A cornucopia of insiders' hints and sources for journalists, writers and anyone else who is hunting for information; Never loses sight of the importance of approaching information with a critical eye We live in an info-rich world, in which the sheer amount of data available can be daunting. It is crucial to develop research skills that ensure that the least amount of time possible is spent chasing false leads or running into blank walls. When you Release the Hounds, you are already halfway to your target! By outlining what info sources exist, who's responsible for them, and how to work out what kind of resource will meet particular needs, Fogg sets the researcher on the right track.

Table of Contents

Foreword (Prof Bruce Grundy)1. Marking the territoryResearch for journalists and writers (David McKnight)A step-by-step guide to chasing the newsProfiling a lifeUnearthing the familyHidden jewels or fool's gold: evaluating your information2. Picking up the scentFriends and foesSifting documentary sources (Anna Cater)Interviewing (Roger Patching)Working contacts: finding and keeping reliable sources (Janine Little)Community and cultural institutionsEventsRegional reporting (Susan Hetherington)Non-profit organisationsUniversities, research institutes, think tanks3. Digging up the business bonesCompanies4. Sniffing the legal breezeLegal informationCourts and lawyers5. Tracking down government resourcesParliament and governmentPoliticians, parliamentUntangling the political trailGovernment departments, agenciesUncovering social history (Siobhan McHugh)Land Titles

About the Author

Christine Fogg has over ten years experience teaching research and information retrieval methods, as well as being a trained journalist. She has taught research methods to journalism students at the University of Sydney.