Net for Journalists, The: A Practical Guide to the Internet for Journalists in Developing Countries

This training handbook has been designed for print and broadcast journalists and journalism students in developing countries around the world, to help gain practical skills in using the internet for day-to-day journalistic assignments. It provides a step-by-step guide to understanding and utilising the many and varied aspects of the internet. The major part of the book is devoted to explaining how to search the internet: looking at the tools to use, like search engines and directories, and methods to find information efficiently. It covers not only facts and figures, but also searching for images, audio and video. It also examines the specialised reference tools available, for example translation tools. According to the book, along with a source of information, the internet is also a communication system, linking people around the world. The book also explores what's available for communication, looking at internet telephones, email, and at groups and lists, places to find information, and also to make inquiries and build contacts.

The publishers hope that this book will help journalists not only increase the number of stories that can be written and produced, but also help journalists from developing countries produce stories on development relevant topics such as those related to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals - poverty, education and literacy, health, nutrition and HIV/AIDS, among others. The book not only explains where and how to get information, but also how to evaluate and verify the information gathered, including explanations on some technicalities and warnings about hazards. The publisher invites users of the handbook to send their comments and suggestions on how to make future versions of the handbook more useful.