ONLINE NEWS ARCHIVING: INTERVIEWS&CONTACTS
 

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ANANOVA: 0845 1216060
Sheena Stavert
Senior Content Producer
Wouldn't divulge user figures. Explained that the database is keyword driven. Sites on the 'web search' are approved by journalists. Can search back further than 30 days, but not an advertised feature. She would like to see the archive become more accessible.
BBCNEWSONLINE: 020 87438000
Cathy Smith
New Media Archivist [email protected]
Described user figures as "sensitive information". Explained BBC rationale for archiving in general: legal obligation; professional/historical obligation; for research; for reuse. Online archiving currently localized, incl only final editions. Policy presently under review; move towards standardizing & incl all editions. Would like to see full exploitation of archiving, providing grouped information, historical topics etc
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FT.COM: 020 6432698
Diane Dalman
Head of Product Management
[email protected]
Estimated 2million page views per day of search section, c.1/3 of total site useage. One of oldest public news databases, evolving from 'world reporter database' of 1970s.Described managed human system of checking and organising sources. Identified "availability of free archives on the web a key issue" & FT.com have moved away from charging per article as "more hassle than it's worth", supported by advertising. Complex searches of full archive, extending 20years are charged.
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GUARDIAN UNLIMITED: 020 72782332
Simon Waldman
Head of Guardian Unlimited
[email protected]
"Not a special activity...it just happens" as a technical process. No immediate plans to alter this although paper product is in process of being archived online, led by Sheila Fitzsimmons.
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INDEPENDENT DIGITAL: 020 70052000
Ruth Dunn
Marketing & Customer Services Exec
Site had 160,000 unique users in 2000 and the search is "one of the highest hit areas on the site".No dedicated archive team. All articles incl since Oct 99 relaunch; prior to that articles retained (in SHTML) by ad hoc editorial decisions. No obituaries incl. Would like to see "more content in search".
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ITNARCHIVE.COM: 020 78333000
Karena Smith
Development Manager, News Archiving
[email protected]
The ITN Archive operates as a distinct division of ITN focussing on television news & feature output from ITN since 1955 and Reuters World TV World News Service from 1896.It also serves as the main television archive facility for Channels 4 & 5.

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REUTERS.COM: 020 75201122
David Cutler
Senior Researcher, Editorial Ref Unit
The main database is subscription based & retains 90% of news from 1990 through an automated process. Operates via keyword searching.
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MEGASTAR.CO.UK: 020 79288000
Andy Stevens
Deputy Editor, Megastar
[email protected]
Site has 800,000 unique users and 18.9million page impressions December2000; news search "not as well used as babes and sport". No dedicated archive team or plans "in current economic climate". Search by keywords, date or relevance & hope to install full database facility soon.
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BUN.WORLDONLINE.CO.UK: 0845 6605000
Dan Brown
Didn't really know what an archive was.
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ELECTRONIC TELEGRAPH: 0207 5385000
Sarah Clarke
Information Scientist
Est. 20% of 31 million page impressions in 2000 were in search facility.Identified formatting as an issue as currently converting HTML to XML to make files "future proof" & ease syndication and adaptation. Implementing "new software with dynamic content facilities that will minimize intervention" and present more streamlined and up to date information. Also improves advertising targetting, which finances the site. Humans ensure "recording right metadata" for the quality of keyword searches.
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THETIMES.CO.UK: 0207 7827617
Craig Lord
Online Editor
[email protected]

Site has c.1million page impressions per day. Humans prioritize archive content and site updates throughout day (staffed for 20hours). Would like to see more grouped information, not available in Oct 2000 redesign. Maintains that "machine has to behave more intelligently and make the library behave in a more orderly way" and envisages a full-time job "like a traditional archivist-librarian" for the online search facility.
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