This page will help you get more out of your Library resources for your assignments, projects and dissertations in Media Studies.

Research independently

The resources listed here will help you to make a good start with your research.

Search for a wide range of sources including e-books, articles, reports and images.

Useful for getting a basic understanding of your topic.

  • Credo Reference

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Explore Credo for trusted reference sources like dictionaries - a great alternative to Wikipedia! 

    Watch these short videos to get started:

    1. Search tips
    2. Using the automated mind map
  • Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    The national record of over 60,000 biographies, 72 million words, 11,000 portraits of significant, influential or notorious figures who shaped British history and culture, worldwide, from the Romans to the 21st century - extremely useful for detailed biographies about literary figures.

  • Oxford English Dictionary Online

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    The most trusted source about words in English, containing definitions, plus very detailed word histories.

You can find ebooks on Discovery, but you can search the full text of the books by using the individual services. 

  • Ebook Central

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Access around 200,000 ebooks across all subject areas.

  • Screen Studies

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A useful research resource for anyone studying the moving image; this platform contains ebooks, screenplays and a history of cinema timeline.

Searching beyond the basics

This section lists resources for specific purposes.

Find journal and magazine articles. These include up-to-date publications.

  • Broadcast

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Broadcast is the leading title for the broadcast industry. With up-to-the minute industry news, unrivalled analysis and commentary, insider industry information and business critical data. Broadcast provides the insight to keep you at the forefront of the industry

    Additional access instructions:

    In order to access Broadcast’s content, please follow the following steps:

    1. Visit: www.broadcastnow.co.uk

    2. Register your email address at the top right hand corner (or go directly to https://account.broadcastnow.co.uk/register)

    3. Input the correct details including your university email address to allow your Broadcast Digital access

    4. Once registered, you will have full digital access to Broadcast. These services include:

    • Full access to stories on Broadcast’s website

    • Choice of customisable newsletters (breaking news, weekly roundups, ratings, greenlit programmes + more)

    • Access to our Programme Index

    • Access to our Mobile App (available on App Store and Android)

  • Communication and mass media complete [CMMC]

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A key source for tracking down articles on a broad range of journalism, communication and media topics.

  • Film and Television Literature Index

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Helps you to find out what articles have been published in journals related to these subjects. Often you can link to the full text of the article too.

Find (mostly) non-current, full-text, journal and magazine articles.

  • Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Access the full text of popular entertainment industry magazine archives, including New Musical Express, Variety, The Stage and Screen International.

  • The Harper's Bazaar archive‎

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A searchable archive of the US (1867 to present) and UK (1930-2015) editions of Harper's Bazaar. This resource chronicles over 150 years of American, British, and international fashion, culture, and society, supporting researchers by offering unique insights into the events, attitudes, and interests of the modern era.

    Additional access instructions:

    Authentication required for off-campus access

  • JSTOR

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Provides access to more than 12 million journal articles, books, images, reports and primary sources in 75 disciplines.
    Watch this video for great tips.

  • Women's magazine archive

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    An archival research resource comprising the backfiles of leading women's interest consumer magazines. Issues are scanned in high-resolution color and feature detailed article-level indexing. Coverage ranges from the late-19th century through to 2005 and these key primary sources permit the examination of the events, trends, and attitudes of this period. Among the research fields served by this material are gender studies, social history, economics/marketing, media, fashion, politics, and popular culture.

    Additional access instructions:

    Authentication required for off campus access.

Includes a range of specialist resources you may find useful for your research.

  • British University Film and Video Council

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    This resource, from Learning on Screen includes a Moving Image Gateway to 2,000 websites relating to moving image and sound materials, News on Screen resource for the study of newsreels and cinemagazines, Archives and Footage from screen heritage, including film production and television and video equipment, and International Database of Shakespeare on Film, Television and Radio.

  • Media.info

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Media industries directory.

  • Sage Research Methods

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Access books and videos about quantitative and qualitative research methods and many more social science research topics. Use the Tools drop-down at the top centre of the screen to access a handy Project Planner which is full of FAQs about what you need to consider at each stage in a project/dissertation. Tools also contains a Methods Map which is ideal for quickly finding details about a particular research method.

  • WARC : World Advertising Research Center

    Specialist database with articles, research reports, interactive data and case studies covering advertising and more. Also includes some Euromonitor company profiles and strategy briefings.

    VIDEO tutorials on WARC's strategy, media and creative menus (please login above first to view these)

Explore specialist statistical resources and market research reports.

  • BARB (Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board)

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Topline viewing figures for TV. Access to free content only.

  • Box Office Mojo

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Look at the weekend charts for box office information and statistics

  • Eurostat

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Eurostat is the statistical office of the European Union and its task is to provide the European Union with statistics at European level that enable comparisons between countries and regions.

  • IBISWorld

    Provides a comprehensive collection of industry reports on very specific sectors in the UK as well as further specialist reports. Also covers industries globally, in the US, China, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

  • Mintel Reports and Mintel Trends

    Detailed market research reports on a range of UK sectors including: automotive; beauty and personal care; lifestyles; drink, food and foodservice; health and wellbeing; leisure; media; technology; and travel. Also includes access to Mintel Trends which provides evidence-backed insights on how today's consumer thinks, feels and acts.

    Video support:
    1. Using Mintel Reports
    2. Using the Interactive Databook
  • Ofcom

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    This website helps direct media academics, teachers and students to Ofcom documents and datasets. Their research covers media consumption, media literacy, news consumption, market developments, and public service broadcasters. Also includes information about Ofcom itself and how it is run.

