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17th September 2009
No.286
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About FreePint
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FreePint publishes newsletters, websites, magazines and resources for the information industry. The FreePint Family of publications publishes practical tips, product reviews, expert tips, research collections and hands-on tools to support information work of all kinds. The FreePint Bar provides a Q&A forum for getting your research questions answered and building a network of peers worldwide.
This twice-monthly free FreePint Newsletter serves as a guide to the latest content, including discussion at the Bar, tips articles, vacancies, professional development events, product reviews, editorial commentary and more. Subscribing is free and connects you with the information community around the world. Subscribe today.
The latest announcements, including publication contents, can always be found at the FreePint Feed. Subscribe to RSS for the FreePint Feed for fastest updates.
Please share FreePint with others by forwarding this newsletter.
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Editorial
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By Robin Neidorf
 If only there were such a thing as a functioning crystal ball. With the ability to peer into a reflection of the future, we could sidestep problems long before they become problems.
Alas, crystal ball technology has yet to make it into beta (or even prototype), so Jela Webb's article on information risk management, recently added to the FUMSI article database and featured below, remains a hot topic for any business. Whether through compromised passwords, data files mislaid in transit, or simple user error, at-risk information means an at-risk business. Jela provides an overview for understanding this subtopic within the larger category of business risk management.
 But our lack of ability to foretell the future is not all bad: It also ensures that we can be continually delighted by unexpected opportunities that come up for reinventing our work and our businesses. In his article on change in information work at The Guardian, Richard Nelsson's narrative conveys the excitement of working in an environment of reinvention. His work today looks very different from newspaper clippings departments of yore and makes for fascinating reading.
Just as you are reinventing your work to build greater resilience, FreePint is evolving as well. You can now follow us on Twitter, find us on Facebook or participate in FreePint Research projects ranging from application of taxonomies and tagging to copyright policies and practices (be sure to register to receive future research invitations).
In the past 6 months alone, we've expanded the reports on offer from both VIP and FUMSI. VIP subscribers now receive their in-depth product reviews as stand-alone reports, in addition to the executive summaries that appear in the monthly VIP Magazine. Non-subscribers can purchase individual reports on an as-needed basis. FUMSI Reports now include the results of our regular surveys on topics in information work (e.g., alternative search engines, social media in the enterprise, knowledge management), as well as collections of articles relating to the topic.
And we're now working closely with enterprise-level subscribers to deliver our content directly into intranets and collaborative workspaces, to provide information workers with access right where they need it most -- on their desktops, in their workflow.
The unknown can be as exciting as it is risky. We hope to help you manage the risks so that you can make the most of the excitement. If you have a suggestion to help us do it better, let us know through our online suggestion box, or make a note to stop by the FreePint stand (#122) at Online Information 2009 in London in December.
Crystal ball or no, we can always anticipate the coming of Online...
Robin Neidorf
General Manager
FreePint
FreePint is a Registered Trademark of Free Pint Limited (R) 1997-2009
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World business.
In one place.
Is your business drowning in data?
With over 550 correspondents around the world, the Financial Times distils and validates information from hundreds of sources to deliver accurate news and analysis on business. So you save time finding the information you want.
Visit www.ft.com/corporate to find out how the FT can help your business.
World Business. The way you want it.
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My Favourite Tipples
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Editor's note: These Tipples are in recognition of all the talented individuals who offer time, skill and experience to make FreePint and our publications better. We offer a special thank-you to Sara Waddington, who has served as our managing editor. Sara is moving on to other opportunities, and we wish her all the best.
We're fortunate to work with some outstanding contributors -- VIP product reviewers, industry thinkers, FUMSI contributors and editors. In addition to the hard work these folks put in for our publications, many of them write terrific blogs on topics close to their personal and professional hearts. Check them out:
- FUMSI contributing editor Karen Loasby makes information architecture clear, cogent and FUN in her blog, IA Play. She comments on tools to improve usability of sites, shares her thinking process on projects underway and even mentions the next pub meetup for IA professionals.
- Another FUMSI contributing editor, Martin Belam, writes about his professional experiences at the nexus of journalism and technology at Currybet. Fun stuff include video interviews with Martin, plus the tragic saga of getting utilities appropriately connected in a new home.
