Communications and Media
From Simmons Library Research Guides
We have selected these resources to help you find relevant information on your research topic. Please contact a librarian for help using the resources listed in this guide or for help with your research process.
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Reference and Background Information
Search for Reference sources that contain information about your specific research topic here:
You may also consult the resources below for overviews of the topic that you have chosen to research. Use these resources to help you to put your topic in context and give you the big picture of what information exists about your topic. These resources may have bibliographies at the end of each entry that can help further your research.
- Broadcast Communications Dictionary
Level 1 Reference P87.5 .D48 1989
This third edition is an indispensable guide to the most frequently used terms in every area of contemporary electronic communications. Sorted alphabetically, this reference source defines more than 6,000 of the technical, common, and slang works that make up the language of broadcast communicators.
- Data and Telecommunications Dictionary
Level 1 Reference TK5102.P48 1999
A technical reference covering the topic of data and telecommunications; many entires include instructional graphs, charts, and images to help further define terms. The back of this source includes appendices with various charts, an extended section on ATM, and a timeline of telecommunications inventions and technologies.
- Encyclopedia of New Media: An Essential Reference to Communication and Technology
Level 1 Reference QA76.575 .E5368 2003
This encyclopedia serves as a reference for mapping new media within today's every changing technologically driven world. Both subject terms and names of persons are listed as entries within this text, from the popular website Amazon.com to entrepreneur Margaret Whitman. Entries are listed alphabetically, include a bibliography, additional readings, related topics, and many display images.
- Gale Directory of Publication and Broadcast Media
Level 1 Reference AP1 .G34
Do you need to know how many radio stations run out of Anchorage, Alaska? Or the column width used in the Los Angeles Times? This five volume set includes information on newspapers, journals, magazines, and radio stations, and other types of broadcast media from all over the world. Listings are alphabetical by state or country name, and then within each listing, alphabetical by city. Volume 3 contains the indexes.
- The GATF Encyclopedia of Graphic Communications
Level 1 Reference Z118.G29 1998
This extensive print resource provides information on the history of printing and visual communication, along with in-depth definitions of 10,000 terms. Check out the sixteen page color insert for visual definitions of complex printing terms and concepts and the timeline of communications history in the back of the book.
- The Facts on File Dictionary of Film and Broadcast Terms
Level 1 Reference P87.5 .P43 1991
Defines terms used by creators, performers, and other working in the trade of film and broadcast production.
- International Encyclopedia of Communications
Level 1 Reference P87.5 .I5 1989
From acting to animation to body decoration, this four volume encyclopedia set provides in-depth information on all of the people, ideas, and actions essential for communication of all types. The entries are quite extensive and detailed, and provide a great deal of useful information, and suggested further readings.
- History of the Mass Media in the United States: An Encyclopedia
Level 1 Reference P92.U5 H54 1998
This is an in-depth detailed history of events, people, and ideas as they connect to the mass media, such as "Hollywood in World War II." The entries are presented in an encyclopedic style, which makes it very easy to use.
- Prentice Hall Graphic Communications Dictionary
Level 1 Reference Z118.L96 2000
This is a dictionary of all the most commonly used terms used when discussing animation, design, printing, and all other forms of graphic communication. There are illustrations to help explain the more difficult terms, and related terms are listed under the definitions. The appendices include listings for graphic associations and organizations, a list of relevant journals and other publications, and an acronym guide.
- Webster's New World Dictionary of Media and Communications
Level 1 Reference P87.5 .W45 1996
A medium sized reference source, which defines language surrounding broadcasting, printing, telecommunications, and related fields. Useful for communications professionals and for persons researching topics within the subject of media and communications.
- World Radio TV Handbook
Level 1 Reference TK6540 .W67
An international reference source, this directory includes reviews on numerous global radios, editorials, historical features, and advertisements. Listings include national radio, international radio, frequency lists, and television. Also, this source contains a Reference section that features information such as international transmitter sites, target area codes, country codes, and abbreviations of broadcaster's names.
Finding Articles
Below are suggested databases and indexes for articles on the topic that you have chosen to research. These databases include articles from newspapers, magazines and scholarly journals. Articles are shorter and more narrowly focused than books or reference materials so you should use them after you have narrowed your topic.
- Communication and Mass Media Complete
Simmons Eresource
This database is the combination of CommSearch and Mass Media Articles Index. It provides the full text of over 200 communication related journals, as well as articles from reviews, encyclopedias, and handbooks. Use the Advanced Search for a more precise search!
- ABI/Inform
Simmons Eresource
Find in-depth coverage of business conditions, trends, corporate strategies and tactics, management techniques, competitive and product information, and a wide variety of other topics from more than 1800 leading business and management publications, most of which are fulltext or page-image. Includes fulltext Wall Street Journal.
