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{{Powerbase:Help}}
SpinProfiles's purpose is to expose manipulation of information and therefore we need to be extra careful in what information we use, how we use it and where we get it from. It is extremely important to provide references that are as authoritative as possible. Try and use primary materials where possible – original sources as opposed to secondary reports – and information that is up to date as possible. If the issue is very contentious, try and reference from more than once source.
 
  
SpinProfiles is '''strictly referenced'''. This means that every piece of information in an article should be accompanied by a link to an authoritative source for that information. The link should be provided in two places: as a plain numbered reference link immediately ''after'' the sentence or paragraph containing the assertion, such as this link <ref>Kevin Maguire and Ewen MacAskill, [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4267434-103685,00.html Fundraiser's role as envoy under attack], The Guardian, 1 October 2001.</ref>, and as a full citation in the '''Reference''' section at the end of the article. If done correctly, placing the source in the main body of the text will automatically see it listed in the references section.
 
  
Before we go on to the ''how to'' of formatting references this guide will first cover some basic guidelines to follow when referencing.
 
  
==Some Basic Guidelines==
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==The super-quick guide to referencing==
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'''Please ensure first that you have the following coding''' at the foot of any new page you create:
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:<nowiki>==Notes==</nowiki>
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:<nowiki><references/></nowiki>
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Without this coding, none of your references will appear on the page.
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'''Put full information into your references''', e.g. when referencing an article, include author, url (weblink), article title, publication or name of website, date of article, date accessed. Thus:
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:<nowiki><ref>Paul Hutcheon, '[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]', ''Sunday Herald'', 22 January 2006, accessed 12 November 2008</ref></nowiki>
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'''If a weblink exists to your source''', always make your reference into a weblink by following these simple instructions: open square bracket, then url, then space, then article or web page title, close square bracket, then rest of publication info and date accessed.
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'''For a web page''', it's open square bracket, url, space, page title, close square bracket, then owner of website, then date you accessed:
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:<nowiki><ref>'[http://www.bloggsco.com About Us]', ''Bloggs Co website'', accessed 12 November 2008</ref></nowiki>
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If your source does not have a weblink (i.e. if it is not an online source), then miss out the square brackets and url. Thus:
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:<nowiki><ref>Paul Hutcheon, 'Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood', ''Sunday Herald'', 22 January 2006</ref></nowiki>
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'''If you are referencing a long report''', have a care for your reader and give a page number or range of numbers. Thus:
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:<nowiki><ref>Joe Bloggs, "[http://www.instituteoflongreports.com/joebloggsreport A Very Long Report], Institute of Long Reports, September 2006, p. 204, accessed 18 March 2010</ref></nowiki>
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Similarly '''when referencing books''', give a page number or range of numbers, e.g. pp. 204-233.
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==The not-so-quick guide to referencing==
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If you are a student doing your thesis and are adding bits of your material to Powerbase, you may wish to ensure that even in Powerbase, you follow the accepted academic system of referencing as laid out below in the section, "Reference examples". This will enable you to transfer material with the minimum of changes to references.
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==What is referencing?==
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Referencing is when you acknowledge sources of information that you have used to write your article. When you refer to someone else’s work in your article, you are citing that work.
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==Why should I reference?==
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There are a number of reasons why you should reference the sources you use:
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*To avoid plagiarism - this is when you use someone's ideas or work without acknowledgment
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*To show the authority on which you base your arguments
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*To enable others to find your sources
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==When should I reference?==
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You should include a reference every time you quote, paraphrase (i.e. write someone's information in your own words), summarise or gain ideas from another person's work. You should include a reference no matter what format the work takes (e.g. web page, journal article, email or diagram).
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==Powerbase's referencing policy==
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 +
Powerbase's purpose is to expose manipulation of information and therefore we need to be extra careful in what information we use, how we use it and where we get it from. It is extremely important to provide references that are as authoritative as possible. Try to use primary materials where possible – original sources as opposed to secondary reports – and information that is up to date as possible. If the issue is very contentious, try to reference from more than once source.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Powerbase is '''strictly referenced'''. This means that every piece or set of information in an article should be accompanied by a reference or weblink to an authoritative source for that information. The link should be provided in two places: as a plain numbered reference link immediately ''after'' the sentence or paragraph containing the assertion, such as this link <ref>Kevin Maguire and Ewen MacAskill, [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4267434-103685,00.html Fundraiser's role as envoy under attack], The Guardian, 1 October 2001.</ref>, and as a full citation in the '''References''' section at the end of the article. If done correctly, placing the source in the main body of the text will automatically see it listed in the references section.
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===Dealing with unreferenced material===
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*If there is a significant point in an article which is not supported by a reference contributors can:
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:a) do a search to see if there is a reference for the point
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:b) if not, or at least via an initial search, you can relocate the sentence or paragraph to the talk page pending further efforts to find a supporting reference.
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==Some basic guidelines==
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*In referencing websites, reference links should point ''directly'' to the relevant page on the website. It is not enough to give a link to the homepage. The aim is to make it as easy as possible for readers to verify assertions in articles.
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*Consider the authoritativeness of the external website when giving a citation. For example, many Wikipedia articles are themselves poorly referenced, and so Wikipedia is not considered an authoritative source for external references.
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*If you fail to provide adequate and convenient references for your article or contribution, expect it to be heavily edited down by other users or Powerbase editors, relocated to the 'talk' page pending verification, or deleted altogether. It is ''your'' job to bring your contributions up to the required referencing standard.
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People will only use information from Powerbase if they feel confident that it’s well sourced and can check out the source if needed. So it’s important for authors to reference the source of each piece or set of information. See [[Powerbase:A Guide to Sourcing|A Guide to Sourcing]] for more details.
  