- Nancy Davis Kho serves FreePint as our product review editor and vendor liaison, as well as copyediting FUMSI articles. She is also, according to her blog's strapline, 'Writer, Mother, Bike Wife, Dog Walker. All in one efficient package'. Nancy's blog postings are more like literary essays on popular culture, writing and her world in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Alacra's Barry Graubart is a great colleague and occasional commentator on VIP's LiveWire blog. He also writes the Content Matters blog, sharing an intelligent insider's view of the information industry. Visit regularly for thoughtful analysis on the news of the day.
What blogs are on your 'must read' list? Send in your blog reading for My Favourite Tipples. Email to editor@freepint.com.
You can receive Tipples via Twitter at: <http://www.twitter.com/myfavtipples>
Would you like to add your Favourite Tipples suggestions for the FreePint Newsletter or write an article for FUMSI (Find, Use, Manage or Share Information?).
If so, please submit them to editor@freepint.com.
View the guidelines at: <http://web.freepint.com/go/family/contribute>.
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Online Information 2009
Online Information 2009 comprises an exhibition of over 230 vendors, a world-class international conference and a comprehensive seminar programme
covering: Online Content Resources; ePublishing; Library Management Systems; Content Management; Web 2.0 Technologies and Search Solutions.
Register for free entry online »
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Today's knowledge economy is powered by information but operates on Internet
time. Knowledge workers have access to more information than ever, but less time for decision making.
Dow Jones Enterprise Media Group combines
respected reporting with innovative technologies to drive additional value from news, data and information.
For our customers, this means increased
productivity and competitive advantage, all of which lead to a more intelligent - and profitable enterprise.
Download our free ebook on value in the knowledge-driven enterprise »
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| FreePint Bar and FreePint Feed
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FUMSI Features
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 FUMSI publishes articles, tools, and a monthly magazine, to give you practical help with information skills.
Visit http://www.fumsi.com/
However you Find, Use, Manage or Share Information, you'll find something in FUMSI to help.
Become a fan of FUMSI on Facebook »
Follow FUMSI on Twitter »
We add new articles to the FUMSI database in each practice area every month, which are free to read, browse, email, print or save. Here are the most recent additions:
Guardian Research and Information: The Evolution
 By Richard Nelsson
FUMSI: Share
With information centres under pressure in the publishing industry, it's more important than ever for information professionals in the media world to focus how they can best serve their organisations. Richard Nelsson provides a recap of how the Guardian UK's Research and Information team has evolved with the paper over time to become a critical part of its success.
WHAT'S INSIDE: 'The first change was to 'embed' more researchers in the pods. As well as having greater visibility, it allows them to hear what people are working on and offer ideas about good sources of information or carry out complicated, time consuming searches... Researchers are often asked to write background panels or sidebars that sit alongside the main story.'
Read, print, save or forward this article now »
Information Risk Management: The Benefits
 By Jela Webb
FUMSI: Manage
Information risk management has gone from being a sideline topic to one of critical importance to organisations seeking to enhance their operational effectiveness. Jela Webb looks at common misconceptions about the role of information risk management and provides a framework for regarding it in a new light.
WHAT'S INSIDE: 'Information risk does not seek to stifle operations; on the contrary it seeks to enhance them.'
Read, print, save or forward this article now »
Browse all FUMSI articles »
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Develop Your Strengths with Quantum2
For a wide array of hands-on training and resource materials, turn to Quantum2, an innovative skills development programme provided *free* by Dialog. The programme helps information professionals:
- Expand your services through strategic and business competencies
- Improve flow of information in your organisation
- Gain visibility and build value for your work
Discover best practices, *plus* the know-how to implement them.
Free monthly newsletter and further information at: http://quantum.dialog.com/
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Discover LexisNexis Analytics
LexisNexis Analytics combines award winning technology with the most
comprehensive database of traditional and new media. We turn information into actionable intelligence and so improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Everyday consumers, journalists, bloggers and analysts are voicing opinions around your brand, your solutions and your workforce. Voices that impact
your bottom line. Monitoring and tracking these conversations is key to gaining a competitive advantage, improving customer service, aiding R&D and
preventing crises escalating.
To find out more, visit our website or call us on 020 7400 2984.
