New Interface for LexisNexis Academic in 1/10

It looks like LexisNexis Academic’s interface will have a new look and feel in January 2010. The significant changes are to the database’s search forms and navigation menu; content changes are minimal. For more information and to test drive the beta, see LexisNexis Academic’s Wiki: http://wiki.lexisnexis.com/academic/index.php?title=Academic_Search_Form_Menu

A Resource to Relax Your Brain

With finals here and the holidays right around the corner, it's hard to imagine finding time to delve into a heavy research paper. But if you still want to stay on top of what is happening in the communication world, blogs are a great way to go. One of my favorites is the Z on TV blog written by Baltimore Sun critic David Zurawik. Updated daily, this blog focuses on all news television-related, with an occasional post about what is happening in the Baltimore media market. It's a great resource to get a quick update on what's happening in television.

Editor & Publisher is Closing

After 108 years of publication, it looks like Editor & Publisher magazine will be no more. I think we owe a moment of silence for this noble information source that kept us up-to-date about all things newspaper related. If you are feeling a bit nostalgic and want to peruse old issues, Cook Library has the print going back to 1964.

Google moves to limit free news

Apparently some media companies aren't happy that Google is providing a free ride to their content. The BBC reports that Google is allowing newspaper publishers who charge for their content to limit users to five of their articles per day. The sixth click on an article would then be rerouted to a publisher's registration/subscription page. This comes on the heels of some U.S. news outlets floating the idea of charging for content and a British publisher actually implementing it. Will users buy into this new business model? Surveys suggest that may not be likely in the U.S. ...