*Reference links should point ''directly'' to the relevant page on the referenced website. It is not sufficient to merely give a link to the homepage. The aim is to make it as easy as possible for readers to verify assertions in articles.
 
*You should consider the authoritativeness of the external website when giving a citation. For example, many Wikipedia articles are themselves extremely poorly referenced, and so Wikipedia is not considered an authoritative source for external references.
 
*If you fail to provide adequate and convenient references for your article or contribution, expect it to be heavily edited down by other users or SpinProfiles editors, relocated to the 'talk' page pending verification or deleted altogether. It is ''your'' job to bring contributions up to the required referencing standard.
 
  
People will only use information from SpinProfiles if they feel confident that it’s well sourced and can check out the source if needed. So it’s important for authors to reference the source of each piece or set of information. See [[SpinProfiles:A Guide to Sourcing|A Guide to Sourcing]] for more details
 
  
 
With this kind of resource, it is not necessarily a strength to make it seem as if you have originated information or analysis yourself, so please be generous to your sources and give them full credit.  
 
With this kind of resource, it is not necessarily a strength to make it seem as if you have originated information or analysis yourself, so please be generous to your sources and give them full credit.  
  
Referencing controversial views or information to another source is not a protection against being sued, but the more you back up your argument with well referenced material, the less chance there is of being sued. See [[SpinProfiles:Libel|SpinProfiles Libel Policy]] for more details.  
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<Center>'''All editors on SpinProfiles are required to read and understand [[SpinProfiles:Libel|SpinProfiles Libel policy]]'''.</center>  
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Referencing controversial views or information to another source is not a protection against being sued, but the more you back up your argument with well referenced material, the less chance there is of being sued. See [[Powerbase:Libel|Powerbase Libel Policy]] for more details.  
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<Center>'''All editors on Powerbase are required to read and understand [[Powerbase:Libel|Powerbase Libel policy]]'''.</center>  
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<center><b>If you have not already done so - ''Do It Now!''</b></center>  
 
<center><b>If you have not already done so - ''Do It Now!''</b></center>  
  
Please reference with more than just a weblink, as many of the links in older articles are now dead and there is no further information in the article or notes regarding the source. In such cases, especially where the information quoted is in the least bit controversial, anyone reading the article will simply discount the information as lacking credibility. If we give a complete set of information in the reference, then even if the weblink is dead, people will be able to google the information in the reference and will often find a live link.
 