Enter your search terms:
Use the Advanced Search for a more precise search:
- Type in a word or phrase in the search box (use the * to truncate; and to link separate concepts;or to group similar concepts)
- Consider selecting a search field name in the drop down menu, or accept "Citation and Abstract" as the default. The most specific search would use the "Subject" field. Other Search Fields include article title, author, company name, personal name, source, SIC code, ticker
- Click an operator (AND, OR, AND NOT, WITHIN 3, PRE/1) to link your search terms
- Specify limits such as Date, full text only, or scholarly/peer reviewed
- Results are available as: citation, full text, text and graphics and/or page image (like a photocopy of article). Articles can be emailed to you.
- Business Source Premier
Simmons Eresource
A comprehensive business periodical database that includes scholarly journals and business periodicals covering topics such as management, economics, finance, accounting, international business and more. BSP provides more than 8,800 full text scholarly publications, some as far back as 1922, such as the Harvard Business Review.
Use the Advanced Search for a more precise search:
- Type in search terms in the Find search box
- group similar concepts in ( ) linked with "or". For example: (women or female or gender)
- Truncate word variants with *. For example: instead of typing (manage or management or managing or manager) just type manag*
- Link separate concepts with "and". For example: (women or female or gender) and (manag* or executiv*)
- Consider selecting a specific "Field" to limit the search. The most specific and generally most accurate is a SU Subject Heading search. Also common TI title, AB abstract, CO company.
- Refine your search with Limits such as: Full Text only, from a specific Journal, Peer Reviewed (more scholarly), Date Published.
- Refine your search with Expanders To search within the entire fulltext of an article, check the "search with within full text articles". To take advantage of the built in thesaurus, check the box "also search for related words"
- Type in search terms in the Find search box
- Search here for articles on the film industry that have appeared in business, management, economics, advertising, marketing, and general news periodicals from 1965 to the present.
- Academic Search Complete
Simmons Eresource
Academic Search Complete is a great place to start your search for both popular and scholarly articles, no matter what your topic is! It contains journals from almost every topic and is designed specifically for academic institutions. It provides more than 5,300 full-text periodicals, 4,400 of which are peer-reviewed journals. This resource also features content as far back as 1865.
- Academic Onefile
Simmons Eresource
Academic Onefile contains 8,000 academic journals, the majority in full-text, available in HTML and PDF formats. In addition it contains hundreds of podcasts and transcripts from NPR, CNN, and the CBC.
- Expanded Academic ASAP
Simmons Eresource
From arts and the humanities to social sciences, science and technology, this database meets research needs across all academic disciplines. Access scholarly journals, news magazines, and newspapers - many with full text and images. Updated daily.
TIP: Use the Advanced Search for a more precise search!
- Lexis Nexis Academic
Simmons Eresource
Provides searchable access to a comprehensive spectrum of full-text information from over 5,600 sources--including non-English language sources--selected to meet academic research needs. Included are national and regional newspapers, wire services, broadcast transcripts, international news, U.S. Federal and state case law, codes, regulations, legal news, law reviews, and international legal information, Shepard's Citations for all U.S. Supreme Court cases back to 1789, business news journals, company financial information, SEC filings and reports, industry and market news, statistics, and medical information.
Searching the Web
Tips for Searching the Internet:
- Use the advanced search function, which is available from most search engines:
- Google - See also "Advanced Search Tips"
- Ask - Click "Advanced." See also "Advanced Search Tips"
- Live (MSN) - See also "Options"
- Exalead - See also "Exalead FAQ"
- Yahoo! Search
- Limit your search to .edu and .gov sites. These often provide quality research, statistics, and commentary. Sites ending in .org often have good information, too, but are likely to espouse a strong stance or bias on the issues they cover and may not be objective.
- Try Scandoo, which presents search results from Google, Yahoo! Search, or Live (MSN) with an evaluation about the objectivity, credibility, and overall reliability of the site.
- Consider using a directory of pre-screened, annotated sites:
Writing Style and Citation
For more information on style and citation for this discipline, please contact the Simmons College Writing Center
You may also consider consulting these resources:
- Writing Resources
Free Online
The Writing Center provides online resources for citing your research. If you are unsure of which citation style to use, consult your professor and consider the following:- Use APA (American Psychological Association) when your topic is in the Social Sciences
- Use ASA (American Sociological Association) when your topic is in Sociology
- Use MLA (Modern Language Association) when your topic is in the Humanities
- Use Chicago/Turabian when your topic is in Literature, History or the Arts
- Use CSE (Council of Science Editors) when your topic is in the Sciences
- RefWorks
Simmons Eresource
RefWorks is a great program for organizing articles, books, and other materials you need for research. You can also use RefWorks to create bibliographies, create in text citations in your paper (Write-N-Cite), and share your research with others. Access RefWorks from the A-Z list of resources on the library's web page, and then follow the instructions to create your own username and password. We hold RefWorks Clinics throughout the semester. For more information, ask a reference librarian
