Need Help?
Finding Articles
Consult articles once you've created a research question or thesis and want to look at your topic in detail. If you are just starting out and don't have a good sense of your topic yet, check out "Finding Background Information" first.
The databases on this page provide access to scholarly, popular, and news articles. Some databases will lead you directly to the full text of an article while others will help you find abstracts (summaries) for articles that you'll need to track down elsewhere.
If you have any trouble finding what you need, just ask a librarian! For a refresher, check out our guide.
To browse a specific journal, search for it by name in URI's Journal Search or browse for journals by subject on BrowZine!
- E-Journal List - URI Journal SearchEnter the title of the journal or newspaper you're looking for to find access quickly!
- BrowZineAn app that lets you browse journals by discipline or search by title. You can save journals or articles to a personalized bookshelf for later use!
Suggested Communication Studies Databases
The best place to find articles is in one of the library's databases, but choosing a database can be overwhelming! Here are a few best bets with a brief description of their specialties and strengths! Use the recommendations below for a good place to start. If you want to explore beyond these, you can search the library's Databases @ URI list by "subject" to find recommendations for your field or area of study.
- Communication Abstracts (EBSCOhost) This link opens in a new window
- What's included? Citations to articles and journals related to communications, broadcasting, and public opinions on a world-wide scale. Covers articles, reports, papers, and books.
- What dates are covered? 1977-. Updated bimonthly.
- What's included? Citations to articles and journals related to communications, broadcasting, and public opinions on a world-wide scale. Covers articles, reports, papers, and books.
- Academic Search Complete (EBSCOhost) This link opens in a new window
- What's included? Citations to and full text of over 8,500 journals and magazines, including more than 7,300 peer-reviewed journals. Covers a wide range of academic subjects including the arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences, technology, and more.
- What dates are covered? Coverage varies, but generally covers the mid 1990s - present. Updated daily.
- AP Stylebook This link opens in a new window
- What's included? AP Stylebook Online is a searchable, customizable resource for writers and editors. It’s updated throughout the year and valuable online-only resources, including Ask the Editor, Topical Guides and Pronunciation Guide, expand on the print book’s guidance. It’s mobile optimized so you can use it on your desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet. Includes Webster's New World College Dictionary.
- Gale Directory Library (Gale) This link opens in a new window
- What’s included? Gale Directory Library offers access to two titles: the Encyclopedia of Associations. National Organizations of the U.S., a comprehensive source of information on nonprofit membership organizations in the United States; and the Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media, which contains listings for radio and television stations, cable companies, and print media publications.
- JSTOR This link opens in a new window
- What’s included? Archival journal collections in many disciplines, scholarly e-books, images, and primary source materials from institutions worldwide.
- What else should I know? Many journals in JSTOR have an embargo (called the "Moving Wall") on their most recent articles, generally ranging from 3-5 years. Other databases will provide more current results.
News Databases
You may need to find newspaper articles in addition to scholarly sources for your work. URI subscribes to many newspaper databases, but we've collected a few below to give you a place to start. Remember that you can use the "database type" filter URI's list of databases to limit to newspaper databases if you want to explore other options!
- America's News (Newsbank) This link opens in a new window
- What's included? Current news articles and archives from more than 3,000 local, national, and regional U.S. news sources.
- What dates are covered? 1980s to the present.
- Nexis Uni (LexisNexis) This link opens in a new window
- What’s included? News, law, and business information service. Includes news from national and international newspapers; wire services and articles from hundreds of periodicals; and a number of other reference sources. All sources are full-text. Updated daily.
- Independent Voices (Reveal Digital) This link opens in a new window
- What’s included? Digital collection of the alternative press including newspapers, magazines and journals drawn from the special collections of participating libraries. These periodicals were produced by feminists, dissident GIs, campus radicals and the New Left, Native Americans, anti-war activists, Black Power advocates, Hispanics, LGBTs, anarchists, the extreme right-wing press and alternative literary magazines. When completed, the Collection will represent complete runs of over 1,000 titles and 1,000,000 pages.
- What else should I know? The content will become open access in January 2019 or sooner.
- What’s included? Digital collection of the alternative press including newspapers, magazines and journals drawn from the special collections of participating libraries. These periodicals were produced by feminists, dissident GIs, campus radicals and the New Left, Native Americans, anti-war activists, Black Power advocates, Hispanics, LGBTs, anarchists, the extreme right-wing press and alternative literary magazines. When completed, the Collection will represent complete runs of over 1,000 titles and 1,000,000 pages.