  
==Referencing format==
 
  
In SpinProfiles you will find 2 methods of referencing used: An ''older'' method of formatting which adds references to ''External Links'' and a ''newer'' method which automatically adds the reference to a ''references'' section at the bottom of the page.  
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Please reference with more than just a weblink, as many of the links in older articles are now dead and there is no further information in the article or notes regarding the source. In such cases, especially where the information quoted is controversial, anyone reading the article will simply discount the information as lacking credibility. If we give a complete set of information in the reference, then even if the weblink is dead, people will be able either to google the information in the reference and find a live link, or find a print source.
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==Reference primary rather than secondary sources==
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Reference primary rather than secondary sources for facts and quotes. If no primary source is given for a fact or quote, avoid using it. For web sources such as Sourcewatch, GMWatch, Lobbywatch, and Corporate Watch, reference the primary source given by those websites where possible. You can use analysis from those sources, but attribute the analysis to the source.
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==Old and new style referencing==
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In Powerbase you will find 2 methods of referencing: An ''older'' method of formatting which adds references to ''External Links'' and a ''newer'' method which automatically adds the reference to a ''references'' section at the bottom of the page.  
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 +
 
  
The original ''older'' format used was by adding references to the "External Links" section like this:
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===Old style referencing (please do not use in new articles)===
  
*Paul Hutcheon, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]", ''Sunday Herald'', 22 January 2006.
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The original ''older'' format used was by (i) embedding external links in the body text or (ii) by adding references to the "External Links" section, like this:
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:(i) Embedding external links in the body text
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:What you put in (in the body text):
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::<nowiki>Body text blah blah... CropLife International has six regional nodes, including [http://www.croplifeamerica.org/ CropLife America], [http://www.croplifeasia.org/ CropLife Asia] and the [http://www.ecpa.be/website/index.asp European Crop Protection Association] (ECPA). Continue body text...</nowiki>
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:What you get:
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::Body text blah blah... CropLife International has six regional nodes, including [http://www.croplifeamerica.org/ CropLife America], [http://www.croplifeasia.org/ CropLife Asia] and the [http://www.ecpa.be/website/index.asp European Crop Protection Association] (ECPA). Continue body text...
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 +
:(ii) Adding references to an External Links section
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:What you put in:
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::<nowiki>'''External Links'''</nowiki>
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::<nowiki>Paul Hutcheon, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]", ''Sunday Herald'', 22 January 2006.</nowiki>
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 +
:What you get:
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::'''External Links'''
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::Paul Hutcheon, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]", ''Sunday Herald'', 22 January 2006.
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Since Powerbase was first launched, the MediaWiki software has been upgraded. One of the new features allows a slightly modified version of reference style above to be added at the relevant point in the text. In conjunction with the creation of a new section for ''References'' before the "External Links" section at the foot of the page, this automatically indexes all the references. Over time we aim to convert old article references over to the new system.
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===New style referencing (please use in new articles and when updating old ones)===
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This new method is how referencing should be done in Powerbase. 
  
Since SpinProfiles was first launched, the Mediawiki software has been upgraded. One of the new features allows a slightly modified version of reference style above to be added at the relevant point in the text. In conjunction with the creation of a new section for ''References'' before the "External Links" section at the foot of the page, this automatically indexes all the references. Over time we aim to convert old article references over to the new system.
 
