Transcript Automated News Feeds Andy Powell, UKOLN

Automated News Feeds
Andy Powell, UKOLN
News and News Feeds (Challenge)
 RSS Standard (Theory)
 RSS Tools (Application)
 Examples (Practice)
 Conclusions (Opportunity)

Report by Ellen Pawley, Leicester
Automated News Feeds
News and News Feeds


News + targeting = News Feed(s)
Top ten institutional news providers:
Computer and Library Services; Public Relations;
Department/Faculties; Personnel; Accommodation; Web Site
Links; Social Groups; Inter-organisational - diary(almanac);
Estates/Works/Security; Bookings/Timetabling



Largely unstructured at present
Exporting News Feeds: HEFCE; Press Association;
Research Councils; HERO
Importing News Feeds: Guardian; BBC; HERO; New
Scientist?; Times Higher?
Automated News Feeds
RSS






Rich Site Summary
Tag-based Portal Content Language
Manages embedded links to items of
information
Syndication of files/channels
XML application
Tension with RDF:
simple versus complex standard
Automated News Feeds
RSS Tools
These don’t really exist
 2 processes:

» create RSS files .xml or .rss extensions
recognised as text/xml content
» render RSS files
Content Management Systems the
answer? ZOPE and Cold Fusion(?)
 In house using PERL, ASP, JAVA

Automated News Feeds
Examples
Guardian
 HERO

Automated News Feeds
Conclusions






Current news unstructured: traditional media
or progressed to email/web/newsgroups
RSS offers structured solution to enable
effective automation and targeting
Redefining News - personalisation
Use CMS for free or in-house developments
National agenda for development?
Topic for website-info-mgt’s discussion list
Automated News Feeds