As featured in

Who Do You Think You Are

Author article 'For the sake of the children' as featured by

WDYTYA? Magazine, March 2020

Referenced in 'Resources' part of Paul Blake article The Gazette

WDYTYA? Magazine, August 2019

As referenced in resources part of 'Read all about it!' article

WDYTYA? Magazine, May 2019

As featured in

Jersey Evening Post

As featured in

Jersey Evening Post

Overall, this is a useful volume, modestly
priced, that offers a considerable amount of
helpful advice to those wishing to use newspapers for historical research.

Reference Reviews, volume 31, issue 2 – reviewed by Diana Dixon

An invaluable reference work for historians who wish to unearth new family, social, economic and political historical information and seek advice on how to analyse and interpret.

Essex Family Historian No.161

Author article as featured in

WDYTYA? Magazine, March 2017

For those requiring guidance from an academic perspective this book has a great deal to offer.

Federation of Family History Societies

The author provides much practical information and advice for those wishing to use these resources, and where and how to find them.

Bristol & Avon Family History Society

In recent years more and more people are undertaking some form of historical research, usually so that them may develop their family tree and discover more about the period they were from. In recent times more and more archives are digitising their records and making them available online, some charge others are free.

This wonderful little volume by Denise Bates explains how to use the British Newspaper as an aid to historical research, it may seem rather narrow but there are some excellent tips. While explaining the development of the newspaper industry in Britain along with what is call the news chain and content of older newspapers. She also covers the factors a researcher must take in to an account while researching, which has always been a factor.

For me some of the most interesting chapters were those covering the use of modern technology to aid your research. To those with a history degree these tips on data handling techniques would seem rather basic, but to a layperson I believe are necessary. What is an excellent tip, is the use of spreadsheets for data handling and recording during historical study. Both the good and bad points of using spreadsheets are laid before you for you to make up your own mind.

This is an excellent little volume that will aid both experienced and inexperienced researcher, even though it guides you through using newspapers the techniques in this book are important. An excellent tool for those interested in doing any historical research.

5 STARS.

Amazon reviewer

This excellent guide to the increasingly accessible source of contemporary newspapers, is essential for all types of historical research, from family history to academic study. The book opens with an extremely useful introduction to all aspects old newspapers, including the history of specific titles and the processes of publication. The reader is then guided through the different uses of this rich resource within a range of research activities, with practical tips and advice, clear instructions and interesting case studies.

Denise Bates writes confidently and with authority on this fascinating topic and her advice is invaluable. She addresses all kinds of readers and researchers, from beginners to more experienced historians and there is something new for everyone to learn. She explains more complex usages, such as data handling techniques, with ease and clarity.

I use historical newspapers regularly in my work and yet there was plenty of interesting ideas and new ways of exploiting this wonderful resource for me to try. ‘Historical Research Using British Newspapers’ is indispensable for all those interested in history and I would highly recommend it.

5 STARS!

Angela Buckley

This book charts the evolution of the British Press since the 17th century, sign-posting the titles that are most helpful for researching particular classes of society or topics of study, and contains plentiful tips for getting the most out of online searches, and where to look if a newspaper isn't online.

Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, Summer 2016

Historical Research Using British Newspapers is a prime providing plenty of practical information and advice for anyone using old newspapers as part of their research. Denise explains everything from identifying the best newspapers for the sort of information you want demonstrating techniques for gathering, sorting, analysing and interpreting one's information.

Ripperologist, June 2016

Whether you're a seasoned researcher or dipping your toe into old newspapers for the first time, there is lots of valuable information here to help you on your research journey.

Family Tree Magazine August 2016

Formerly, researchers who wanted to explore the past using historical newspapers faced many hours scrolling through microfilm, or handling large, fragile publications with columns of tiny print.

Now more and more old newspapers are available online in digitised form, and Denise Bates shows us how to use this exciting resource to best effect, as well as newspapers only available in print form.

The author discusses the history of newspapers and potential problems with class, political or social bias. She explains how to sift through the evidence, and combine newspaper reports with other historical sources, with the aim of achieving a balanced perspective on people’s lives and historic events.
Historical Research Using British Newspapers includes many tips on how to organize and save your research, which will prove helpful to new and experienced researchers alike. There’s a useful section on statistics and data handling techniques, too. A particular strength of this book is the number of case studies and worked examples from true-life stories.

An excellent reference work for local and family historians.

Sue Wilkes, Author

During the course of my own genealogical research into my own family, there have been times when sites like Ancestry and Find My Past have turned up newspaper articles about certain family members. It is often the case that looking at a census form (with 1911 the most recent available census, which is a national scandal, never mind the fact we have to pay to look at research that really belongs to us!) simply doesn't provide enough material. Almost everyone will have a family member who has been mentioned in the local or sometimes national newspapers - Denise Bates gives clear and concise, practical instructions on how to research newspapers in this superb book from Pen and Sword.

Books Monthly, May 2016 - Paul Norman

...This wonderful little volume by Denise Bates explains how to use the British Newspaper as an aid to historical research, it may seem rather narrow but there are some excellent tips. While explaining the development of the newspaper industry in Britain along with what is called the news chain and content of older newspapers. She also covers the factors a researcher must take in to an account while researching, which has always been a factor.

For me some of the most interesting chapters were those covering the use of modern technology to aid your research. To those with a history degree these tips on data handling techniques would seem rather basic, but to a layperson I believe are necessary. What is an excellent tip, is the use of spreadsheets for data handling and recording during historical study. Both the good and bad points of using spreadsheets are laid before you for you to make up your own mind.

This is an excellent little volume that will aid both experienced and inexperienced researcher, even though it guides you through using newspapers the techniques in this book are important. An excellent tool for those interested in doing any historical research.

Freelance review - Paul Diggett

This book 'provides information and practical advice...' and '… is designed for anyone who uses old newspapers as source material.'

Barnsley Chronicle