The Journalist's Resource

How and why the Bureau of Labor Statistics revises job numbers We explain why it's not unusual for preliminary and final employment number reports to differ substantially.

We explain why it's not unusual for preliminary and final employment estimates to differ, sometimes substantially. Plus, two charts showing the history of these data revisions. #BLS #jobsreport

journalistsresource.org/economics/ho...

5 basic things journalists need to know about polls and surveys Journalists who want to learn about the benefits and pitfalls of poll and survey research can start with these five things.

Want to learn about the benefits and pitfalls of #poll and #survey research? Read on for insights from a political scientist, a social psychologist, a statistician and an investigative journalist. (This piece was published in October 2024.)

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When health data disappears: 8 tips for finding what’s hidden from public view As public health data becomes harder to access, journalists and experts at AHCJ25 shared tips and tools for uncovering and preserving vital information.

As public health data becomes harder to access, journalists and experts share tips and tools for uncovering and preserving vital information. (This piece was published in June 2025)

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The USPSTF: What you need to know about its role in health care Though little known to the public, the USPSTF plays a key role in determining which preventive services insurers must cover without a co-pay.

Though little known to the public, the #USPSTF plays a key role in determining which preventive care services health insurers must cover without out-of-pocket costs.

journalistsresource.org/home/the-us-...

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 piece will help journalists understand the public debt and explain it to audiences. (This piece was published in June 2025)

journalistsresource.org/economics/pu...

Democrats cite more science than Republicans in policy documents: Study Analysis of U.S. policy documents reveals very little overlap in the science that Democrats and Republicans cite, deepening concerns over shared facts.

📚 An analysis of 25 years of U.S. policy documents reveals there's very little overlap in the scientific studies that Democrats and Republicans cite in congressional committees and think tanks, deepening concerns over shared facts.

journalistsresource.org/home/study-r...

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.

We spotlight free data sources 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. (This story was published in Jan. 2025)

journalistsresource.org/economics/ec...

👩🏻‍💻 Join our upcoming webinars: Heat and staffing shortages in prisons, and how to rebuild trust in health journalism 👋 Welcome to this week's newsletter! Before we begin, be sure to visit our website, where you can find other timely and in-depth articles, in addition to tip sheets and explainers to help you understa...

We've got two great webinars coming up in August. Hope you can join us!

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Community college transfer processes discourage degree completion We spotlight recent research to help journalists investigate barriers in the community college transfer process.

Recent research can help journalists investigate barriers many U.S. students face trying to transfer from a community college to a university. Some papers published in 2025 provide solutions.

journalistsresource.org/education/co...

Children left in hot cars: Data and research on vehicular heatstroke We spotlight key research and reports on child deaths in hot cars, including how often caregivers face criminal prosecution.

We summarize key research on child deaths in parked vehicles, including how often caregivers face criminal prosecution and why otherwise attentive parents sometimes forget infants in hot cars.

journalistsresource.org/health/child...

Using the term 'per capita' to describe data: 4 things for journalists to know Two experts help explain the right and wrong ways to use 'per capita' to describe data related to economics, health and other news topics.

🔎 Have you checked out our Know Your Research page? Lots of helpful articles, including this one: An economist and a statistician help us explain the right and wrong ways to use 'per capita' to describe data.

journalistsresource.org/economics/pe...

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.

Journalists and public health experts shared 12 strategies for building trust, using careful language and improving coverage of health misinformation during a workshop at the Association of Health Care Journalists' annual conference.

journalistsresource.org/home/coverin...

Prior authorization: a comprehensive explainer We look at what the research says about prior authorization: when insurance companies require additional info for approving doctors' orders.

Health insurance companies argue that prior authorization can reduce unnecessary procedures and health care costs. But doctors have concerns about the frequency of these requests, even for routine procedures, and administrative burdens associated with them.

journalistsresource.org/health/healt...

How to make sense of ICE arrest data An immigration scholar guides us through the process of analyzing ICE arrest datasets published by the Data Deportation Project.

An immigration scholar guides us through the process of analyzing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest data, based on datasets published by the Data Deportation Project.

journalistsresource.org/home/how-to-...

What journalists and the public think of journalism and technology Researchers shed light on a mismatch between how journalists and the public view journalism in the age of artificial intelligence.

Expert Commentary: Researchers at the Center for News, Technology & Innovation shed light on a mismatch between how journalists and the public view journalism in the age of artificial intelligence.

journalistsresource.org/media/what-j...

