School of Communication & Journalism
Additional Resources

Below are professional development resources as well as tools and articles for communication and journalism students and others. Suggestions for additional resources may be sent to brunnbr@auburn.edu.

General Journalism and Communication Tools

• The American Press Institute provides a range of resources to help writers diversify their sources and audiences as they seek to better support local and community-based media.
• The American Psychological Association’s APA Style Guide is widely used in preparing academic papers in communication and journalism. This website provides extensive information on paper formatting, grammar, bias-free language, as well as the mechanics of the style.
• The Journalist’s Resource provides a range of services and information to help authors “better understand academic research methods, find and recognize high-quality vs. flawed research, and avoid missteps when reporting on new studies or public opinion polls.”
• The Harvard University Press has a catalog of resources for writers and journalists, as well as a way to contact publishers and representatives of media for further information about a piece.
• Journalist's Toolbox is a guide on how to approach multicultural or diversity issues in an accurate and sensitive manner. It discusses the topics of hunger, race, immigration, poverty, etc. and how journalists and others can go about covering them in an authoritative way.
• The Diversity Style Guide provides a guide for AP Style for reporters covering diversity or diverse populations.
• The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma advocates ethical and thorough reporting of trauma, as well as compassionate and professional treatment for those being covered. Additionally, the resource educates journalists on the science and psychological aspects of trauma before covering the issue.
• Reporting Hidden Stories examines how to cover race in different areas of reporting.

Disabilities

• National Center on Disability and Journalism: The NCDJ formulated this list of words and descriptions to help people or journalists covering individuals with disabilities.
• Society of Professional Journalists Diversity Toolbox: People with physical and mental disabilities make up 20 percent of the U.S. population, being the largest minority. Through SPJ’s diversity toolkit, journalists covering stories involving people with disabilities can reference their expertise.

Religion

• The Pew Research Center serves as an excellent resource for researchers to find a variety of stories that bridge the divide through religion.
• Journalist's Resource - Religion: This link will take you to articles showing research in religious divides.
• Journalist's Resource - Muslim Community: This article provides insight into the Muslim community.
• Islam for Journalists: A downloadable e-book for covering Muslim communities in America.

Immigration

• “New Americans in Alabama” The American Immigration Council takes an in-depth look at statistics regarding Asians and Latinos in Alabama.
• Journalist's Resource - Undocumented Immigrants: This resource gives tips on best practices when reporting on undocumented immigrants.

Race and Ethnicity

• The Aspen Institute: This site offers a process on how journalists should cover racial inequality and provides a list of 10 steps to use when dealing with a topic such as racial injustice.
• Bias Busters: Cultural Competence Guides, a Michigan State developed series of guides addressing questions and answers on cultural competence.
• The Auburn Korea Center - King Sejong Institute provides students, faculty, staff and the wider Auburn community with an avenue to better understand and connect with Auburn's growing Korean and Korean-American population through language and culture instruction. 
• Guidance for Reporting and Writing About Racism, a posting from Syracuse University, outlines five considerations journalist should be aware of when reporting and writing about race and racism.
• Journalist's Resource "Model Minority": Focuses on the “model minority” stereotype put on Asians and Asian Americans that can limit understanding.
• Racial Equity Resource Guide provides resources for finding organizations that involve minorities and focuses on racial healing to bridge the racial divides. Articles discuss racial disparities and racial equity as well as how society can help close the gap through research, support services, and community engagement.
• What is Critical Race Theory? This study guide from Perlego provides an introduction to Critical Race Theory, including its development, key concepts, and controversies.

Poverty

• Alabama Possible publishes reports providing statistical data on poverty levels in Alabama.
• Journalist's Resource Guide - Student Achievement Gaps reports on research associated with the public’s perception of student achievement gaps.
• PBS Interview with Robert Putnam examines social immobility and economic inequality.

Health

• Rural Health Information Hub provides information on rural health initiatives, top stories, additional resources, and funding opportunities for all 50 states.
• Journalist's Resource - Health Disparities
• The Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality focuses on “advancing healthcare quality, safety, and equity through research and innovation.”
• The Healthcare Communications Association is a not-for-profit organization whose members work on national and global healthcare communications across diverse business sectors in topics ranging from mental health and wellbeing, to neurodiversity and equity and inclusion.

LGBTQ+

• The Ground Truth Project - Reporting on Trans Issues. This article provides “advice for journalists reporting on the trans community.”
• Journalist's Resource - Transgender Americans  offers “insights into the discrimination faced by transgender Americans, including its impacts on health and wellbeing.”
• Journalist's Resource – LGBTQ+ provides a series of brief articles related to LGBTQ+ populations.
• Pew Research Center - Acceptance of Homosexuality  presents findings of a 2015 study on the changing reactions of parents to having a gay child.