Handout excellence:
Among the many reasons I encourage researchers to go to the IRE conference are the many and varied panels, with accompanying handouts. Some are topnotch, like the examples posted on Neil Reisner's Web site, especially the one titled Using the Internet on Deadline/the Beat from a panel with Alan Schlein. This one is so on target. Example:

IT’S BETTER TO KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING

• Learning to research is a lot like learning to drive. You start by driving around the block and you practice a lot before you hit the Interstate.

• In both cases, it’s a matter of practice.

And:

SEARCHING A SUBJECT WHEN YOU HAVEN’T A CLUE
• Got a project on a subject with which you’re entirely unfamiliar?
Pre-web, you would have called a librarian for help. You still can! That’s what librarians do; makes friends with a good one.

• Check sites like Glossarist http://www.glossarist.com/ a browsable and searchable directory of web-based glossaries and subject-specific dictionaries.

GOT A LIBRARY CARD?

• Get one.

• Free advice and fee-based resources for nothing.

And, if you know Neil, you'll really appreciate the caricature; it's perfect.