  
===How to format referencing===
 
This new method is how referencing should be approached on SpinProfiles and the steps for doing this are: 
 
  
 
'''Step 1'''  
 
'''Step 1'''  
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All references must be enclosed within the reference coding: <nowiki><ref> ...  </ref></nowiki>
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Insert your reference into the body text at a point that makes the source of your information clear to the reader. This may be after you quote or paraphrase from the article or web page to be referenced.
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Where the source you are referencing is available online, make the title of the article or web page into a weblink. This is done by opening a set of square brackets, then pasting in the url of the article or web page, then leaving a space, then typing the title of the article or web page, then closing square brackets. Then add the rest of the publication information.
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 +
  
 
Add <nowiki><ref>Paul Hutcheon, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]", Sunday Herald, 22 January 2006, accessed 12 November 2008</ref></nowiki> at the appropriate point in the text. The appropriate point is in the body of the text you are writing.  
 
Add <nowiki><ref>Paul Hutcheon, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]", Sunday Herald, 22 January 2006, accessed 12 November 2008</ref></nowiki> at the appropriate point in the text. The appropriate point is in the body of the text you are writing.  
  
When positioning the reference consider 'is it clear what information this reference is a source for?' If it's for a quote, then place it at the end of the quote. If it's for a bulk of text that has been paraphrased from a source, then it would be helpful to make reference to the source and add it there. For example: The Sunday Herald <nowiki><ref>Paul Hutcheon, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]", Sunday Herald, 22 January 2006, accessed 12 November 2008</ref></nowiki> reports that...   
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When positioning the reference, consider: "Is it clear what information this reference is a source for?" If it's for a quote, then place it at the end of the quote. If it's for a bulk of text that has been paraphrased from a source, then it would be helpful to make reference to the source and add it there. For example:  
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:Paul Hutcheon, writing in the ''Sunday Herald'' <nowiki><ref>Paul Hutcheon, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]", Sunday Herald, 22 January 2006, accessed 12 November 2008</ref></nowiki>, reports that...   
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When saved it will look like this:
 
When saved it will look like this:
The Sunday Herald <ref>Paul Hutcheon, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]", Sunday Herald, 22 January 2006, accessed 12 November 2008</ref> reports that...
 
  
If you go on to refer from the source (for example in the next paragraph you've written) add something along the lines of 'The report continues by stating...'  
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:Paul Hutcheon, writing in the ''Sunday Herald'' <ref>Paul Hutcheon, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]", Sunday Herald, 22 January 2006, accessed 12 November 2008</ref>, reports that...
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The details of the reference will automatically go to the Notes section at the foot of the page.
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If you go on to refer to the source again (for example, in the next paragraph) add something along the lines of 'The report continues by stating...' This makes it clear that you are still representing Hutcheon's views, and not necessarily your own.
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There are no hard and fast rules for how to do this. It will depend upon your preferred style. But once you've written your piece, give a moment's thought to readers who have no knowledge of where the information has come from and ensure that it is clear.
 
There are no hard and fast rules for how to do this. It will depend upon your preferred style. But once you've written your piece, give a moment's thought to readers who have no knowledge of where the information has come from and ensure that it is clear.
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 +
  
 
'''Step 2'''
 
'''Step 2'''
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Check the bottom of the page to make sure there is a ''Reference'' section.
 
Check the bottom of the page to make sure there is a ''Reference'' section.
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On a new page or where there is only an "External Links" section, you will need to create a new section for the references to appear.
 
On a new page or where there is only an "External Links" section, you will need to create a new section for the references to appear.
  
