Trade & Industry
- Article selection policy for Trade & Industry Database varies, depending upon whether the publication follows standard policies, is designated to have expanded selection, or is a newswire.
- Standard Length and Content Criteria
- Length Criteria
- Content Criteria
- Regional and Local Newspaper Content Criteria
- Journals with Expanded Selection Criteria
- Content Criteria for Brief Articles
- Newswire Selection Policies
Standard Length and Content Criteria
Standard article selection is determined by two factors: length and content. Standard length and content criteria are required for article selection from most business and trade journals.
In general, articles are selected for indexing and/or abstracting if the text (excluding title and illustrations) is at least
- 1/2 page in standard size journals
- 1/4 page in tabloid journals
Book or media reviews are selected for indexing if the text is at least 1/4 page (200 words) and provide the reviewer’s opinion of the work. Reviews are never abstracted.
Notices of corrections or errata are selected for indexing, no matter how brief, but only if they contain significant corrections of company news.
The following types of articles are not selected, even if they meet the length criteria:
- Articles made up of a conglomeration of unrelated separate topics
- Editorials, if they contain little substantive indexable information or if they contain information about the contents or policies of the journal
- Columns, if they contain little substantive indexable information or if they contain a conglomeration of unrelated separate topics
- Indexes of articles
- Letters to the editor, unless they are signed by a nationally prominent individual
- Association and professional society news, unless it contains company or industry information
- Announcements, schedules, or calendars of meetings, conferences, exhibitions, or seminars, including non-business related information about where the conference or meeting will take place
- Non-substantive post-conference reports, pictures of products exhibited
- Statistical tables which occur regularly (every issue, weekly, monthly, etc.)
- "Best ad" articles
- Leisure time and personal finance articles
- Requests for information for surveys
- Advertising
Included in the Trade & Industry Database are articles from regional and local business newspapers. Article selection policies for these newspapers are similar to standard Trade & Industry article selection policies. Articles that are not selected from regional and local business newspapers are those of extremely narrow local focus, such as about a small, one-of-a-kind restaurant or retailer that is not part of chain.Otherwise, articles on local business are of interest and are selected.
Journals with Expanded Selection Criteria
Brief articles--those less than 1/2 page in standard size journals or less than 1/4 page in tabloid journals--are selected for indexing from certain publications. Brief articles are indexed only and not abstracted. Brief articles are selected from the following publications:
- ABA Banking Journal
- Accounting Today
- Advanced Imaging
- Adweek Eastern Edition
- Airline Business
- American Banker
- American Machinist
- American Metal Market
- Appliance
- Automotive Engineering
- Best’s Review - Life-Health Insurance Edition
- Beverage World
- Billboard
- Boating Industry
- Broadcasting & Cable
- Building Design & Construction
- CD-ROM Professional
- Daily News Record
- Defense Daily
- Diesel Progress Engines & Drives
- Do-It-Yourself Retailing
- EMedia Professional
- Farm Journal
- FDC Reports Prescription and OTC Pharmaceuticals
- Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management
- Futures
- HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network
- Home Improvement Market
- Implement & Tractor
- Inc.
- Industry Week
- Information Today
- Interior Design
- Journal of Accountancy
- Managing Office Technology
- Mediaweek
- Nation’s Restaurant News
- Nonwovens Industry
- Offshore
- Oil and Gas Journal
- Online
- PC Week
- Power Engineering
- Prepared Foods
- Progressive Grocer
- Publishers Weekly
- Pulp & Paper
- Railway Age
- Rubber World
- Supermarket News
- Textile World
- Travel Weekly
- Variety
- Video Age International
- Ward’s Auto World
- Wood Technology
- WWD
To be selected, brief articles from the above publications must meet stricter content criteria than those required for longer articles. Brief articles on companies, industries, markets, new products, new technologies, and legal and environmental issues affecting those topics are selected, especially those brief articles containing the following information:
- Competitive statistical or financial information about companies and industries
- Company strategies, such as marketing or financial strategies
- Growth and development information about companies or industries
- New technology, if the technology is revolutionary, affects sales, or results in new products
- New products which utilize or are a result of new technologies
- Contracts
- Industrial research
- Laws that have passed
- Government regulations that have been issued
- Cases that have been filed or decided
Briefs on people are selected only if the person is a:
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- President
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
- Head of Marketing/Sales
- Head of MIS/Systems
- Personnel Director or Head of Human Resources Development
- Publisher
The following types of brief articles are not selected:
- Briefs on people, if they do not fall into one of the inclusion categories listed above, such as the creative director of an advertising agency, head of merchandising, or chairman of the board
- Obituaries
- New technology or new product articles, if the articles are merely about refinements to or enhancements of existing technology or products
- Product announcements which include reader information numbers
- Case notes
- Articles that state opinion, offer non-factual or filler information, or are continuing stages of ongoing stories that contain no substantive action
Included in the Trade & Industry Database are articles from PR Newswire and Business Wire. There is no minimum length for newswire articles.
