Integration and Improvement on the News Aggregation Menu
Jinfo Blog

By Andrew Grave

Abstract

Series producer Andrew Grave looks at how the FreePint Topic Series: Beyond Aggregation helps professionals to keep up with changes in the news aggregation marketplace, whether it's an evolution due to product enhancements, changing user demands or updated supplier strategy. Interviews with leading vendors such as Comintelli and Factiva, combined with product reviews from NewsEdge to SinglePoint are complemented by practical advice. "How to" articles range from what to look for when shortlisting your news aggregation supplier to understanding how best to keep staff up-to-date with current awareness.  

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In producing the FreePint Topic Series: Beyond Aggregation, we’ve been very conscious of the radical changes that Dow Jones is implementing to its Factiva proposition. We have provided practical support to those readers who are considering their options.

Among the key themes to emerge from the series are the importance of ensuring that users embed news aggregation solutions into their workflow. Other highlights are the continued improvements in news aggregation tools we’ve reviewed and a possible return to basics for news aggregation. As users react negatively to the amount of poor quality news, one provider tells us that his customers are prepared to pay for tailored, accurate information.

Providing Practical Support

Information managers today are fortunate in having an unprecedented selection of news aggregation tools. Claire Whayman’s Market Map outlines the marketplace, describing the options including software-only solutions, media monitoring options and the traditional providers such as Nexis which bundle content and software together.

For those who want to go a step further and review their news aggregation solution, my article Shortlisting your News Aggregation Suppliers, outlines key criteria to use. Separating software functionality and content needs is an important first step.

Once you have a news aggregation solution in place, Shimrit Janes reminds us to consider the support that people will need when using a solution - the support is essential in order to embed the new solution into their workflow. In her article Taking a Step Back from News Aggregation Tools: What is Current Awareness? she shares with us the model that City law firm RPC developed.

Helping You Understand Suppliers’ Different Approaches

Our supplier Q&As deliver insight on how key players are approaching the news aggregation marketplace. FreePint's news editor Tim Buckley Owen has been following developments at Dow Jones closely. In his article Journey to DJX had “Customers’ Needs in Mind”, Tim found there is no retreating for Dow Jones with its plans to incorporate Factiva within its broader DJX solution and to move to a standardised pricing model.

In contrast to Dow Jones’ news, in Sophie Alexander’s candid interview with Jesper Martell, CEO of Comintelli, he predicts a return to basics. Comintelli produces the Knowledge XChanger enterprise information access tool, reviewed by FreePint in 2011.

Describing the proliferation of web-based content, Martell said that his enterprise customers were fed up with the amount of garbage out there; it meant good information was lost and gems were hard to find. The good news is that his customers are willing to pay for solutions that deliver content that individuals want and need.

Product Reviews: a Backbone of the Series

Given the very large number of providers in the market, it is unsurprising that product reviews formed the backbone of the series.

In her Mini Review of Acquire Media’s NewsEdge, Jan Knight found that the company had taken on board feedback that its non-North America content was lacking and had partnered with ISI’s Emerging Markets to add 3,400 hard-to-find titles.

Sophie Alexander reviewed SinglePoint from Northern Light. She noted that the company was unique in being able to automatically aggregate external sources with a client’s own internal content.

The FreePint Topic Series: Beyond Aggregation provides valuable insights via practical guidance on news aggregation issues, interviews with key providers and in-depth reviews on the leading products.

Editor's Note: Beyond Aggregation  

This article is part of the FreePint Topic Series: Beyond Aggregation, which ran from October to November 2013. You can still register your interest to receive a free copy of the FreePint Report: Buyer's Guide on News Content published in early December.

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