Skip to Main Content

Research Assistance: Databases

Databases

DATABASES

The AFTRS Library gives AFTRS staff and students free access to a number of different research databases.

How to Use the Databses

Communication and Mass Media

Search here for these topics:

  • Media
  • Journalism
  • Communications

FIAF

Search here for these topics:

  • Film history
  • Film theory
  • Film criticism
  • “Treasures from Film Archives”; a detailed index of the silent-era film holdings of archives from around the world

Film and Television Literature Index

Search here for these topics:

  • Film and Television Theory
  • Preservation & Restoration
  • Screenwriting
  • Production
  • Cinematography
  • Technical Aspects
  • Film and Television Reviews
  • Variety Movie Reviews from 1914 to the Present
  • Over 36,000 images from the MPTV Image Archive

Media, Cultural & Communication Studies Database / Taylor & Francis

Search here for these topics:

  • Area Studies
  • Cultural Studies
  • Communication
  • Film Studies
  • Humanities
  • Language & Linguistics
  • Media
  • Sociology

INFORMIT Indigenous Collection

Search here for these topics:

  • Historical and Topical issues with Indigenous Studies.

Art Retrospective Index 1929-1984 (H. W. Wilson) (Access through the NSW State Library)

Search here for these topics:

  • Art History
  • Fashion Design
  • Graphic Arts
  • Industrial Design
  • Interior Design
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Motion Pictures
  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Television

Jstor (Access through the NSW State Library)

Search here for these topics:

  • Architecture  & Architectural History
  • Art & Art History
  • Arts and Performing Arts
  • Business Management & Organisational Behavior
  • Classical Studies
  • Film Studies
  • Finance
  • Marketing & Advertising
  • Music
  • Philosophy & Religion

ProQuest Research Library (Access through the State Library of New South Wales)

Search here for these topics:

  • Arts & Performing Arts
  • Business
  • History and Biography
  • Society & Culture
  • Science and Technology
  • Social Sciences

INFORMIT Australian Public Affairs Full-Text (APAFT) (Access through the New South Wales State Library)

Search here for these topics:

  • Environment
  • Globalization
  • History
  • Industrial Relations
  • Immigration
  • National Identiy
  • Politics
  • Public Health
  • Social Policy

Business Source Complete (Access through the New South Wales State Library)

Search here for these topics:

  • Business
  • Companies
  • Economics

Factiva (Access through the New South Wales State Library)

Search here for these topics:

  • Media
  • Current Newspapers
  • Newspapers and Media
  • Industries
  • Economics
  • Companies
  • Business

Access Australia [Newsbank] (Access through the New South Wales State Library)

Search here for these topics:

  • Newspapers and Media
  • Current Australian Newspapers

INFORMIT Business Collection (Access through the New South Wales State Library)

Search here for these topics:

  • Business
  • Australian Business

ProQuest Central (Access through the New South Wales State Library)

Search here for these topics:

  • Business
  • Health
  • History and Biography
  • Science and Technology
  • Social Sciences

Australia & New Zealand Newsstream (Access through the New South Wales State Library)

Search here for these topics:

  • Current Newspapers
  • Media
  • Newspapers and Media
  • Society & Culture
  • Legal Studies

Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre (Access through the New South Wales State Library)

Search here for these topics:

  • Australian & New Zealand Magazines
  • Australian & New Zealand Newspapers
  • Reference Books
  • Photographs
  • Maps and Flags

Australian Indigenous Index (InfoKoori) to Koori Mail & Earlier Newspapers 

Search here for these topics:

  • Aboriginal Australia
  • Australian History
  • Biography
  • Current Newspapers
  • Newspapers and Media

Margaret Gee's Australian Media Guide (Access through the New South Wales State Library)

Search here for these topics:

  • Australian Media Contact Details

What is a Database?

These hold a collection of information, either focused on one subject or multidisciplinary.

Databases should be used to find authoritative journal articles for your assignments.  

They can include:

  • Journals,
  • Newspapers,
  • Magazines,
  • Reports,
  • Newsletters and more

Sometimes include books, but if you want books specifically, use the library catalogue.

What is a Journal Article?

Journal articles are shorter than books and written about very specific topics. A journal is a collection of articles (like a magazine) that is published regularly throughout the year. 

Journals present the most recent research, and journal articles are written by experts.