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VIP Features
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VIP publishes in-depth, unbiased reviews of business information products. If you purchase or use premium information resources, make VIP part of your professional reading every month »
 Communicating Upwards: Keeping Senior Executives Informed on Information
In September, VIP will be publishing the results of our research on economic impacts. The study looks at staff and budget changes, and how organisations are coping with those changes.
The results of the research indicate that staffing levels have remained more stable than budget levels -- more than half the respondents indicated that their staffing levels have not changed as a result of the recession, and more than half reported at least some decrease in budget for information content products and services.
How are those budget choices made? We can only hope that they're made strategically, with full understanding of senior executives of the applications and uses of each product.
VIP Horizon, a regular feature in VIP Magazine, provides information managers with a tool for communicating with their supervisors and senior executives around the complex issues at play in the information industry. VIP Horizon summarises the most significant developments in the marketplace in an executive summary format. Information staff can add their own comments to put items in context.
Recent VIP Horizon items:
- Recessions leave many companies 'distressed, timid or confused', says a new report from the Economist Intelligence Unit. But they can also represent an opportunity for others to grab market share and drive growth.
Reflecting the views of over 200 senior executives globally, Management Magnified: Getting Ahead in a Recession by Making Better Decisions emphasises that companies need processes in place for gathering, analysing and distributing information effectively, and must guard against 'analysis paralysis' as sources of information proliferate. They also need to recognise that the mix of information required in a recession may be weighted differently from that in happier times. (http://www.vivavip.com/go/e22586)
- Competitor analysis is standard issue in the observant company's arsenal, and the point at which legitimate competitor probing tips over into illegal economic espionage can sometimes be ill-defined. In fact, 70 percent-80 percent of what one needs to know about one's competition is publicly available -- and much of the rest can be 'constructed' or deduced with business analysis techniques.
But, for security professionals, it makes no difference whether their company is legally or illegally probed -- the damage is done. Six simple steps suggested by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation can help companies raise their defensive barriers. (http://www.vivavip.com/go/e22441)
Request a sample copy of VIP to see a full VIP Horizon; then share it with your senior executives to help them collaborate with you on sensible cost-containment and risk-management strategies.
VIP LiveWire
VIP contributing editors comment daily on what's happening in the industry.
Visit the LiveWire for their insights, and subscribe to the free VIP Wires Weekly for regular alerts.
VIP Wires Weekly is generously sponsored by LexisNexis.
On VIP LiveWire recently...
- The Software and Information Industry Association invites nominations for the CODiEs, recognising excellence in content products. Deadline for applications is 30 September...
Read the full story at: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e24159
- Free news on the web -- on borrowed time, or the continuing wave of the future? A number of LiveWire items have picked up the debate recently, and users have a range of options at hand as publishers try to find the secret to long-term success. LiveWire's Penny Crossland compares approaches by the FT, News Corp, the New York Times and more...
Read the full story at: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e22056
- In news aggregation, we think of The Big Three (Dialog, Dow Jones and LexisNexis), but in the legal world, it's the Big Two -- LexisNexis and Westlaw. Both giants in the legal publishing field are making forays into emerging markets, using their legal platforms for leverage...
Read the full story at: http://www.vivavip.com/go/e22500
Purchase VIP Magazine No. 69 from the VIP Website, or start your subscription now »
VIP
LiveWire »
VIP Wire
Information-related product and news announcements. Post your
releases and subscribe to the free VIP Wires Weekly for regular alerts.
Recent VIP Wire announcements...
- Emerald Group Publishing Limited is pleased to announce a recent partnership with the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD)....
Read the full Press Release at: http://www.vivavip.com/go/w82100
- Talis launches angel fund for Open Education at Association for Learning Technology's September conference. Talis, a sponsoring member of the Association...
Read the full Press Release at: http://www.vivavip.com/go/w82078
- Greater integration and massive time savings are two of the big benefits on offer to users of Soutron's latest releases of Library Automation software built entirely for the web...
Read the full Press Release at: http://www.vivavip.com/go/w82060
VIP Wire »
VIP - Subscribe
and Back Issues
Start a trial subscription today for only £80 for three months. Visit http://web.vivavip.com/go/shop/volume/trial/ to start your trial. You can also purchase back-issues of VIP from the VIP Archive.