This is done by adding References (straddling two sets of == or === to make the sub-heading). Then add <nowiki><references/></nowiki>.  Although one could use "References" as the title for the footnote sections it is also possible to use any other name, e.g., Notes. The Notes/References coding goes just above the Categories coding. So the bottom of your page should look like this:
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This is done by adding Notes (enclosed in two sets of == to make the sub-heading). Then add <nowiki><references/></nowiki>. The Notes coding goes just above the Categories coding. So the bottom of your page should look like this:
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<nowiki>==Notes==</nowiki>
 
<nowiki>==Notes==</nowiki>
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<nowiki><references/></nowiki>
 
<nowiki><references/></nowiki>
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<nowiki>[[Category:Category name here]][[Category:Another category name]]</nowiki>
 
<nowiki>[[Category:Category name here]][[Category:Another category name]]</nowiki>
  
===What if I'm adding to a page that has references in the old format?===
 
  
It is best if you add your new material using the new format. If the article is reasonably short, you could convert some or all of the other references to the new format.
 
  
If you don't have the time to do that, that's OK. Over time we aim to convert old article references over to the new system.
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==What if I'm adding to a page that has references in the old format?==
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Add your new material using the new format. If the article is reasonably short, you could convert some or all of the other references to the new format.
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If you don't have the time, that's OK. Over time we aim to convert old references to the new system.
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==Same reference used more than once==
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The first time a reference appears in the article, you can give it a simple name in the <nowiki><ref></nowiki> code:
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 +
:<nowiki><ref name="smith">DETAILS OF REF</ref></nowiki>
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 +
Subsequent times that you use the same reference in the article, you can use a shortcut instead of re-typing it:
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 +
:<nowiki><ref name="smith" /></nowiki>
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 +
You can then use the shortcut as many times as you want. This will then display only one full reference but with the markers as < sup > 1.1< sup > etc. You can see multiple use of the same reference in action in the article [http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Patrick_Michaels Patrick Michaels].
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 +
Don't forget the /, or it will blank the rest of the article. Some symbols don't work in the ref name, but you'll find out if you use them.
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==What information should be included in the reference?==
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 +
Each article should include a list of quoted references at the bottom, including as much information as possible about the reference as well as a weblink if possible. Please do not just provide a weblink as these change and it is then difficult to find the source unless other information is given.
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 +
There are several different referencing systems and it does not matter which you use. Regardless of the system you use, references for books and journals will generally require a selection of the following components:
  
===What information should be included in the reference===
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*Author(s) / Editor(s)
Each article should include a list of quoted references at the bottom: including as much information as possible about the reference as well as a web-link if possible. Please do not just provide a weblink as these change and it is then difficult to find the source unless other information is given. Whenever possible, each resource listed should include the following information in this order:
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* Who wrote it (the author's name)
+
*Title of article, research paper, talk, radio or TV programme, web page, etc.
* The title of the article (if this is an online resource the title will accompany the URL (Web) address - include the http:// at the beginning and not just www. For example <nowiki>[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]</nowiki>).
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* The publication title - for example the name of the newspaper, book or website. This should be in italics e.g. ''International Journal of Obesity'', ''New York Times'', ''Spinwatch''.
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*Publication in which article, research paper, etc. appears, e.g. book, newspaper, magazine, journal, website
* the publisher's name and city (and, in the US, state of publisher)
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* the date it was written - for a book this will be the year printed (the date for books is referenced slightly differently to newspapers and the likes - see example below). A newspaper article will include the full date.
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*Edition
* The edition details - for a book, is this the 1st edition or later. Journals should have a Number and/or Volume. Some newspapers also have more than one edition.
+
 
* The date it was accessed - this is for sources that have been obtained/are available online. Use the date it was last visited.
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*Place of publication (though this is becoming optional as the publishing world becomes less localised)
* page numbers - if available.
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+
*Publisher
References will then look something like this:
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* <nowiki><ref>Paul Hutcheon, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]", Sunday Herald, 22 January 2006, accessed 12 November 2008</ref></nowiki>
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*Year of publication
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*Volume number, issue number/month
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*Page(s)
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*URL (weblink)
 +
 
