CQ Researcher is the choice of researchers seeking original, comprehensive reporting and analysis on issues in the news. Published in print and online 44 times a year, CQ Researcher offers in-depth, unbiased coverage of political and social issues, with regular reports on a wide range of topics including: health, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, the U.S. economy, crime, and civil liberties. Each 12,000-word CQ Researcher report is a unique work, investigated and written by a seasoned journalist, professionally fact-checked, and footnoted to facilitate further research.
A new feature called Hot Topics provides shorter reports on 20 of the most popular subjects. CQ Researcher's Archive goes back to 1923 and includes reports from its predecessor publication, Editorial Research Reports.
How is a CQ Researcher report created?
CQ Researcher's editors identify a topic to be investigated, then one of the experienced journalists conceives the report's broad outlines, formulating the key questions the report will seek to answer; reads background material; interviews a range of sources; synthesizes available information; and writes the report. The average time to complete a report is five weeks.
How is CQ Researcher structured?
Each CQ Researcher report is based on a common structure.
The opening section, or "Overview" ("The Issues" in the PDF version), introduces the subject under consideration and poses one or more questions such as, "Should minors who commit adult crimes be tried as adults?" or "Is a liberal arts education the best way to prepare for the workplace?" The report then offers a "Background" section, which provides a history of the topic, including pertinent policy and legal decisions.
Under the heading "Current Situation," the report provides a snapshot of the issue at the time of publication, and, in "Outlook," the report offers a projection of what the future may bring. The "Pro/Con" ("At Issue") section brings together statements from representatives of opposing positions on the topic. To offer perspectives, the report includes sidebars on other dimensions of the subject. The "Chronology" section offers a list of key events in the issue's history, and graphics and data also help illuminate the topic.
To achieve a well-rounded perspective, the report's writer quotes a range of sources, including lawmakers, academics, interest group representatives, government officials as well as citizens involved in the issue. The report concludes with a "Bibliography," containing an annotated list of key sources, and "Next Step," an additional bibliography providing sources related to particular questions considered in the report. "Contacts" are also provided.
Are CQ Researcher reports peer-reviewed?
No. They are written by experienced journalists and are thoroughly footnoted and sourced to experts to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information. Check the Footnotes section within each report.
Are CQ Researcher reports fact-checked?
Yes. The writer of each report interviews experts and reads authoritative background material to ensure that facts and conclusions are accurate. You can check the Bibliography section within each report. Each report undergoes rigorous editing by at least two veteran editors. After that, facts, names, dates, footnotes and other information are verified by a professional fact-checker and by the editor for further corrections before publication.