A social network for anyone researching news and journalism has been created by Paul Bradshaw. It’s at http://onlinejournalismresearch.ning.com/
It’s an attempt to provide a way for journalism students and academics to get in touch with others researching the same area, exchange ideas and tips, and ask for help on everything from finding relevant literature to sourcing contacts and the best research methods.
There are forums, you can use it to blog your progress, organise events, upload video and photos, form groups, and more.
Research is traditionally a solitary, frustrating endeavour. It doesn’t need to be. If you work with journalism students, please encourage them to join the network and contribute a question or an answer.