Information Resources on the Media in the USA

• The State of the News Media. The Pew Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism
  

  The State of the News Media has been published since 2004 is as an annual report on the status of American journalism. The study contains special reports on how news consumers view the financial struggles of the industry and how the local, cable and network TV news landscape has changed in recent years. It also includes analysis of the main sectors of the news media and an essay on digital developments.

• Pew Research Journalism Project. The Pew Research Center’s Journalism Project, founded in 1997 as the Project for Excellence in Journalism, seeks to assess the state of news and information in a changing society. The project employs a variety of empirical research methods to analyze whether people are getting the information they need for a functioning society. It publishes research on who is reporting the news and what new players are emerging; what is being reported on and what gaps in coverage exist; how news is consumed and how the economic models for news are changing. In addition to reports on these topics, each year the project produces the State of the News Media report, which examines key questions facing the industry.

• ProPublica is an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. Our work focuses exclusively on truly important stories, stories with “moral force.” We do this by producing journalism that shines a light on exploitation of the weak by the strong and on the failures of those with power to vindicate the trust placed in them.

• Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media. Launched in May 2004, Media Matters for America put in place, for the first time, the means to systematically monitor a cross section of print, broadcast, cable, radio, and Internet media outlets for conservative misinformation — news or commentary that is not accurate, reliable, or credible and that forwards the conservative agenda — every day, in real time.

• MediaChannel.org is a non-commercial and not-for-profit network of media analysis presented in the public interest. MediaChannel is focused on the political, cultural, and social impacts of the media, large and small. MediaChannel exists to provide information from diverse perspectives that inspire debate, collaboration, action, and citizen engagement that facilitates a responsible media. We aspire to offer global commentary and analysis through connections with colleagues worldwide.

• Project Censored educates students and the public about the importance of a truly free press for democratic self-government. We expose and oppose news censorship and we promote independent investigative journalism, media literacy, and critical thinking. Project Censored’s work highlights the important links among a free press, media literacy and democratic self-government.

• Media Roots is a citizen journalism project that reports the news from outside of party lines while providing a collaborative forum for conscious citizens, artists and activists to unite. ("About")

• The Committee of Concerned Journalists is a consortium of journalists, publishers, owners and academics worried about the future of the profession.

• The Bureau of Investigative Journalism is a consortium of journalists, publishers, owners and academics worried about the future of the profession.

• The Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) is a boutique investigative research and reporting group with a demonstrated capacity to break major news stories and highlight the work of advocates. CMD's niche is investigating and exposing the undue influence of corporations and front groups on public policy, including PR campaigns, lobbying, and electioneering. CMD's original reporting helps educate the public and aid grassroots action about policies affecting people’s lives—their rights and the health of our democracy.

• FAIR is a national media watch group. It has been offering well-documented criticism of media bias and censorship since 1986. We work to invigorate the First Amendment by advocating for greater diversity in the press and by scrutinizing media practices that marginalize public interest, minority and dissenting viewpoints. As an anti-censorship organization, we expose neglected news stories and defend working journalists when they are muzzled.

• The Project for Excellence in Journalism is a research organization that specializes in using empirical methods to evaluate and study the performance of the press. It is non partisan, non ideological and non political.

• Columbia Journalism Review attempts to encourage excellence in journalism in the service of a free society. Founded in 1961 under the auspices of Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, CJR monitors and supports the press as it works across all platforms, and also tracks the ongoing evolution of the media business. [...] CJR.org weighs in daily, hosting a conversation that is open to all who share a commitment to high journalistic standards in the US and around the world. ("About Us")

• Journalism Tools from Columbia Journalism Review

• SourceWatch is a collaborative project of the Center for Media and Democracy to produce a directory of the people, organizations and issues shaping the public agenda. SourceWatch's primary focus is on documenting public relations firms, think tanks, industry-funded organizations and industry-friendly experts that work to influence public opinion and public policy on behalf of corporations, governments and special interests. Over time, SourceWatch has broadened to include others involved in public debates including media outlets, journalists and government agencies.

• Democracy Now! is a national, daily, independent, award-winning news program hosted by journalists Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. For true democracy to work, people need easy access to independent, diverse sources of news and information. But the last two decades have seen unprecedented corporate media consolidation. Democracy Now! is funded entirely through contributions from listeners, viewers, and foundations. We do not accept advertisers, corporate underwriting, or government funding. This allows us to maintain our independence. ("About Democracy Now!")

• Editor&Publisher is America's oldest journal covering the newspaper industry and it is the authoritative journal covering all aspects of the North American newspaper industry, including business, newsroom, advertising, circulation, marketing, technology, online and syndicates.

• Index on Censorship is an international organisation that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression. We fight for free speech around the world, challenging censorship whenever and wherever it occurs. Index uses a unique combination of journalism, campaigning and advocacy to defend freedom of expression for those facing censorship and repression, including journalists, writers, social media users, bloggers, artists, politicians, scientists, academics, activists and citizens. Index believes that free expression is the foundation of a free society and endorses Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression."

• US newspaper indexes (Library of Congress)

• U.S. News Archives on the Web

• Researching Historic American Newspapers

• International News Archives on the Web (Special Libraries Association)