Beat Reporting Research Guide

Politics

Websites

Ontario e-laws Website
This site is especially handy for political reporters. The laws available on this site go back to Jan. 1, 2000. Information on this site is updated within two business days of a bills passage into law, or the amendment of a law by the Ontario Government. In a media environment where things need to be done yesterday this may not be as quick as reporters would like but it sure beats waiting months for the print format to be released as used to be the case before the Internet revolution. This site is very user-friendly; the homepage is set up like a table of contents in a book. It is minimalist in style and layout leaving lots of white space. Links such as “What’s included” and the “FAQ” provide further information about the site.

City of Toronto
Toronto is a big city with a lot going on, that’s why the detailed information in this site is valuable. Not only does this site provide dates, times and locations for council and committee meetings, it also has profiles of the councillors, lists major events in the city and more.

Ontario Legislature
This site provides agendas for meetings, hansard, and information about the politicians. It also has links to relevant sites such as the provincial auditor’s website, Ontario ombudsman website, and the information privacy commissioner site.

Canada’s Parliament
Focusing on the role of government at the federal level, this website provides background information on past and present politicians. It also lists bills before the house and has online copy of the hansard. Links will take you to senate website, a live web cast (where parliamentary debates can be viewed) and more.

Politics@JournalismNet
The politics section of the very detailed site developed by a CBC journalist has lots more information about Canadian Government. It includes links to all the political party websites (even those with no seats), polling firm contacts, etc.

Books

Spinwars : politics and new media / Bill Fox

Sustaining democracy? : Journalism and the politics of objectivity / Robert A. Hackett and Yuezhi Zhao

The pundits : power, politcs and the press / Lloyd Tataryn

Politics and the press / by George Gallup, Jr. and others. Edited by Richard W. Lee

Reviving the fourth estate : democracy, accountability and the media / Julianne Schultz

Democracy and the mass media : a collection of essays / edited by Judith Lichtenberg