consumer profiles by counties, states, and cities. Market profile reports, demographic reports, and lifestyle analysis of consumer behavior and market potential. Access via SRDS Media Solutions and use Internet Explorer.
American Factfinder
http://factfinder.census.gov
Demographic and business statistics for the United States from the U.S. Census.
PolicyMap
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/18646Data and mapping application to over 15,000 indicators related to demographics, housing, crime, mortgages, health, jobs and more.
SimplyMap
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/16942
Web-based mapping application that lets users quickly create thematic maps and reports using demographic, business, and marketing data for the United States.
ESRI Business Analyst Online
https://bao.arcgis.com/
Request access from USpatial (uspatial@umn.edu) to analyze consumers by location. Research the lifestyles, buying behavior, and businesses for given market area.
WARC
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/18789
Case studies, market reports, statistics, and articles from Admap, Market Leader, the Iternational Journal of Market Research, Journal of Advertising Research and other research publications from the World Advertising Research Council.
AdAge Datacenter
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/727
Full access to Advertising Age along with rankings and statistics from the AdAge Datacenter. The Datacenter provides analysis of the advertising and media industry along with profiles of agencies and media companies.
Advertising Redbooks
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/14090
Information about advertisers, agencies, public relations firms and media buying services. Search for agencies and advertisers by industry, specialization, location, and sales. To access, click on “Sign In”, then select “IP Portal University Library Users”
Adspender
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/14305
Find advertising media spending by company, brands, products, or industries across all media channels. Licensed for 2 simultaneous users.
AdForum
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/19127
Covers the work of agencies worldwide with interviews for case studies, packaging, branding and design for major brands. Use this database to research advertisements by agencies, advertiser, brands, campaigns, or creative staff.
Coloribus
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/17389
Global archive of advertising from TV and cinema, print magazines and newspapers, outdoor billboards and posters, online, direct marketing, and radio. Search by advertiser, product, brand, release date, country of origin, and creative credits, among other attributes.
Hoover Company and Industry Reports
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/18518
Profiles of public and private companies worldwide with business description, history, facts, and contacts, competitors, products, services, and press releases. Includes industry reports from First Research.
Corporate Affiliations
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/4119
Learn about the corporate family structure among large public and private companies such as divisions, subsidiaries, sales, competitors, acquisitions, industry descriptions, and brand names.
PrivCo
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/18544
Profiles of privately-held companies with business description, recent events, ownership, legal issues, and financial information. Requires a special registration.
MarketLine Company and Industry Profiles
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/12354
Use Business Source Premier to find company or industry reports. Profiles of major corporations include key facts, business description, history, key employees with biographies, products and services, revenue analysis, SWOT analysis, top competitors, locations and subsidiaries.
ReferenceUSA
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/19056
Directory of businesses, health care, and residential listings in the United States and Canada. Search by company name, location, business type, to create lists or find contacts.
Mergents
http://www.lib.umn.edu/get/2288
Profiles of public corporations around the world that includes summaries, company histories, property, financials, subsdiaries, joint ventures, long term, press release and historical annual reports. Includes access to reports from the Securities Exchange Commission that discloses information about their financial condition, products, business segments, and executive compensation.
Annual Reports
Public companies publish annual reports to their shareholders with information about their operations, products, and finances. Look under “Investor Relations” on the company website.
