resize text:

Online Journalism News

BBC signposts rival sites

Posted: 07/10/04 By: Jemima Kiss
email this story | post a comment

BBC News Online has introduced a new, automated system which will display context-specific links to external news sites.

The Newstracker tool uses search technology to select relevant links from more than 4,000 international news sites. The feature is being added to stories throughout the site over the next few weeks.

Produced by Moreover Technologies, the Newstracker allows readers to compare BBC coverage with that of other news organisations around the world.

"We know that audiences, particularly younger audiences, want and seek out a wider range of news sources," said Richard Deverell, head of BBC news interactive.

"We hope this emphasis on choice will increase media literacy among our users, as well as affirming BBC.co.uk's reputation as a trusted guide to the web."

• The BBC also launched a new open-source video compression tool this week. 'Dirac' is just one of a series of open-source coding tools being developed by the corporation.

"You could use it for desktop video production, you could use it for streaming, or you could use it for movies - anyplace where you need compression," said lead developer Dr Thomas Davies.

More news from dotJournalism:
BBC revamps Azeri site
Web is vital for new BBC audiences
Fox scolded for BBC rant
BBC cashes in on Hutton keywords
Hutton report: journalists fight back
BBCi faces threat of closure under Tory rule

See also:
BBC Newstracker: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3676692.stm