VIP Archive »
VIP publishes in-depth, unbiased reviews of business information products. If you purchase or use premium information resources, make VIP part of your professional reading every month »
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Not Yet A VIP Subscriber?
Start your trial now for only £80
http://digbig.com/5bafyd
September Special: Get 4 months for the price of 3, including our best-selling comparative review of news products from The Big Three (November 2009)
Or purchase individual product reviews as needed. Recently published:
- Pro@ctive
- Skyminder
- Cision Social Media
- Alacra Pulse
- RightTrade
- Scopus/Web of Science Comparative Review
'... a virtual information bonanza...' - Government information centre knowledge manager
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It's published! Request your free copy of FreePint's SLA 2009 Special Report
http://digbig.com/5bafxx
- Commentary from delegates
- Reflection from industry leaders on where information work is heading
- New ideas, food for thought, and extensive list of URLs for additional reading
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Jinfo - Jobs and Events in Information
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 Jinfo is the central location for supporting your information career. The Jinfo Jobs database lists vacancies, and the Jinfo Events database lists workshops, conferences, training, webinars and other professional development opportunities.
Start a free subscription to receive the weekly Jinfo Update, with a complete list of the latest vacancies and events, or search the databases at any time (free).
Jinfo Jobs in the FreePint Newsletter are supported through our partnership with Quantum2, an innovative skills development programme offered by Dialog. Learn more at <http://quantum.dialog.com/>.
Jinfo Jobs:
Here is a selection of the latest featured vacancies in the Jinfo database:
- Records Manager
Responsible for physical file and records management systems, as well as the application of internal records management policies and relevant best practice...
Recruiter: Weekes Gray Recruitment
Country: United Kingdom
- Records & Information Management Associate, R&D
Amgen are looking for an experienced individual to manage our information assets and promote our service across R&D.
Recruiter: Amgen
Country: United Kingdom
- Information Executive - Enquiries and Web Services
Trade association seeks info pro for their web services & enquiry team to refresh content and answer member enquiries - £28-30,000
Recruiter: Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited
Country: United Kingdom
- Information/Database Manager
Newly created vacancy to work for niche Corporate Intelligence organisation in prestigious Central London offices...
Recruiter: Glen Recruitment
Country: United Kingdom
- Senior Analyst - Business Analytics
Client Facing Strategic Analyst Competitor Intelligence/ Market Insight Financial Services: Capital...
Recruiter: TFPL Intelligent Resources Recruitment
Country: United Kingdom
Browse all Jinfo
Jobs »
Jinfo Events:
Here is a selection of the latest featured events in the Jinfo database:
- Track Social Media News
Free webinar on tracking social media (more than 300k sources)
Organiser: Moreover Technologies
Date: 23rd Sep 2009
Country: Online/webinar
- SharePoint - Benefits Realisation
Day-long workshop on full integration of SharePoint into the enterprise
Organiser: TFPL
Date: 15th Oct 2009
Country: United Kingdom
- Naked Intelligence 2009
Senior-level conference on intelligence, counterintelligence and use of intelligence
Organiser: Infosphere
Date: 9-12 Nov 2009
Country: United Kingdom
- Internet Librarian International
2 day conference for tech savvy information professionals
Organiser: Information Today
Date: 15-16 Oct 2009
Country: United Kingdom
- Online Information 2009
Online Information 2009 comprises an exhibition of over 200 vendors, an international conference and a seminar programme.
Organiser: Incisive Media
Date: 1-3 Dec 2009
Country: United Kingdom
- How energy stats stack up: looking behind the energy numbers
Energy statistics specialists discuss how they gather, interpret and present statistics for their varying audiences
Organiser: Energy Institute
Date: 5 Nov 2009
Country: United Kingdom
Browse all Jinfo
Events »
Jinfo - the best place for information-related job vacancies and professional development opportunities.
- RECRUITING?
- Advertise a vacancy for just GBP 195
- 10% discount for agencies
- 50% discount for registered charities
- RUNNING AN EVENT?
List it on Jinfo to reach a targeted audience seeking professional development opportunities
- Get started at <http://web.jinfo.com/events/load/>
- Partner events listed for free; enquire at <support@jinfo.com>.