Approximately 90% of the articles and announcements in the Business Wire feed are selected, and approximately 80% of the articles and announcements in the PR Newswire feed are selected.
The following types of newswire articles are not selected:
- non-business related articles
- articles about lottery winners
- ski reports
- regional stock quotes and stock listings
- meeting announcements
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Virtually all the publications in Newsletter Database are received electronically from the publishers. All articles received are added to the database.
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- Article selection for Computer Database depends upon whether or not the publication is one of a list of core publications, which have virtual cover-to-cover selection. Article selection from all other publications follows standard length and content requirements.
- Core Publications with Cover-to-Cover Selection
- Length Criteria for Core Publications
- Content Criteria for Core Publications
- Length and Content Criteria for Other Publications
- Length Criteria
- Content Criteria
- Stand-Alone Tables
Certain Computer Database publications have an article selection policy that is virtually cover-to-cover. The following editorial policies apply to these publications:
- Byte
- C/C++ Users Journal
- Conference Analysis In-Depth Reports
on Leading IT Conferences- Computer Life
- Computer Shopper
- Computergram International
- Computerworld
- Computing Canada
- Databased Advisor
- Database Programming & Design
- DBMS
- Digital Systems Report
- EDGE, on & about AT&T
- EDGE: Work-Group Computing Report
- Government Computer News
- InfoWorld
- LAN Magazine
- LAN Times
- MacUser
- Macworld
- MacWEEK
- Marketing Computers
- Microprocessor Report
- Microsoft Systems Journal
- MIDRANGE Systems
- Multimedia Entertainment & Technology Report
- Newsbytes
- PC Magazine
- PC Week
- PC World
- PC/Computing
- Seybold Report on Internet Publishing
- Seybold Report on Publishing Systems
- Soft-Letter
- Software Magazine
- UNIX Review
- Windows Developer's Journal
- Windows Sources
- Workgroup Computing Report
There is no minimum length for article selection from core publications. Articles must be over 1/2 page in standard-size magazines or 1 column in tabloids, however, to be abstracted. Otherwise they are either only indexed or cited.
Almost all articles from core publications are included in the database. Only the following types of articles are not selected from any publication:
- Indexes of advertisers, indexes of products in the publication
- Tables of contents
- Teasers or previews of what’s inside the issue
- Some stand-alone tables (see section on stand-alone tables below)
Although almost all articles from core publications are selected, they must further meet certain content criteria to be assigned index terms. If they contain little substantive value or contain some substance but lack a definite focus that can be indexed, articles are entered into the database with citations only. (These recoreds can be searched by key word or bibliographic information, but not by subjects, company names, or product names.)
The following types of articles are selected and cited but not indexed:
- Letters to or from readers, except when all the letters together receive a single, substantive response with a clear focus; this type of article may be abstracted or indexed, depending on length.
- Question and answer columns with more than one answer. Q&A columns with only one answer may be abstracted or indexed.
- Articles about the organization of minor industry associations or user groups (e.g., appointing officers, creating branches)
- Fiction, humor, rumor or other non-substantive articles
- Some stand-alone tables (see section on stand-alone tables below)
- Columns without a discernible focus
- Stand-alone glossaries or dictionaries without sufficient focus
- Calendars
- User tips that lack sufficient text or focus to be indexed or abstracted
- Editorials lacking substance, such as those that merely refer to the issue’s contents
- Articles with more than two focuses
- Brief quotes from industry insiders
- Correction notices
Standard Length and Content Criteria
For all other publications in Computer Database articles must meet standard length and content criteria to be selected.
