1What is online journalism? - Ayo Menulis FISIP UAJY

Online research and reporting 93
Tracing experts online
Sometimes you are not looking for a named individual, but
someone, anyone, who has a certain expertise. The key lies not in
who they are, but what they know.
Journalists working off-line will frequently phone their local
university for an ‘expert’ view on a latest invention or government
report. The reporter could be seeking background briefing or ‘on
the record’ reaction and comment. The problem arises when the
university has no-one willing or able to help.
Online journalists can extend their search by contacting
www.profnet.com, which puts them in touch with an international
network of over 11,000 news and information officers at colleges
and universities, corporations, laboratories, medical centres and
government agencies. The journalist states his or her query and
it is distributed around the system. The appropriate experts are
then asked to contact the journalist.
Other examples of resources for expert advice:
www.earl.org.uk/ask/index.html (this UK-based site allows
you to quiz librarians)
www.askanexpert.com
www.cvcp.ac.uk
Nora Paul also points out that sites such as Amazon.com can be
used to trace authors who may be ‘expert’ in their fields. Similarly,
you can trace specialist writers through magazines listed in
www.mediafinder.com or www.publist.com.
Resources like Profnet have become so popular that some
journalists have warned against their over-use. The reporter can
become over-reliant on such a good source and become lazy and
reactive – see a story, think of a possible follow-up and find an
‘expert’ to back it up.
Keeping your electronic ear to the ground
The journalist, particularly the specialist, must also keep in touch
with current issues by listening to debate and tracking trends and