Did you know in many databases as well as SURF you can filter the results to your search by many areas, including articles that have been peer-reviewed? This can be a great way to limit the results you find when you need to look for exclusively academic sources.
Just be sure you have the box checked for peer-reviewed articles!
These are a list of databases that may be useful to you and your research. You can find all of SU's databases on the By Subject and A-Z List.
Newspapers are good sources for thing like public opinion and popular culture.
But remember - if you are tasked to find scholarly/peer-reviewed sources, this is not where you should look!