Matthew Kent's Blog

My interests and things that I read online

2005-10-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

I never go a day without reading one of my favorites:

Chicago Tribune

I've learned to enjoy reading stories written by some of my favorite reporters from the Chicago Tribune. I have 3 in particular: Joel Greenburg, who covers the Middle East and developments that occur frequently among Israel and the Palestinians. Evan Osnos is a terrific writer, who is currently the Tribune's China correspondent and previously reported from Iraq from March 2003 to February 2005. One of my other favorite writers also includes Jeff Zeleny, who is in the Washington Bureau and covers politics.

I've always been interested in Israel, Jewish affairs, and developments that occur in the Middle East, so here are some of the papers I read overseas:

Jerusalem Post

Haaretz

Here are some other papers I read often:

Christian Science Monitor

The Daily Southtown

Star Newspapers

I also like to keep up with other world news so I read the BBC

I'll often check CNN, MSNBC, and FOX News as well as watching it on television.

Telephone/E-mail Directories

2005-10-11T12:13:00.000-07:00

Here's a list of various telephone/e-mail directories you may find helpful. Remember, if you can't find it in one directory, keep hunting the others...something may come up! Click here

Also, try this tool: Reverse Phone Directory

It allows you to look up people through their address, phone numbers, and name if you have the information available. You can also look up businesses.

Federal Government Documents

2005-10-10T19:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a compilation of Federal resources you may find useful printed by the U.S. Government Printing Office...has the 9-11 Commission report among other government items of interest listed online for free. Click here

Bureau of Justice Statistics

2005-10-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

Looking for some hard-to-find info. about crime statistics, but can't find anything? Just try this

But if you're looking for federal statistics (over 100 federal agencies), try this Web site: Click here

Drivers License Numbers

2005-10-10T17:32:00.000-07:00

Want to find out more information about a person based on their driver's license? Or do you have a license number and want to verify the person's identity? Just try this really neat tool: Unique ID Driver's License Analyzer

FOI Requests to Government Agencies

2005-10-10T16:43:00.000-07:00

Here's a useful website I found through the Department of Justice on what's needed to receive information through the FOI Act through the various agencies and departments at the government level. Click here

A good starting point for contacts at the various levels of the federal government: FOI Contacts

Freedom of Information Letter Generator

2005-10-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a generic tool to compose a letter to federal agencies in getting crucial information under the Freedom of Information Act. Click here

Death Indexes, Records, Obituaries

2005-10-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

This website provides information of online death indexes by state and county. You can find death records, death certificate indexes, as well as other information. Just click here

Court case information

2005-10-04T10:11:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for court case information , try the Web site listed here ... It has information on court case proceedings, litigant information, civil suits and other useful things you may need for a story.

Research Tools

2005-10-04T10:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a compilation of research tools you may find useful in finding information on the Web:
Power Reporting

Beat Source Guide

2005-10-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

Here's a Beat Source Guide to help you find resourceful information on a variety of subjects:
http://www.ire.org/resourcecenter/initial-search-beat.html

Getting from one place to the next... how to get to your destination

2005-09-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

Looking to get from point A to point B, but don't know how to get there? Just try Mapquest

Sources and Experts

2005-09-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

Looking for sources and experts for stories you're working on? Just try the website listed here

Center for Investigative Reporting

2005-09-29T12:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a good website for investigative reporting:
(Center for Investigative Reporting)

Google content

2005-08-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

Really need to find what you're looking for? Just try Google's advanced search and type in whatever you're looking for:

Google Advanced Search

Matthew Kent's first post

2005-08-25T12:50:00.000-07:00

This is Matthew Kent's first post at Blogger.com