Find out more today at <http://www.jinfo.com/>
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| Highlights from ResourceShelf and DocuTicker
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Gold
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A look back at what the FreePint Newsletter covered at this time in previous years:
- FreePint No. 260, 11th September 2008 "Research: A Diligent Approach" and "Selling Photographs in the Digital Age"
- FreePint No. 237, 13th September 2007 "Survival Guide: Online Social Networking" and "Social Tools for Business Use: Messages from a Web 2.0 Conference"
- FreePint No. 214, 21st September 2006 "The Project Handbook: How to Write Clear and Cogent End-User Documentation" and "Transcontinental Teamwork: A Collaborative Case Study in Using Multilingual and Multinational Information Resources"
- FreePint No. 190, 8th September 2005 "Analysing User Behaviour: A Case Study" and "The Slow Movement"
- FreePint No. 167, 16th September 2004 "Information Sources For Education On The Web" and "Copyright - how to stay legal"
- FreePint No. 145, 18th September 2003 "Tips on Negotiating Licences for Electronic Products" and "Real Estate Sources on the Web"
- FreePint No. 121, 19th September 2002 "Copyleft, Collaboration & Clusters" and "Resignation or redundancy: understanding your legal rights"
- FreePint No. 96, 20th September 2001 "Wales: Business, Economic and Government Sources" and "Women In Business"
- FreePint No. 71, 21st September 2000 "Routes into Knowledge Management" and "The Net Snags Cash Flow - Business Information and Cash Flow on the Internet"
- FreePint No. 46, 23rd September 1999 "The UK 1998 Data Protection Act and your Web site" and "About NUA: A discussion with Gerry McGovern, CEO NUA"
- FreePint No. 22, 17th September 1998 "Reverse Psychology - How to find more sites like the ones you love" and "Electronic commerce"
FreePint Newsletter Archive »
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Forthcoming Articles - Provisional
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FUMSI
- Using Information to Drive Business Processes: A Case Study
- Image Findability: Improving through Tags
- When Smaller is Better: U.S. Merger and Acquisition Databases for Business Appraisers
- Social media strategy: How I Became an Expert in Three Days
VIP
- Big Three comparative review on news products
- Digiminds
- Capital IQ
If you have a suggestion for an article topic, or would like to write, then please contact <editor@freepint.com> or read the notes for authors at <http://web.freepint.com/go/family/contribute/>
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Contact Information
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Address:
Free Pint Limited
4-6 Station Approach Ashford, Middlesex TW15 2QN, United Kingdom
Telephone:
UK: 0870 141 7474 Int: +44 870 141 7474
Directions and maps: <http://www.freepint.com/contact.htm>
Contributors to this issue:
Robin Neidorf (General Manager), Jela Webb, Richard Nelsson, Nancy Davis Kho (Copyeditor), William Hann (Publisher), Douglas Brown (Proofreader).
Advertisers/Sponsors:
Quantum2 from Dialog, LexisNexis, Dow Jones, Financial Times, Deep Web Technologies, Incisive Media, Sue Hill Recruitment and Services Limited, Glen Recruitment, TFPL Intelligent Resources Recruitment, Weekes Gray Recruitment, Amgen.
(c) Free Pint Limited 1997-2009 <http://www.freepint.com/>
Technology by Willco <http://www.Willco.com/>
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your subscriptions or password, visit <http://www.freepint.com/subs/> or forward this email, with your request and registered email address, to <support@freepint.com>. For details about contributing, advertising or to see past issues, please visit the Web site at <http://www.freepint.com/>.
Please note: FreePint (ISSN 1460-7239) is a registered trademark of, and published by, Free Pint Limited. The publishers will NEVER make the subscriber list available to any other company or organisation.
The opinions, advice, products and services offered herein are the sole responsibility of the contributors. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the publication, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions.
This publication may be freely copied and/or distributed in its entirety. However, individual sections MAY NOT be copied and/or distributed without the prior written agreement of the publishers. Write to Robin Neidorf, General Manager, <robin.neidorf@freepint.com> for more details. Product names used in FreePint are for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners. FreePint disclaims any and all rights in those marks. All rights reserved.
FreePint is published by Free Pint Limited, registered in England and
Wales. Registered Number: 3754418. Registered Office: Delaport Coach
House, Lamer Lane, Wheathampstead, Herts, AL4 8RQ
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