Add news to workflow: aggregation moves up a gear
Jinfo Blog

By Penny Crossland

Abstract

Information professionals have been understandably sceptical about using news aggregation services for their research. After all, despite being able to access news almost in real-time, content can be unreliable and results may be unrelated to the initial enquiry.

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Information professionals have been understandably sceptical about using news aggregation services for their research. After all, despite being able to access news almost in real-time, content can be unreliable and results may be unrelated to the initial enquiry. So those aggregators that can provide the best filters and analytical tools are most likely to appeal to expert searchers. In addition, any service that enables news to be integrated into workflow and allows collaboration will provide a valuable tool in any information environment.

Silobreaker Premium, reviewed in this month’s VIP Magazine, does just that. Aficionados of the free service will be familiar with its newspaper presentation style of information and its attractive visualisation tools, which provide context to stories. The subscription service has all that and more. It enables users to customise their search pages with a selection of widgets, set up monitoring lists for a variety of entities and analyse which topics are achieving high press coverage. Items of interest can be saved to a scrapbook and made into a tailored newsletter.

Most importantly, Silobreaker Premium acts as a workflow tool by enabling users to upload their own content or create new content and integrate this into the news service. Stories can be added to documents and shared with colleagues, who in turn, with permission, are able to edit and pass them on.

Despite the myriad of features available, Silobreaker Premium is an end-user tool, albeit one with the mentality of an online commercial database. It is worth the switch from free to Premium and thankfully subscription packages are flexible. Free trials are also available.

VIP subscribers can read the review by logging into MyShop.

Purchase your copy of VIP Report: Product Review of Silobreaker Premium from the FreePint Shop. Or save money by purchasing VIP No. 99, which also includes the VIP Report: Product Review of Bibliogo.

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