NewsBank Databases

Printable version

Introduction | Accessing | Searching | Search Results | Managing Search Results | Search Tips | Additional Features

Introduction

NewsBank contains articles covering: social, economic, environmental, government, sports, health, science issues and events. More than 500 United States newspapers are indexed. These papers are both regional and national newspapers, wire services, and broadcasts. NewsBank also indexs 145 leading magazines. In addition, they offer the full-text coverage beginning in 1991 to present. There are a number of NewsBank databases offered by NSU. This lesson deals only with NewsBank: Newsfile with Periodicals. NewsBank opening screen.

Accessing

This database may be accessed from the Databases page of the Electronic Resources section of the NSU Alvin Sherman Library website. For more on how to access databases visit http://www.nova.edu/library/dils/lessons/electroniclibrary/ Once in NewsBank, click on NewsBank NewsFile with Periodicals. Display showing Newsbank NewsFile with Periodicals.

Searching

The NewsBank NewsFile search screen will display. NewsBank NewsFile search screen. enter your search term(s) in the for box provided set the return menu, the from menu select to search either newspapers, magazines, or newswires (or all three) by putting a checkmark in the appropriate box(es) besides the limit to area click the search button Detailed view of the search screen in NewsBank NewsFile.

Search Results

Search results will vary. If you get: No records matched your search, then check your spelling or the fields you searched in. Too many, then go back and limit your search. Sometimes a search needs to be modified with: additional search words, searching only a specific field, adding date limitations, or type of materials. Too few, then go back and expand your search. Consider synonyms for your search words or concepts. Try to use professional language or terminology. Irrelevant results, then try new search terms. Consider synonyms or related concepts. Identify and search using descriptors. Try a different database. Results lists When the results list displays, the citations are numbered. Sample search results in Newsbank. Records To view a detailed record click on the underlined title of the desired article. Selecting to view a record in Newsbank. The article will display much like the example below. Example of a full record in Newsbank.

Managing Search Results

Databases typically allow you to manage your search results by marking or tagging records to select only the records that you want from your search results from later printing, emailing and/or saving printing the search results list and/or specific records emailing the search results list and/or specific records to your email address saving the search results list and/or specific records–some databases may allow you to save your file for export into commercial bibliographic citation manager software, such as EndNote or ProCite Not all search management features are available in all databases. Marking This feature is not available in NewsBank. Printing In order to print a document from the record view click on Printer Friendly Selecting the Printer Friendly option in NewsBank. The document will open in a new window Use your browser's print button in order to print View of the Printer Friendly document in NewsBank. Emailing In order to email a document from the record select the email hyperlink Selecting the EMail option from NewsBank. When the email screen displays enter the email address in the send documet to box add a message in the space provided select HTML (will look like a web page) or select ASCII Text (will look like regular plain text) click send Emailing an article in NewsBank. Saving This is not a valid option in NewsBank at this time.

Search Tips

Use advanced search features to modify a search to obtain more successful search results. You can combine advanced search features to modify and improve your search. Advanced search features often include: phrase or proximity searching field searching date document and/or publication type Boolean operators plurals and truncation One useful tip when searching any electronic database is to leave out articles, prepositions, and very abstract or general terms–they confuse the database's search engine. For example, if the paper is on "The Impact of Mainstreaming Students in Math Classes,” use the most precise terms like mainstreaming and mathematics and skip impact, the, of, and in. Phrase or proximity searching In order to phrase search simply put the desired search terms in quotes example: "violent crimes" or "domestic violence"   Field searching To field search click the blue hyperlink for more search options from the main/basic search menu. Selecting more search options in NewsBank. From the new screen that appears field searching can be done with the drop down menus to the right of the search for box(es). choose from "in All Text", "in Lead/First Paragraph", or "in Headine Title" Choosing a field in NewsBank.   Date Dates can be selected from either the basic search screen or from the advanced search screen. The advanced search screen, is available from the basic (default) search screen by clicking more search options. The advanced search screen is recommend for searching specific dates. To search dates from the advanced search screen enter all other criteria then enter dates desired by typing the month, day, and year or enter a month and year (for more examples see below) Limit date feature in NewsBank. Here are some additional examples of how to properly enter dates in NewsBank. Examples of how to search by date in NewsBank. Publication type To search by document; put a checkmark in the box for either Newspapers, Magazines, or Newswires from the search menu provided. View of Limit to document type in NewsBank. Boolean operators Use AND to narrow a search. AND looks for both terms in the same record. leadership and vision; mainstreaming and science Use OR to broaden a search. OR looks for either term in the same record. mainstreaming or inclusion; elementary education or secondary education Use NOT to eliminate records with a certain term. Saturn not car; Venus not planet Plurals To search for plurals or to truncate a search term use the asterisk. The asterisk can be used to truncate/retrieve multiple endings. example: crim* retrieves both criminal, crime, or crimes. The asterisk can also replace an unknown character: example: crimin*l retrieves criminal.

Additional Features

As an additional feature, from the opening screen of NewsBank, Crime and Law Periodicals can be explored by clicking on topics under the "Crime and Law" section. Crime and Law section. Another nice feature of this particular database is that under the help menu for NewsBank there is a special section describing how to cite NewsBank documents in APA format.