It all depends on what you are researching. Sure,
newspapers articles/images have a slant, but that slant may be
what you are studying...
Heather Willever-Farr
Electronic Records Archivist American College of Physicians - American Society of Internal Medicine 190 N. Independence Mall West Philadelphia, PA 19106-1572 hwillever-farr@mail.acponline.org (w) 215-351-2470 (h) 215-481-0962 >>> Dean DeBolt <ddebolt@MAIL.UWF.EDU> 05/17/01 09:14AM >>> Okay, class ... from my talks to groups about newspapers. Are newspapers primary sources? Some wave their hands yes, others wave their hands no. The definition of a primary source is that it is eyewitness or closest in time to the actual event. So, yes, newspapers are primary sources. But the second issue is one of truth. Simply because it is an eyewitness account or closest in time does not make it true. That's why people debate newspapers as primary sources, because we all have seen errors in writing and reporting in the newspaper. The third issue of the primary source is the "spin" or slant of the person doing the reporting or writing. I know an autobiography of a prominent congressman....he wrote it, his daughter edited it, it is considered primary ... except since he lost his long tenure in Congress because of ethics ... his book barely mentions that issue so he (and his editing daughter) exits office merely "retiring." Usually after I get the class to agree that newspapers are primary sources ... I then pull out some of my newspapers (National Enquirer or Weekly World News with lurid highly improbable headlines)... we all have a good laugh and then I can talk about that just because it is in print or primary does not make it true. A good researcher will set out to have multiple proofs of a fact. Dean Dean DeBolt University Librarian Special Collections and West Florida Archives John C. Pace Library University of West Florida 11000 University Parkway Pensacola, FL 32514-5750 Tele: 850-474-2213; Fax: 850-474-3338 A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List! To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt < rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu > |