Content analysis is a common tool in media studies and other related fields. It is usually used to identify patterns in journalistic texts that help study what and how information is communicated to the public. However, these results, which are often quantified based solely on the messages and details of the news report, have limitations for researchers seeking to establish a connection between journalistic production - the typical final news report - and the journalistic practices involved in the report. assembly of the report. The methodology proposed here aims to establish a systematic approach to explore journalistic sourcing practices through in-depth analysis of reports, fundamentally expanding the objective of the investigation beyond the report and exploring the contributions of sources, such as press releases. original press releases or other media reports. By systematically tracking and recording that material, valuable and original discoveries can be made, which can then be cross-referenced with the results of more traditional quantitative content analysis to provide new insights. This method requires two phases of research, which are described in this article. The article also explores how content analysis can be used to study journalistic practices, as well as a framework for conducting research, with tips and guidelines for both obtaining and recording source material and data.