Types of Sources

Distinguishing between sources when you're searching in FRCC Discovery or the databases can be trickier than when you're looking at a print or web version. Limiters can help, but here are some tips to help you determine the type of source you're viewing. Keep in mind the examples below do not reflect the variety of database interfaces available.

Is it a newspaper?

What to look for:

• low word count
• section named (e.g, National Desk) and/or newspaper pagination listed (e.g., section + page = A12)
• recognizable/well-known publication (e.g., New York Times, Wall Street Journal, etc.) OR use Google to confirm whether the source you're looking at is a newspaper.

When viewing in FRCC Discovery:

• Look for the source type above the article title. The publication name is listed in the field "Published in":

When viewing in a database, such as Proquest U.S. Newsstream,:

• Look for the source type next to the article title. The publication title will be under the article title. Clicking on the Details button will give more information like which newspaper section the article appeared in. 

If you're not sure what source type you're looking at:

• Use a search engine for the source's name. For example in the search engine DuckDuckGo, searching for Washington Post shows an information box that identifies it as a newspaper.