Best Places To Find Sources

if you're writing about a topic that is intimately familiar with considering the multitude of articles that have been crafted on the subject, or you solve a problem you never heard of before, you're going to have to talk to people in-know -. You have to source

for many magazines you'll want at least one expert to weigh in, perhaps vendors as well as a few people who have firsthand experience with their subject. If you write about technology, for example, the analyst might want to give you basic information, the company that produces two or technology, plus a few individuals or organizations who have actually used it. How many sources you need is usually triggered by your editor and the length of the article.

and if you write a book, multiply the number of sources that you want to talk to for 10 or 20 at least.

Although there are thousands of places to go for resources, here are some great starting point:

Personal File Folder

When I find that I write regularly about a specific topic, such as children or eBay, for example, can create a file folder into which I put the information I came across on the possible sources. It can occur in a local newspaper articles, newsletters, other magazines, direct mailing, e-mail from a colleague, listserv postings, blog entries - you name it. But before I start sending requests via the Internet, I scour my files as a convenient source of potential respondents.

ProfNet (www.profnet.com)

800-pound gorilla of journalists' sources, ProfNet accepts a writer / author / journalist requests for resources through its web site, and then distributes the summaries of these requests five times a day to its subscribers - public relations firms that are paying $ 2.000 + service. You'll probably hear from many possible sources of a send request here, but not all will be relevant, some will not even read your application carefully. But for sheer volume, ProfNet is great.

HelpAReporter (www.helpareporter.com)

Started by entrepreneur Peter Shankman as an alternative to ProfNet, Shankman forwarded e-mail requests for resources from the writers and passing them to their subscribers, many of which have publicists. He stresses the importance of responding to the recipients only if the clients are well suited for the needs of the writer, so your chances of finding the right source can be a good bit higher than other similar services.

Encyclopedia of Associations (available in print at most libraries)

in need of an expert in a particular industry? The best place to start is often the multi-volume set, which lists thousands of trade and industry associations. These organizations and associations often are the statistics, reports and spokesmen at-the-ready to help you.

Alternatively, you can do a Google search to trace the possible associations, and then ask for help directly from the organization.

In addition to these general place to start your search resources, there are many more specialized resources, including but not limited to the following:

MommaSaid (www.mommasaid.net / magazinerack.aspx)

Great for writers in need of parenting for moms and dads, Jen Singer's website is part of Magazine Rack, where writers can ask for help from individuals. Enter your request, such as "moms who need to travel more than 50% of the work, and post it here, where visitors to the site and respond.

Major hospitals

Everyone writes about the medical topic will want to have a department for relations with the media in the country's best hospitals on speed dial. If you are looking for a doctor or a teacher comment on trends in health care, specific diseases, and possible treatments, for example, start with the PR departments within hospitals.

I could go on with my list, these colleges and universities that grant a degree in certain subjects, or government agencies that monitor statistics such as housing expenses, but hopefully you've got the gist now.

When you are trying to find someone with specific expertise or experience, think about what the organization could be part and then contact that organization for any recommendations.