Searching the 'net : a study of internet search techniques used by some Australian journalists

Research into how journalists use the Internet continues to flourish in the United States and Europe, but Australian research in this area is only just starting to emerge. Contributions to this field of research in Australia are comparatively limited. Evidence indicates that in the US journalists are increasingly using the Internet as a research tool to retrieve documents and as a mechanism to contact individuals and companies with which they want to communicate. This case study explores the search mechanisms adopted by a small group of Australian journalists using the World Wide Web. This preliminary case study reveals that for these journalists the Web has become a regular news gathering tool. This paper also suggests that structured training in advanced search techniques and a range of other Internet resources would benefit these journalists by helping them use the technology more effectively and efficiently.