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 +
Electronic and specialist materials will have additional referencing components e.g. the URL and date accessed for websites. Please do not just provide a weblink as a reference as these change and it is difficult to find the source unless other information is given.
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==Reference examples==
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In the examples that follow, the non-web examples are in the Harvard referencing style. The web examples are an adaptation of this style that suits the Powerbase wiki software.
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You do not have to use Harvard style but whichever style you choose, please be consistent and ensure that all the information needed is included.
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Put the titles of magazines, books, journals, and newspapers in italics. Titles of articles, research papers, TV and radio programmes, and talks, go in double inverted commas.
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===Book: single author===
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Blaxter, E., (2006), ''Creating References''. Glasgow, University of Strathclyde
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===Book: 2-3 authors===
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 +
Blaxter, E. and Wood, M., (2006), ''Creating References''. Glasgow, University of Strathclyde
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 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Book: 4 or more authors===
 +
 
 +
Blaxter, E. et al., (2006), ''Creating References''. Glasgow, University of Strathclyde
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===Book: no author===
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''Creating References'' (2006). Glasgow, University of Strathclyde
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===Book: edited===
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 +
Blaxter, E. (ed.), (2006), ''Creating References''. Glasgow, University of Strathclyde
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 +
 
 +
 
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===Book: article or chapter in edited book===
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 +
Blaxter, E., (2005), “Subject searching techniques”, in Wood, M. (ed.), ''Conquering the Information World'', London, Hard Work Press, pp. 50-69
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 +
===Book: e-book===
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 +
<nowiki>Blaxter, E., (2006), [http://www.netlibrary.com/bookid=26849 Creating References]. Glasgow, University of Strathclyde (accessed 30 October 2006)</nowiki>
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===Journal, magazine, or newspaper: article with author===
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 +
Blaxter, E., (2005), “Subject searching techniques”, ''Journal of Library Skills'', Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 10-19
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 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Journal, magazine, or newspaper article with author, that also is available on WWW===
 +
 
 +
What you type:
 +
 
 +
:<nowiki>Blaxter, E., (2005), “[http://www.netlibrary.com/bookid=26849 Subject searching techniques”], ''Journal of Library Skills'', Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 10-19 (accessed 30 October 2006)</nowiki>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
What you get:
 +
 
 +
:Blaxter, E., (2005), “[http://www.netlibrary.com/bookid=26849 Subject searching techniques”], ''Journal of Library Skills'', Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 10-19 (accessed 30 October 2006)
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Journal, magazine, or newspaper: article without author===
 +
 
 +
“Subject searching techniques” (2005), ''Journal of Library Skills'', Vol.30, No.2, pp. 10-19
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Document on WWW with author===
 +
 
 +
What you type:
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
:<nowiki>Blaxter, E., (2006), "[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/bib.htm Creating references]", University of Strathclyde website (accessed 30 October 2006)</nowiki>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
What you get:
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
:Blaxter, E., (2006), "[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/bib.htm Creating references]", University of Strathclyde website (accessed 30 October 2006)
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Document on WWW without author===
 +
 
 +
What you type:
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
:<nowiki>"[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/bib.htm Creating references]" (2006). University of Strathclyde website (accessed 30 October 2006)</nowiki>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
What you get:
 +
 
 +
:"[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/bib.htm Creating references]" (2006). University of Strathclyde website (accessed 30 October 2006)
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Document on WWW without date===
 +
 
 +
What you type:
 +
 
 +
:<nowiki>Blaxter, E., (undated), "[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/bib.htm Creating references]" (accessed 30 October 2006)</nowiki>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
What you get:
 +
 
 +
:Blaxter, E., (undated), "[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/bib.htm Creating references]" (accessed 30 October 2006)
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Podcast===
 +
 
 +
What you type:  
 +
 
 +
:<nowiki>"[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/podcast/ref.htm Getting it referenced, getting it right]" (2006), podcast radio programme, Glasgow, Andersonian Radio, 30 October (accessed 1 November 2006)</nowiki>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
What you get:
 +
 
