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helping the searcher find the right information by guide and navigation
(Van Dijk, 2003). The IP has the ambition to work accurate, to conduct
full desk research, and to manage the traditional (library) collections
(Hendriks, 2003). We have found these competencies in the work of an

IP at a news organization and included her story as a case to outline
these competencies.
Information Professional in news organizations

The role of the IP in a news organization, like a newspaper or
television network, is to deliver information to the members of the
editorial office. The IPs primary ‘customer’ in a news organization are
editors and journalists. The main task of an IP in a news organization is

to take care of the information that the editors and journalists need in
order to write their article or to produce a news item. This information
can be for example background information about any subject, or when

a journalist wants to interview somebody, the IP can deliver information
about this particular person. The IP also checks if a certain subject is real
news or if there is anything written about the subject before. Other

information that journalists might need can be business information
about an institute or contact information of people in the news, like
telephone numbers or addresses. IPs also seek experts and specialists

who the journalist can contact to get more information about a specific
topic. Besides delivering information, the IP can help the editors to find
news. By searching on the internet, local newspapers or regional
television programs the IP can trace the news subjects. Also journalists

with a specialism, like crime or environment, can get an update when
there is an development on their field of specialization. These tasks of an
IP are on a proactive base. The research or documentation department in

a news organization uses different resources. The resources which IPs
generally use for information are digital resources, like databases and
Internet resources. Non-digital resources, like handbooks, dictionaries,
encyclopedias and International Who is Who are used less these days.

This is mainly because a lot of the information is also digital available,
which is usually faster. The internet can also be a useful source for the
IP. He or she can assess the quality and reliability of the information

from the internet. Social networks become increasingly important for the
IP and the news organizations when they need information or photos
about a person who is in the news. The IP needs to be able to do proper

desk research. The professional needs to know how to find information,
where to find it, and do this in a as fast and effective way as possible. It