Media Theory and Ethics (FMP 350)

Discover the best places to find articles on media theory and ethics, and other places to search for information.

For this class you should use the widest possible array of resources. Statistics, polling data, original research are always appropriate. Magazine and newspaper articles are not considered primary research or scholarly sources. Using a healthy balance of many kinds of sources will enhance your article. Look for multiple perspectives or angles as you consider what to select.

Here is a list of selected databases that cover topics related to communication studies. There are many other databases accessible through Zondervan Library that are not mentioned in this list but may be found on the main ZL page.

Journal Finder 

Proprietary databases to which Taylor University subscribes have distinctive differences from search engines such as Google or Google Scholar. A database, generally, is a collection of information organized to provide efficient retrieval of subject matter, specifically scholarly subject matter. They tend to be narrower in scope than Google or Google Scholar. 

Prominent features of proprietary databases generally:

• Cover specific discipline area/s.
• Include academic (peer-reviewed) articles from journals or magazines, electronic books, newspapers, images and research related resources.
• Provide citation information or full text to what may be included in the text of the article (a works cited or bibliography.)
• Are subscriptions for which Zondervan pays. Whereas Google is free some databases are thousands of dollars per year.

Zondervan Library subscribes to over 75 research databases that contain journal, magazine, and newspaper articles on both general and specific disciplines. There are pros and cons for each option. Awareness of the content, organization, precision of search capabilities can save you time and yield the most appropriate and relevant results.

For more information see What is a library database? (Western Oregon University) http://www.wou.edu/provost/library/clip/tutorials/lib_database.htm

This YouTube video give a framework for higher order thinking and evaluating sources to use.

Follow the link below for a video, and read more on the Evaluating Resources guide page.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-fake-news-find-your-social-media-feeds/