Articles are selected for indexing and abstracting if the text (excluding title and illustrations) is at least:
- 1/2 page in standard size magazines, journals, or newsletters
- 1 column in tabloid journals
- 10.5 column inches in newspapers
Note: For tabloids and newspapers in which column widths vary, article selection is based on the narrowest regularly occurring column in the issue.
Book reviews are selected for indexing if the text is at least 1/4 page (200 words) and provide the reviewer’s opinion of the work. Reviews are never abstracted.
The following types of articles are not selected, even if they meet the length criteria:
- Articles that lack a specific focus
- Articles that have more than two distinct focuses
- Editorials that focus on the contents of the publication. Editorials that contain brief references to articles in the publication are abstracted if they are otherwise substantive.
- Letters to or from readers, except when all the letters together receive a single substantive response with a clear focus.
- Articles about computer games (including those that appear in newspapers). However, game articles are selected in the following magazines: Home PC, NewMedia, and PC Games.
- Fiction, humor, rumor or other non-substantive articles
- Articles about the organization of industry associations or user groups (e.g., appointing officers, creating branches) except when articles are about major industry associations, such as IEEE
- Glossaries and dictionaries
- Stand-alone vendor directories, buyers’ guides and tables that are shorter than one page, whether in magazines or tabloids. Substantive vendor directories and buyers’ guides of one page or longer are abstracted.
- Articles about management that are not directly related to the computer or communications industry
- Non-substantive Web articles
- Correction notices
- Previews of coming issues
- Short summaries of featured articles or previews of what’s inside the issue
- Calendars
Stand-alone tables are tables that cannot reasonably be included with an article, whose accompanying text is not substantive enough to be abstracted or indexed, or whose text does not make sense without the table. Selection depends on full-text availability, table width, and table length.
In non-full-text journals, substantive stand-alone tables that are at least one full page in magazines or one full page in tabloids are selected and abstracted. Stand-alone tables that are not long enough, not substantive, or not computer-related are not selected.
In full-text journals, the stand-alone table itself is the full text. However, the text of stand-alone tables exceeding 64 characters in width cannot be processed and therefore are not selected.
Note: If a table crosses two pages, it is still the width that is considered. If the table is two pages wide, it cannot be selected in full-text journals. If the table is two pages long (and 64 characters wide or fewer), it is selected and abstracted.
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Health & Wellness Database
Health & Wellness Database article selection is determined by two factors: length and content.
Length criteria
Articles are selected if the text (excluding title and illustrations) is at least
- 1/2 page in standard size journals
- 1/4 page in tabloid journals
- 1/2 column long in newsletters
Book or media reviews are selected if they are at least 1/4 page (200 words) and provide the reviewer’s opinion of the work.
Feature or substantive articles that are one page or longer receive abstracts in addition to the indexing.
Content criteria
The following types of articles are not selected, even if they meet the length criteria:
- Editorials discussing the contents of the journal
- Letters to the editor. Exception: Letters to the editor in JAMA are indexed.
- Fiction or poetry
- Abstracts or summaries of research. Exception: Abstracts and summaries are indexed in JAMA, American Family Physician, AIDS Weekly Plus, and Cancer Weekly Plus.
- Association news or agendas
- Indexes of articles
- Non-health-related articles
Priority publications
Article selection tends to be slightly more liberal from priority publications. Specifically, non-health-related articles are selected. The priority publications are:
- British Medical Journal
- Lancet
- JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
- New England Journal of Medicine
JAMA has the most liberal selection policy, with all but a few sections being selected.
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Magazine Database
- Standard Length Criteria
- Exceptions to Standard Length Criteria
- Publications with Primarily Short Articles
- Business Publications with Brief Articles Selected
- Standard Content Criteria
- Cover-to-Cover Publications
In general, articles are selected for indexing if they are at least 1/2 page (including title and any illustrations). To receive abstracts, articles should contain at least 1/2 page of text (approximately 400 words).
Book or media reviews are selected for indexing if the text is at least 1/4 page (200 words) and provide the reviewer’s opinion of the work. Reviews are not abstracted regardless of length.
