How Do I Find News?

In this guide, news primarily refers to newspapers in all its formats (print, online or microform), but it can also include other types of news sources such as newsletters, newswires, news blogs, radio and television news or transcripts, press releases and more. 

Looking for news on a topic?

• Try searching for keyword(s) that describe your topic in news databases and in news websites.

Looking for a specific news story? 

• Try searching for the title of the article (or headline) in Discovery.
  • e.g., Amid cheers, some scholars see an airbrushed Hamilton
     
• If the story is not included in Discovery, try searching for the title of the news source or newspaper (e.g., The New York Times) in the databases listed under Finding a Specific News Source. 

Looking for a specific news source?

Search for the title of the news source or newspaper (e.g., Globe and Mail)  in one or more of the databases below. NOTE: Some news sources change title frequently, so look for alternate titles e.g., The Hamilton Spectator, The Spectator

• McMaster's Library Catalogue [includes print, online and microform formats]
  • search by the publication name or title of the news source
  • click the title to view holdings, format and location details
     
• Online Journals tab on the McMaster University Library home page [includes online formats]
  • search by title keyword(s)
  • click on the Get it! button at the bottom of the listing for dates of coverage and links online
     
• Factiva [includes online (plain-text) formats]
  • click Source below the Search box
  • in the Search Source Name/Alias Only box, type the name of the news source and click the arrow button
  • click the title to add it to your search, then search for keywords describing your topic
  • this video (at the 1:05 minute mark) includes the steps described above. NOTE: The Save As List feature described in the video is not part of the Library's Factiva subscription. 
     
• Nexis Uni [includes online (plain-text) formats]
  • select All Sources from the Menu drop-down list (top left)
  • search for a title in the Search Within Sources box; browse for a title by alphabet; or Narrow By: Category, Jurisdiction, Practice Areas & Topics or Publisher
  • in the results list, click on the desired title and select "Get documents" to retrieve full-text or select "Add source as a search filter" and enter keyword(s) in the search box (top of page) - if desired,  add more titles to the search filter 
     
• 17th & 18th Century Burney Collection Newspapers [includes online (PDF) formats]
  • select Browse to find specific publications by title, date range and more.
     
• 17th & 18th Century Nichols Newspapers Collection [includes online (PDF) formats]
  • select Browse to find specific publications by title, date range and more.
     
• 19th Century British Library Newspapers [includes online (PDF) formats]
  • select Browse to find specific publications by title, date range and more.
     
• 19th Century U.S. Newspapers [includes online (PDF) formats]
  • select Browse to find specific publications by title, date range and more.