Back to Home > Courses and Seminars > How to Find Out Anything

How to Find Out Anything

Secrets of professional fact-finders.

Course is closed.

WHEN
Wednesday, March 29
7-10 pm

WHERE
mediabistro.com
494 Broadway
(Spring and Broome)
New York, NY 10012

WHO
Journalists, researchers, and fact-finders who want to gain an edge in their research

PRICE
$65 ($50 for )
more info

Course Details

The old-time reporters called it footwork -- the laborious process of going out and tracking down the facts. The demands of editors haven't changed, but the work of sniffing out hard-to-find facts and reliable primary sources has. We have ever more sophisticated libraries and the internet. But having a browser isn't enough: more importantly, you need to know how to think like a detective. Investigative journalists and librarians know that effective research is just like solving a puzzling crime. Learn how to leverage a few facts into a much broader body of information to flesh out an article. In this one-of-a-kind course, you will discover how to unearth critical data on people, companies, industries and specific subjects, as well how to use the Web and libraries' resources together to turn yourself into a formidable fact-finder.

In this seminar, you'll learn:

  • How to find information on people, industries, and specific companies
  • How to leverage what you do know to find out what you don't know
  • What you need to create your own information and research web site (for each research project)
  • How to search government databases
  • How to find out the law and legal history on any topic
  • How to use any Internet search to find bits of information hidden to the untrained searcher

Instructor Bio

Don MacLeod's Courses

No courses available at this time.

Don MacLeod
Don MacLeod is a law librarian with more than 15 years of reference experience researching companies, individuals, legislation and specific subjects for the major New York firms of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Chadbourne & Parke, LLP and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. For five years, he developed intranets and taught web research as manager of web applications for Cravath and Chadbourne before returning to research work. He is the author of two editions of the Internet Guide for the Legal Researcher and serves as editor-in-chief of the Glasser LegalWorks publications Internet Law Researcher and Internet Connection. He is a regular contributor, both of articles and photographs, to The New York Press and has written for Database magazine and the New York Law Journal. He also speaks regularly at law seminars about the use of the Internet for legal and factual research.

Testimonials


Don made the vast world of research understandable and accessible and conveyed it in a really engaging way. He had so many useful tips. I came away with my brain buzzing, completely inspired. -- Maggie Dubris

"I drove up from NYC to the seminar with Don in Boston, because I had missed the one in New York. I think it was well worth the car rental and ten hours on the road." -- Martin Downs, editor, The Alicubi Journal

"As I walked out of the class, I wanted to tell everyone I know -- magazine writers, book authors -- to take the class. But then I thought -- let them find out about it themselves!" -- Maria Ricapito

"I can't wait to put all this new information to good use! It's unbelievable how much free information is out there. I would definitely recommend this seminar to everyone because it can be so useful in our everyday lives. Thanks for the knowledge." -- Helen Baldwin

"Don was fantastic! He was so well-informed, well-prepared, and generally personable that I'd go back for more. I give him an A++." -- Elizabeth Ungar

"Don's seminar was excellent. The evening whizzed by, and after 3 hours, I was still thoroughly engaged. Don's enthusiasm for sleuthing is genuine and contagious! I would definitely recommend the seminar to a colleague." -- Linda Crowley

"Less than 10 minutes into the class, my mind was already blown. The skills I learned during this course will save me considerable leg work in the future and give me a significant edge." -- Daniel Schulman

"I'm always skeptical when reading glowing tributes on someone's seminars. There was no exaggeration in the reviews of Don. He passed along lots of great information in a very digestible form, and in an encouraging, engaging, and energizing presentation. I'd recommend his seminar without any reservations." -- Susan Stauber

"Don was extremely knowledgeable and well prepared. He presented the material in an organized fashion and willingly answered all questions." -- Monica Epstein

AvantGuild* Discounts on mediabistro.com courses are just one of the wonderful benefits of being in AvantGuild, our premium membership program. For just $59 a year, you'll receive instant access to our How to Pitch articles and other premium articles, transcripts from selected seminars and panels, and discounts on virtually everything we do (including eClasses and the Freelance Marketplace)! Click here to join now.