Guide to Media Sources for Print, Radio, Television and Cable Markets

at the Ithaca College Library


phone: (607)-274-3890
reference@ithaca.edu
Ithaca College Library

This guide is designed to help locate information about the various types of media. These are merely suggested starting points; use the library catalog, indexes and other resources to identify additional materials. Books or articles not available on campus may be obtained by Interlibrary Loan.

Background Information Print Radio Television & Cable Finding Books Selected Journals Internet Resources

Background Information

Begin your research with sources that will give you background information, define terms and develop a complete picture of your topic. This research will help you to focus on those aspects of the topic that will be of interest to you.

  • Encyclopedia of business information sources (1970-): Ref Desk HF 5353 E52.
  • Mass media research : an introduction. ., c1994. REF P91.3 .W47 1993
  • Dictionary of media and communication studies.c2000. REF P87.5 .W38 2000
  • Search strategies in mass communication REF P91.3 .W37 1997

Print (Newspapers, Magazines)

The following are directory or reference sources which will provide information on newspapers, magazines and journals.
  • Editor & publisher international year book. Gives information on newspaper markets by geographic area. Latest at REF Desk PN 4700 E42.
  • Editor & publisher market guide. Gives a wide variety of information on newspaper markets including retail sales, population breakdowns, income, retail stores, newspapers published and subscription information, etc. REF DESK HF5905 .E38
  • Newspaper Links. Searchable links to newspapers and their home pages by state. Click on the state to make the link. Also international newspapers.
  • Publist-find over 100,000 newspapers and magazines.
  • Standard Rate and Data Service (SRDS). Consumer magazine advertising source. Monthly publication. Gives description of magazine, readership and subscription and advertising rates. REF HF 5905 S725. Also available online-contact 274-3890 for passwords or email-reference@ithaca.edu
  • Standard Rate and Data Service (SRDS). Newspaper advertising source. Monthly publication. Gives description of newspaper, readership and subscription info. and advertising rates. REF HF 5905 S73. Also available online-contact 274-3890 for passwords or email-reference@ithaca.edu
  • Serials Directory -This database contains over 182,000 U.S. and international titles, including newspapers
  • Working Press of the nation: Magazines and internal publications directory. Contains information on over 7,500 magazines and over 1,000 internal publications of companies. Includes reader profile, editorial description, subscription rates, circulation size, etc. REF Z6951 W6 v. 2.
  • Working Press of the nation: Newspaper directory. Information on newspaper name, ADI, subscription rates, circulation size, etc. Arranged alphabetically by geographic area. REF Z6951 v.1.

Radio

  • American radio. Covers about 175 markets which Arbitron surveys on a quarterly basis. Arranged by city, provides Arbitron rank, MSA rank and population, format, audience share by age, sex, etc. Be sure to check the Small market edition also. REF TK 6540 B852
  • Arbitron Ratings-information and reports about radio markets.
  • Arbitron Ratings from Radio and Recording. Note: These ratings are always at least 1 quarter behind. If you want the most up-to-date ratings, you must subscribe for a fee. Searchable by alphabetical order or market size for all 265 markets.
  • Broadcasting and cable yearbook. Listing of radio stations arranged geographically. Also includes Nielsen DMA marketing breakdowns, etc. REF Desk TK 6540 B852
  • National Association of Broadcasting. Web site with links which are searchable for both television and radios stations.
  • Radio Info-station database, suppliers, buyers guide, stock quotes, etc.
  • Standard Rate and data service (SRDS). Radio advertising source. Lists Arbitron shares and market profiles, AM/FM Commercial stations, formats, syndicators, etc. Monthly. REF HF 5905 S74. Also available online-contact 274-3890 for passwords or email-reference@ithaca.edu
  • Working Press of the Nation:. TV and radio directory. Arranged geographically. Lists stations by Arbitron Metro Market and DMA (demographic marketing area) call letters, programming personnel and population served etc.. REF Z 6951 W6 v.3
Television & Cable
  • Media Dynamics. TV dimensions. c1997- Covers all sorts of demographic and psychographic information about television viewers such as hours and types of shows viewed, spending habits, etc. REF HE8700.8 .T917
  • Broadcasting and cable yearbook. Regulatory information, news items and a directory of radio, TV, and cable operations. REF Desk TK 6540 B852
  • Cable and station coverage atlas. Provides station information and contour maps of coverage for cable and television companies. REF HE 8700.7 C6 C13
  • Nielsen Ratings -may be found in USA Today the newspaper every Wednesday. The library does not subscribe to this publication, but it can often be found in the Student Union.
  • Nielsen Ratings -these are ratings for various programs both on Network TV and Cable Television. Note: These are always about 1 week behind. There is also an archive of ratings going back more than 1 year on a weekly basis.
  • Standard Rate and Data Service (SRDS). TV and cable source. Monthly. Provides information such as market profiles, population projections, demographic profiles, cost points, etc. Also lists stations by geographic area. REF HF 5905 S745. Also available online-contact 274-3890 for passwords or email-reference@ithaca.edu
  • Television and cable factbook. (3 parts). Part 1- Cable; Part 2-Services, Part 3-Stations. Arranged geographically. Provides broadcast range, fees, Nielsen coverage, etc. Also Advertising rates. REF TK 6540 T463
  • World radio TV handbook, the directory of international broadcasting. REF TK6540.W67.
  • Working Press of the Nation: TV and radio directory. Arranged geographically. Lists stations by Arbitron Metro Market and DMA (demographic marketing area) call letters, programming personnel and population served etc.. REF Z 6951 W6 v.3
  • Zap2it-list of TV and Cable stations/networks
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Finding Books

The library catalog will help you identify a variety of print and non-print materials that will be useful to your research. You can search by specific authors or titles or you can do keyword and subject searching. Some specific subjects you can use to begin your search are:
  • Mass media
  • radio broadcasting
  • television broadcasting
  • Newspapers
  • periodicals
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Selected Journals

This is a selected list of journals in the field available in the library or online.

  • Critical studies in mass communication. PER P87 .C74
  • Critical studies in media communication. PER P87 .C73
  • Journal of broadcasting & electronic media. PER PN1991 .J6
  • Journalism & mass communication quarterly. PER PN4700 .J7
  • Journal of mass media ethics. PER P94 .J68
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Internet Resources

Some sites that provide an introduction to resources for study are:

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Author: James Bondra
Links and content checked:June 30, 2004
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Last updated on June 30, 2004