The Journalist's Resource

Prioritizing mental health in the newsroom: 5 tips to get you started It is possible for newsrooms to prioritize mental health. The key is starting small. A panel of experts share their advice and solutions.

In this 2023 piece, experts share insights and tips for taking care of journalists who cover traumatic events.
#journalism #mentalhealth

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Carbon offsets: 4 things journalists need to understand From our recent webinar with CarbonPlan, learn how voluntary carbon offsets work and how journalists can use OffsetsDB, a data repository.

In this July 2022 piece, you'll learn how voluntary carbon offset markets work and how journalists can use OffsetsDB, a free data repository, to check companies’ carbon neutrality and "net zero" claims.

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Reducing homelessness in the U.S.: A research-based explainer As municipalities across the U.S. federal funding cuts, we dig into the research on what works to help people achieve permanent housing.

NEW: As municipalities face potential cuts to federal funding for addressing homelessness, we dig into the research on what works to help people achieve permanent housing.

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White papers, working papers, preprints: What's the difference? We explain the pros and cons of four types of research paper: White papers, working papers, preprints and academic journal articles.

In this 2022 piece, we explain the most common types of research papers journalists will encounter, noting their strengths and weaknesses.

journalistsresource.org/media/workin...

How to spot predatory journals: 4 tips and 2 checklists - The Journalist's Resource It’s important for journalists to be aware of predatory journals because such journals pose a threat for the integrity of science journalism.

NEW: It’s important for journalists to be aware of predatory journals because such journals pose a threat to the integrity of science journalism. Here are 4 tips and 2 checklists:

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Study sheds light on journalists’ knowledge of predatory journals - The Journalist's Resource In-depth interviews with health and science journalists reveal that most believed predatory journals are a problem for their peers, or a problem in theory, but not a problem they would ever fall for t...

NEW: In-depth interviews with health and science journalists reveal that while some feel confident in identifying predatory journals, they still mostly rely on prestige journals to avoid problematic research.

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6 tips to help you avoid overgeneralizing research findings Read this to avoid overgeneralize research results, or reporting that they apply to a larger group of people than they actually do.

NEW: Journalists often overgeneralize study results by reporting that they apply to a much larger group of people than they actually do. In this tip sheet, scholars offer guidance and explain why it's a bad idea to rely on AI tools to summarize research.

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How and why the government borrows money With interest costs outpacing defense spending, this piece will help journalists understand the public debt and explain it to audiences.

The US government is paying $1 trillion a year in interest on its debt. With interest costs outpacing national defense spending, this June 2025 piece will help journalists understand the public debt and explain it to audiences.

journalistsresource.org/economics/pu...

Covering Trump’s tariffs? 4 things you need to know The Journalist's Resource and Econofact recently hosted a webinar on covering tariffs. Watch the recording and read key takeaways.

In January, The Journalist's Resource and Econofact hosted a webinar featuring two trade economists and an NPR producer whose reporting teams have covered tariffs. Here are 4 key takeaways to help you with your reporting.

journalistsresource.org/economics/tr...

Abortion pill mifepristone: An explainer and research roundup This piece explains what medication abortion is and lists overwhelming evidence that shows mifepristone and misoprostol's safety.

This piece, published in June 2024, aims to help inform the narrative on medication abortion with scientific evidence.

journalistsresource.org/health/mifep...

State debt: How and why US states borrow money Learn the types of public projects that states fund by issuing debt and download an exclusive state-by-state debt database.

In this piece, we explain the types of public projects that states fund by issuing debt, how states take on debt and why journalists should cover state debt — plus, you can explore a state-by-state debt database.

journalistsresource.org/economics/st...

Accidental falls in the older adult population: What academic research shows Each year, more than 1 in 4 older adults in the U.S. report falling and 1 in 10 are injured from a fall. This research-based explainer explores disparities, prevention efforts and costs associated wit...

It's Falls Prevention Awareness Week. Each year, more than 1 in 4 older adults in the U.S. report falling and 1 in 10 are injured from a fall. In this 2024 research-based explainer, we explore disparities, prevention efforts and costs associated with falls.

journalistsresource.org/health/accid...

Don’t say ‘prove’: How to report on the conclusiveness of research findings In this tip sheet, we explain why it's rarely accurate to report that research studies prove anything — even if a press release says so.

This tip sheet explains why it's rarely accurate for news stories to report that a new study proves anything — even when a press release says it does.

journalistsresource.org/media/dont-s...

13 questions journalists should ask to gauge research quality Asking these 13 questions can help journalists spot red flags in research, including studies that policymakers cite to defend their stances.

Asking these 13 questions can help journalists spot red flags in research, including studies that policymakers and elected officials use to defend their stances on certain issues.

journalistsresource.org/media/good-r...

Self-care tips for journalists -- plus a list of several resources There may be a silver lining to the traumatic year that last year was. The topic of journalists’ mental health is becoming less taboo.