Articles of obvious importance or of substantial reference value that fall short of 1/2 page may also be selected for indexing. This is particularly true for journals whose format is predominantly short items. Short items are selected from the following publications:
- Art in America
- Art News
- Crafts n' Things
- Current Biography
- Jet
- Science News
- USA Today
Simlarly, most articles in newsletters, which contain many brief articles, are selected regardless of length. Newsletters in Magazine Database are:
- FDA Consumer
- Harvard Health Letter
- Mayo Clinic Health Letter
- University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter
Brief articles--those less than 1/2 page in standard size journals or less than 1/4 page in tabloid journals--are selected for indexing from certain business-related publications. Brief articles are selected from the following publications in accordance with the Trade & Industry content criteria for brief articles:
- Business Week
- Publisher's Weekly
- Railway Age
- Today's Realtor
The general selection criteria for Magazine Database is that articles should contain useful information on one or two main topics. If an article is frivolous, gossipy, jumps from topic to topic, or contains no information likely to be useful, it is not selected.
The following types of articles are selected, if they meet the length criteria:
- Addenda or notices of typographical corrections
- Art exhibition articles
- Bibliographies
- Biographies
- Business-related articles on business people
- Business-related articles on conventions and trade shows, onlyif the article is an analysis written after-the-fact or if the article is a transcript of a speech or paper
- Business-related articles on economics, industries, or products
- Buyer’s guides
- Columns and guest editorials if substantive. If columns contain smaller, independently titled sections, they are indexed as a whole or as separate sections depending on length and substance criteria.
- Computer programs, even without accompanying text
- Criticism
- Directories of services, associations, etc.
- Editorials (if substantive)
- Fashion articles, only if they contain substantive information on fashion trends or highlight a business or designer
- Feature articles
- Follow-up articles and commentary
- Illustrations without text, only if they contain substantive information
- Interviews
- Knitting or craft instruction
- Letters to the editor, only if written by a prominent individual or if presented as a feature article
- News sections are indexed selectively, taking into account length and substance criteria, presence of a by-line, and availability of more complete information elsewhere
- Personal grooming articles, only if substantive and not written to sell particular products
- Personal narratives
- Product evaluations
- Question and Answer format articles, only if format is used to address a specific topic or used in an interview
- Results of polls, surveys, or research
- Short stories, fiction excerpts, plays, or poems
- Special advertising sections. Length and substance criteria are used to determine if special advertising sections are done as one article or as individual articles
- Special sections
- Speeches and excerpts from speeches
- Statistical compilations
The following types of articles are not selected, even if they meet the length criteria:
- Classified advertising
- Crossword puzzles
- Directories of advertisers
- Editorials solely about the contents of the magazine and collections of short editorial statements
- Fashion spreads with little or not text
- Horoscopes
- Indexes of articles
- Lead-in articles and illustrations
- Letters to the editor, unless written by a prominent individual or if presented as a feature article
- Opinion requests
- Product announcements that are not evaluations
- Professional society and association news, unless they contain substantive biographical information, news of important innovations, or national political action
- Questions and answers from readers
- Regional sections
- Shopping guides
- Short announcements
- Short news blurbs
- Short poems
- Sports competition box scores
- Trade-show and exhibition announcements
Exceptions to Standard Selection Criteria
Certain publications have comprehensive article selection, that is almost cover-to-cover. The following editorial policies apply to these publications:
- Economist
- Forbes
- Fortune
- Inc.
- Industry Week
- Life
- Money
- Nation’s Business
- People Weekly
- Sports Illustrated
- Time
There is no minimum length criteria for article selection from these publications.
Only the following types of articles are not selected from these publications:
- Classified advertising
- Crossword puzzles
- Directories of advertisers
- Horoscopes
- Illustrations with no accompanying text
- Indexes of articles
- Letters to the editor, unless written by a prominent individual or if presented as a feature article
- Opinion requests
- Regional sections
- Shopping guides
- Short announcements
- Sports competition box scores
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Special Cases in Article Selection: Sidebar Articles
Sidebars are related articles that appear within or next to a larger article in the magazine. Sidebars may be included as part of the record for the larger article, or they may be selected separately.
A sidebar is selected as a stand-alone article if it meets the database's length criteria for selection and its focus is significantly different from the main article to require indexing terms that are different and inappropriate for the main article.
A sidebar is included with the main article and not selected as a separate record if:
- its focus is merely an aspect of the main article’s focus
- it is an example of the main article
- it summarizes the main article’s focus or some aspect of it
- it explains some aspect of the main article
If a sidebar is included in the same record as the main article, the title annotation "includes related article" is added to the title field in Trade & Industry Database, Computer Database, Health & Wellness Database, and Magazine Database.
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