Reporting on psychedelics research or legislation? Proceed with caution - The Journalist's Resource Despite the hype and optimism around psychedelics' therapeutic potential, researchers warn that there's much still unknown about them.

Despite the hype, optimism and legislation involving the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, researchers warn that there's much we don't know. This 2024 research roundup looks at some of the knowns and unknowns of psilocybin, MDMA and other hallucinogens.

journalistsresource.org/home/psyched...

Community college transfer processes discourage degree completion We spotlight recent research to help journalists investigate barriers in the community college transfer process.

Recent research can help journalists investigate barriers many U.S. students face trying to transfer from a community college to a university. Some papers published in 2025 provide solutions.

journalistsresource.org/education/co...

What U.S. audiences want newsrooms to disclose about AI use Audiences want to know when journalists use artificial intelligence. Here's how news organizations can disclose their AI use.

🤖 93.8% of news audiences want journalists to disclose AI use in news coverage: who used it, why, and how humans verified it, according to a recent survey by @trustingnews.bsky.social

🔗 journalistsresource.org/media/ai-use...

What journalists need to know about climate risk data firms Here’s what journalists need to know about this burgeoning market — plus, five big questions to start digging into.

Over the past decade, there's been a proliferation of private firms offering highly detailed climate risk assessments for sale. Here’s what journalists need to know about this burgeoning market — plus, six big questions they should ask.

journalistsresource.org/home/climate...

The Journalist's Resource reader quiz: July 9, 2025 How much do you know about the topics we're covering in The Journalist's Resource? Take this quiz and find out!

Brush up on some of the topics we've covered recently — and show off what you know.

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Need K-12 education data? These 10 data tools can help Journalists can use these 10 tools to examine education data in areas such as student achievement, school segregation and immigrant children.

Use these free tools to examine data on student achievement, school segregation, dual enrollment programs and other education topics. Most generate maps, charts and lists that journalists can incorporate into their news coverage.

journalistsresource.org/education/k1...

ICE and hospitals: What the removal of the 'protected areas' policy means for hospitals We summarize two documents that explain how hospitals and their staff can prepare for the removal of the protected areas policy.

🚨 Hospitals & clinics are no longer protected from immigration enforcement — a major shift that could impact patient access and provider obligations.

🔗 journalistsresource.org/home/what-do...

SNAP cuts loom: What to know about this federal nutrition program Here's what journalists need to know to bolster their reporting on potential cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Here's important background info and research to bolster news coverage of potential reductions in federal spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

journalistsresource.org/politics-and...

How to make sense of ICE arrest data An immigration scholar guides us through the process of analyzing ICE arrest datasets published by the Data Deportation Project.

An immigration scholar guides us through the process of analyzing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest data, based on datasets published by the Data Deportation Project.

journalistsresource.org/home/how-to-...

Children left in hot cars: Data and research on vehicular heatstroke We spotlight key research and reports on child deaths in hot cars, including how often caregivers face criminal prosecution.

We summarize key research on child deaths in parked vehicles, including how often caregivers face criminal prosecution and why otherwise attentive parents sometimes forget infants in hot cars.

journalistsresource.org/health/child...

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 piece will help journalists understand the public debt and explain it to audiences.

journalistsresource.org/economics/pu...

What's the impact of extreme heat and heat waves on human health? We highlight several studies that explain the impact of extreme heat and heat waves on human health, especially volunerable populations.

Studies show that extreme heat can affect most people, particularly vulnerable populations. We round up recent studies that shed light on how warming temperatures due to climate change are affecting various populations. (published 2023)

journalistsresource.org/home/extreme...

Prior authorization: a comprehensive explainer We look at what the research says about prior authorization: when insurance companies require additional info for approving doctors' orders.

If you're looking for an explainer on prior authorization, check out this piece from our 2021 archives.

journalistsresource.org/health/healt...

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.

Journalists and public health experts shared 12 strategies for building trust, using careful language and improving coverage of health misinformation during a workshop at the @healthjournalism.org annual conference.

journalistsresource.org/home/coverin...

10 ways academic researchers can help journalists avoid errors This tip sheet outlines 10 ways researchers can help journalists avoid errors in news stories about academic studies.

This April 2024 tip sheet outlines some of the many ways researchers can help the news media cover research accurately, starting with the journalists who interview them about their own work.

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