  • Statista: the portal for statistics

    Access to more than a million statistics from many different sources. Useful for finding industrial, economic and consumer market statistical trends.

  • UK National Statistics: Publication Hub

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Official statistics from the UK Government.

  • Nexis Uni

    Full text articles from many news sources and trade journals both UK and international. Archives sometimes stretching back to the mid 1980s. For use in the UK only.

  • PressReader

    PressReader lets you access UK and international newspapers, plus a wide range of magazine content. Everything is full colour with archives varying in length depending on the publication.

    Login guidance

  • British Library Newspapers

    Search and read a wide range of national and regional newspapers from 1741-1950.

    Watch this short video to get a quick overview (we have parts 1 - 5).

  • Daily Mail Historical Archive, 1896-2016

    Use with care as this tabloid is known for its strong views but it can help with some assignments and certain dissertation topics. Search for stories or use the browse feature to flick through the paper on particular days, including special editions published in connection with Queen Victoria, George V, Elizabeth II's coronation and Winston Churchill. Use Nexis if you want to go beyond 2016.

  • The Guardian and Observer Archives

    Access stories and photos from The Guardian (1821-2003) and The Observer (1791-2003). Use Nexis if you want to search up to the current day.

  • Illustrated London News Historical Archive 1842-2003

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    The world's first illustrated weekly newspaper containing useful background for Victorian topics in particular.

  • Mirror historical archive 1903-2000

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Founded in 1903, the Mirror plays a pivotal role in the history of journalism. Peaking in 1967, with a daily circulation of 5.25 million, the newspaper has had a history full of highs and lows. Today, it is the only mainstream left-wing tabloid remaining in the UK. Gale's Mirror Historical Archive, 1903-2000 features more than 800,000 pages of brand-new, full text searchable, scans of the complete run of the Mirror from 1903-2000, including the Sunday Mirror.

  • ProQuest historical newspapers: South China Morning Post‎ (1903 - 2000)

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Founded in Hong Kong in 1903, this paper is known for its authoritative, influential, and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and all of Asia, as well as its perspective of the rest of the world. Gain unique insights into modern Chinese history, 20th century politics, economics, and more. Search from 2000 up to the current day via Nexis Uni.

  • The Telegraph historical archive 1855-2016

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Launched in 1855 as an affordable newspaper (it quickly cut its price to a penny), by 1876 The Telegraph was the largest-selling newspaper in the world. The newspaper was directed at a wealthy, educated readership and is commonly associated with traditional Toryism, despite its more "liberal" beginnings. The Telegraph Historical Archive has over 1 million pages of content and includes the Sunday edition from its inception in 1961. The archive offers a fundamental insight into domestic and international affairs and culture over a time span of almost 150 years.

    Under the editorship of poet and Orientalist Edwin Arnold from 1873 to 1899, the newspaper published widely on foreign affairs and foreign cultures. This led to coverage of Stanley's expedition to Africa in search of David Livingstone, which it co-sponsored with the New York Herald in 1874. Its dedication to foreign news coverage was evidenced by its employment of several renowned special correspondents over the years, including: Winston Churchill, who reported from India in 1897, Rudyard Kipling, who braved the trenches of the First World War, and Clare Hollingworth, who, as the first female war correspondent, relayed the start of the Second World War from Poland.

    During the twentieth century, The Telegraph cemented its reputation as a pioneering yet reliable source of news reporting. There was the infamous uncensored interview with Kaiser Wilhelm of 1908, in which he successfully alienated Britain, France, Russia, and Japan. In 1942, the newspaper published the cryptic crossword puzzle responsible for recruiting Allied codebreakers during the Second World War.

  • The Times: Digital Archive 1785-2019

    Search over 200 years of articles. Articles are full facsimiles of what was published on the day and you can view the article in its original page location if you want.

    Watch this video showing you how to make the most of the features available.

Find primary sources including documents and images.

  • Archives of Sexuality and Gender: LGBTQ History and Culture Since 1940

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Explore 20 collections of documents, including minutes of meetings and conferences, press releases, fliers, brochures, press clippings, US government memoranda and reports, private correspondence, surveys and photos.

    Watch this quick introduction to the archive - please note we only subscribe to Part 1 which contains British material as well as coverage from North America.

  • Disability in the Modern World

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Disability in the Modern World: History of a Social Movement encompasses an international set of resources to enrich study in a wide range of disciplines from media studies to philosophy.

  • History of Feminism

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    This resource covers the fascinating subject of feminism over the long nineteenth century (1776-1928). It contains an extensive range of primary and secondary resources, including photographs and illustrations.

  • Media History Digital Library

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    This resource includes digitised magazines from the early 20th Century. Sources include fan magazines such as Photoplay, global cinema magazines such as Pictures and Picturegoer and collections relating to radio broadcasting, technical cinema and law.

  • Popular Culture in Britain and America: 1950-1975

    Fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    Explore documents, fanzines, photos and newsreel footage to help understand these key decades when consumer culture and pop music took off and protest movements were big news.

Find more resources from the Visual Culture subject page.

Documentaries and films.

  • BFI Player: Free films

    Not fully searchable in EBSCO Discovery

    A diverse range of collections from the BFI. The University is unable to subscribe to the full range of films but you can view a wide range of free collections. 

  • BoB: On demand TV and radio for education

    An archive of UK television and radio programmes from free to air channels (1998 onwards). For use in the UK only. Find some great tips about how to use BoB in these short videos.

  • Kanopy

    A unique collections of films including award-winning documentaries, training films and theatrical releases on every topic imaginable. Content can be searched or browsed.