We know many of you are feeling burned out by the nonstop news cycle. This piece, published in 2021, offers practical self-care tips. Take a break, check it out and share it with anyone who might need a reset.
#selfcare #journalism #mentalhealth

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8 key facts journalists should know about minority-serving institutions Knowing these eight things will help journalists ask better questions and provide more probing coverage of minority-serving institutions.

This tip sheet will help journalists cover the U.S. Department of Education's decision to slash funding for hundreds of colleges and universities designated as minority-serving institutions.

#education #MSI #journalism

journalistsresource.org/home/minorit...

How and why the government borrows money With interest costs outpacing defense spending, this piece will help journalists understand the public debt and explain it to audiences.

The US government is paying $1 trillion a year in interest on its debt. This June 2025 piece will help journalists understand the public debt and explain it to audiences.
#nationaldebt #economics #finance #journalism

journalistsresource.org/economics/pu...

6 tips for covering tribal colleges and universities These six tips will help journalists cover tribal colleges, which prepare tribal citizens to work in and strengthen tribal communities.

In this piece, researchers, journalists & Indigenous student advocates share tips on covering tribal colleges and universities, which serve students from over 250 federally recognized tribal nations and a growing number of students with no tribal affiliation.

journalistsresource.org/home/tribal-...

State debt: How and why US states borrow money Learn the types of public projects that states fund by issuing debt and download an exclusive state-by-state debt database.

In this in-depth explainer, you'll learn the types of public projects that states fund by issuing debt, how states take on debt and why journalists should cover state debt + explore a state-by-state debt database.

#state #finances #business #journalism

journalistsresource.org/economics/st...

Covering health misinformation: What journalists need to rethink Journalists and public health experts share strategies for building trust, using careful language and improving coverage of health misinformation during a workshop at the AHCJ annual conference.

In this June 2025 piece, journalists and public health experts shared 12 strategies for building trust, using careful language and improving coverage of health rumors and falsehoods.

journalistsresource.org/home/coverin...

8 key facts journalists should know about minority-serving institutions Knowing these eight things will help journalists ask better questions and provide more probing coverage of minority-serving institutions.

If you're reporting on minority-serving institutions, here are 8 key facts about colleges that serve many underrepresented students:

#education #MSI #DOE

journalistsresource.org/home/minorit...

Eating disorders in boys and men: A research roundup In this research-based piece, we provide an overview of eating disorders in males, including the latest available data and summaries of studies to help inform news coverage of this underreported issue...

NEW: In this research-based piece, we provide an overview of eating disorders in males, including the latest available data and summaries of studies to help inform news coverage of this underreported issue.

journalistsresource.org/home/eating-...

PFAS 'forever chemicals' in tap water: Explainer and research roundup We summarize studies on health impacts, the efficacy of consumer water filters, racial disparities in PFAS exposure, and more.

In this 2023 piece, we summarize studies on where #PFAS are found, health impacts, the efficacy of consumer water filters, new methods of destroying PFAS, and racial disparities in PFAS exposure.

journalistsresource.org/home/pfas-fo...

If you report on the U.S. economy, get to know these data sources We spotlight 8 free data sources journalists can use to report on economic issues ranging from GDP and inflation to economic inequality.

In this Jan. 2025 piece, we spotlight free #data sources that #journalists can use to report on economic issues ranging from GDP and inflation to economic inequality, along with topics outside of economics, such as education spending.

journalistsresource.org/economics/ec...

State debt: How and why US states borrow money Learn the types of public projects that states fund by issuing debt and download an exclusive state-by-state debt database.

NEW: Learn the types of public projects that states fund by issuing debt, how states take on debt and why journalists should cover state debt — plus, explore a state-by-state debt database.

journalistsresource.org/economics/st...

Routine childhood vaccinations: A primer and research roundup Routine childhood vaccinations fell amid COVID-19. Academic research spotlights ways schools can help boost those numbers.

In this piece, published in August 2024, we examine research to help journalists report on strategies to increase childhood vaccinations as the political divide in Americans' attitudes toward vaccines widens.

journalistsresource.org/education/ch...

What happens when private equity firms sell medical practices? Private equity firms that buy health care practices tend to exit quickly. What happens to doctors and patients when investors cash out?

When private equity firms buy health care practices, they tend to exit after only a few years. Researchers explored the impact on doctors and patients when investors cash out.

journalistsresource.org/home/what-ha...

Abortion pill mifepristone: An explainer and research roundup This piece explains what medication abortion is and lists overwhelming evidence that shows mifepristone and misoprostol's safety.

Originally published in June 2024, this piece aims to help inform the narrative on medication abortion with scientific evidence.

journalistsresource.org/health/mifep...

Four-day school week: What research suggests To help recruit teachers, many U.S. school districts have adopted a four-day school week. Research shows there are consequences for students.

NEW: To help recruit teachers, many U.S. schools have switched to a four-day schedule. We look at research on how the change affects students.

journalistsresource.org/education/fo...

Story ideas from the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book: April 2025 Our semi-regular rundown of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book is full of story ideas for reporters across beats.

We published this in April, but some of the story ideas are evergreen.

journalistsresource.org/economics/be...