Research Tools

Who? What? Why? When? And where? These are the essential questions for any reporter to ask and (hope to) answer when writing a news story. The following links on this page aim to help you answer some of these questions (who and where and just maybe some of the what) with greater ease. (This is a work-in-progress. Please send us any links you think should be added.)

Who?

Real estate agents, contractors, dentists, architects. In Massachusetts, these and many other professions require special licenses. Are you reporting on someone who claims to have a special license? Verify most state licenses here: License Search

Lawyers. They're also registered with the state. Is she a lawyer in Massachusetts?

Doctors. Most every state has its doctors (and their histories) listed online. What's up doc?

Politicians and money. The two go together like a hay and a donkey or peanuts and an elephant. Find out who is Financing a campaign...

...Or at least find about Campaign donations in Massachusetts

...More information on political money flow might be here, too...

* In related research, your subject might be a former criminal or serving time in federal prison.

Is he in a federal prison?

* Or is he a convicted sex offender? If so, where?

Sex offenders in the U.S.?

Sex offenders in the Massachusetts?

 
Where?

* State, city or town. Before writing about any of these, check the Census. For Massachusetts, see Mass. Census.

Or see more State stats here...

Or research Boston Police's crime blog here...

Or search Boston's crime stats.

* Houses. Land. Look up deeds... or in Boston, how much that house is worth?

* Building permits are needed to modify or take down structures. Look up building permits in Boston.

* Corporations, for-profit or not. Are you looking up one in Massachusetts? Who runs that business? or that nonprofit?

...You may also find needed information about a corporation here: SEC

* Banks can usually be researched here: FDIC

* Perhaps you're researching a restaurant in Boston? Start here: Food Safety?

* Public Schools in Massachusetts and Boston. Do your homework when writing about schools. Your research should start here:

Look up a school

Look up a Boston school...

Look up a school in Massachusetts

Compare schools in the U.S.

* Nursing homes. Before you begin to write, ask yourself: Would you let your grandma stay there?

* Health Centers should get the same line of questioning: Get health center info

* Buses. Get a glimpse into a bus' safety ratings: Before you get on the bus...

* Web sites. Even these virtual addresses can have a paper trail. Want to know who created a Web site? Find out here.

What?

* News. Don't have access to a news archive database? Get a library card. The Boston Public Library offers full access to the archives of several Boston area newspapers. News at the Boston Public Library

* U.S. Legislation. Look up a bill

* State laws can be researched here: Massachusetts General Laws

* Congressional Records. Look them up Congressional record

* National Institutes of Health. See the money trail: who gets funding for what type of research. Who got a grant to study what?

* Can't find what you're looking for? Try searching Public records for 50 states