It is true that NewsML 1 did not tackle this topic.

* NewsItemId must not be used for this purpose, as it is part of the unique
identification of the news item.
* NameLabel would not be my favorite choice, as it aims at identifying a single
news item (and not a "thread").
* Currently most wires use a slug term for this purpose (ex. OLY2008).

Note NewsML-G2 defines a property named <instanceOf> specifically for this
purpose ("thread" or "fixture" like "market opening").
Note also that if the "thread" is an entity (an event, a location) that is the
"subject" of a set of news items, you can use the Newsml-G2 <subject> property
to identify this entity.

Best regards
Laurent Le Meur
AFP


> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : newsml@yahoogroups.com [mailto:newsml@yahoogroups.com] De la part
> de masood_a
> Envoyé : jeudi 1 mai 2008 20:08
> À : newsml@yahoogroups.com
> Objet : [newsml] Identifying story threads from NewsML
>
> Hi-
>
> We are trying to identify a field in NewsML that can be used to
> identify a set of related stories consistently. This set of stories
> can be about, lets say Iraq, or an event that is occurring on a single
> day like "Plane Crash". We would like to always identify the latest
> news article about a particular "thread". A thread may last for a
> short time like a day or more longer, say months.
>
> There are a few options available to us right now. I would like input
> on the various options.
>
> I am including a list of the fields (from the NewsML 1.2 spec) that
> we are looking at below. From all the options below, it appears that
> the field NameLabel may make more sense as this is in the category of
> items that are "Informal Identifiers", and are not expected to be
> using any markup.
>
> It would be good to know the mechanism being used by major wires as
> that can help us narrow down our options. I am including the
> description of the elements from the NewsML spec for your convenience.
>
> 1. /NewsML/NewsItem/NewsComponent/NewsComponent/NewsLines/SlugLine
>
> [The SlugLine element provides a string of text, possibly embellished
> by hyperlinks and/or formatting, used to display a NewsItem's slug
> line. (Note that the meaning of the term "slug line", and the uses to
> which it is put, are a matter for individual providers to define
> within their own workflow and business practice.)]
>
> 2. NewsML/NewsItem/Identification/NameLabel
>
> [The NameLabel element contains a string used by human users as a name
> to help identify a NewsItem. Its form is determined by the provider.
> It might be identical to the textual content of the SlugLine element,
> for example, but even if this is so, the system should not process the
> NameLabel as a slugline. Nothing can be assumed about the nature of
> the string within NameLabel beyond the fact that it can help to
> identify the NewsItem to humans.]
>
> In addition NameLabel is in the category of items that are identified
> as "InformalIdentifiers". [In addition to the formal identification
> mechanisms described above, NewsML provides a series of Label elements
> that can be used by human users to identify NewsItems. As far as the
> NewsML system is concerned, these are arbitrary strings, and cannot be
> relied upon to provide a robust identification mechanism. Their sole
> purpose is to provide a convenient way for humans to identify a
> particular NewsItem in informal exchanges and communications, or as
> part of a user interface.]
>
> 3. /NewsML/NewsItem/Identification/NewsIdentitifier/NewsItemId
>
> [The NewsItemId is an identifier for the NewsItem. The combination of
> NewsItemId and DateId must be unique among NewsItems that emanate from
> the same provider. Within these constraints, the NewsItemId can take
> any form the provider wishes. It may take the form of a name for the
> NewsItem that will be meaningful to humans, but this is not a
> requirement
>
> thanks,
> -Masood
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
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