On the job

8 Indispensable Websites for Working Journalists

By Erica Sweeney

Being a journalist is tough. But there are many online tools and resources that can help make your job a little easier. Whether you need some quick facts, FOIA help, or a Twitter graphic, here are eight websites that all working journalists should have bookmarked:

1. APStylebook.com

The AP Stylebook is a mainstay for all journalists. If you’re not a subscriber of the searchable online version, you should be. Its extra tools, like Ask the Editor and email updates, are a big help.

2. DiversityStyleGuide.com

The Diversity Style Guide, a project of the Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism at San Francisco State University, includes hundreds of terms on race and ethnicity, disability, immigration, sexuality and gender identity and more to help with accuracy, authority and sensitivity in reporting.

3. Census.gov

Data enriches any story, and there’s nowhere better to get such wide-ranging facts than the U.S. Census Bureau.

4. FOIA.Wiki

This free resource recently launched as a hub for just about anything you need on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). However, it focuses on federal law and doesn’t include state information. Its collaborative nature means it can be easily updated when laws change.

5. JournalistsToolbox.org

This site, housed at SPJ.org and maintained by former Los Angeles Times reporter Mike Reilley, includes a wealth of links to resources about election coverage, First Amendment issues, investigative reporting, education and much more.

6. SPJ.org

The Society of Professional Journalists’ website offers an array of tips, resources, training information, news and a lot more. It’s truly the go-to site for all things journalism.

7. ProfNet.com

Looking for a source? You’ll find it here. Reporters can submit queries to find experts on a particular subject.

8. Canva.com

When Facebook posts and tweets include graphics, they get a lot more engagement. But journalists aren’t usually known for their graphic-design skills. This online graphic-building tool is simple to use and offers many free stock photos and templates. You can also create graphics with your own photos. These 10 websites are indispensable for all journalists, but there are also many more invaluable ones out there.