Researching in Newsgroups

Having trouble locating people to interview for your article or book?  Go to http://groups.yahoo.com and/or http://www.topica.com and browse for all the groups you think will contain people familiar with the topic you are researching.

Keep in mind that some of these groups generate a lot of e-mail, so you might want to join the digest mode or the Web-only mode, to keep your inbox from being flooded.

Next, send a letter to the owner of the group requesting permission to post a request for volunteers to answer your questions or survey.  Be sure to tell them what you need and for what and where.

When you have received permission, post your message to the group. An example might be –

"Posted with permission from the list owner:

"I have recently been contracted by (name of publication or website) to write an e-book (or article or book) on such and such subject. In this article I must include some interviews with people who (whatever you need), so I am soliciting volunteers to complete a questionnaire for me. If anyone would be interested in doing this for me (or forwarding this on to any (whatever) you know), I would greatly appreciate it. The person and their company and/or website would be acknowledged in the book (if appropriate).

"Please contact me off-list at (your e-mail address) if you are interested.

"Thanks!"

Along with the interview possibilities, you might be able to learn a lot from the members that will help you with your book or article.