 +
:"[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/podcast/ref.htm Getting it referenced, getting it right]" (2006), podcast radio programme, Glasgow, Andersonian Radio, 30 October (accessed 1 November 2006)
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Email discussion lists===
 +
 
 +
What you type:
 +
 
 +
:<nowiki>Blaxter, E., (2006), “[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/discuss_archives/2006.html Using the Harvard system]”, Library Skills discussion list, 30 October (accessed 1 November 2006)</nowiki>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
What you get:
 +
 
 +
:Blaxter, E., (2006), “[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/discuss_archives/2006.html Using the Harvard system]”, Library Skills discussion list, 30 October (accessed 1 November 2006)
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Wire services===
 +
 
 +
Some articles are not attributed to publications (e.g. The Independent, The New York Times) but to wire services (e.g. Reuters, Agence France Presse, BusinessWire, PR NewsWire, etc.). Sometimes an author is also credited, but sometimes not. References are written as follows.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
What you type (author given):
 +
 
 +
:<nowiki>Joe Bloggs, (2007), “[http://uk.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUKN1036065820070710 Organic farming yields as good or better - study]”, Reuters, 10 July (accessed 14 March 2008)</nowiki>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
What you get:
 +
 
 +
:Joe Bloggs, (2007), “[http://uk.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUKN1036065820070710 Organic farming yields as good or better - study]”, Reuters, 10 July (accessed 14 March 2008)
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===The spoken word===
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
The Powerbase policy on sourcing from speeches given at public meetings and from telephone conversations is in the [[Powerbase:A Guide to Sourcing|Guide to Sourcing]].
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Please write down and quote the speaker's actual words and keep your notes filed away. Quote the speaker's actual words: do not paraphrase as it is not accurate enough.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Reference the quote as follows:
  
or for a source without a author:
 
* <nowiki><ref> UK Parliament [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/070730/memi15.htm Register of Interests] UK Parliament, accessed 12 November 2008</ref></nowiki>
 
  
or from a book with various authors:
 
* <nowiki><ref>Miller, D. (2007) 'Spinning Farmed Salmon', in Dinan, W. & Miller, D. (eds), Thinker Faker Spinner Spy, Pluto Press, London, 1st edition, pp. 67-93</ref></nowiki>
 
  
===Troubleshooting===
+
:<nowiki>Speaking at the 2006 BigBio conference, Joe Bloggs said, "Transgenic contamination of organic crops is about as likely as getting pregnant from a toilet seat."<ref>Joe Bloggs, speaking at the BigBio Conference in Chicago, USA, 12-17 April 2006, witnessed by Jane Smith, who was present</ref></nowiki>
  
There are two things that may happen if you don't quite get the coding right.
 
  
* If you add the opening &lt;ref&gt; tag but don't include the "/" in the &lt;/ref&gt; second one, when you preview or save the rest of the text on the page after the ref tag will disappear. Don't panic. Just add the "/" in the second ref tag and all will be restored.
 
  
*If, when creating the new "References" section at the foot of the page, you omit the / from the &lt;references/&gt; command you will get the following error message
+
If possible, add a weblink to show that Bloggs spoke at the meeting:
  
:"Cite error 5; Invalid &lt;references&gt; tag; no input is allowed, use &lt;references/&gt;"
 
  
Again, you just need to go back and add the missing "/" and all will be fixed.
 
  
==Primary and secondary sources==
+
:<nowiki>Speaking at the 2006 BigBio conference, Joe Bloggs said, "Transgenic contamination of organic crops is about as likely as getting pregnant from a toilet seat."<ref>Joe Bloggs, speaking at the BigBio Conference in Chicago, USA, 12-17 April 2006, witnessed by Jane Smith, who was present. Bloggs is listed as a speaker at the BigBio Conference on the [http://www.bigbio.org BigBio website] (accessed 13 November 2008)<ref></nowiki>
  
It is worth remembering that a link to a primary source is usually more valuable than a seconday source.
 
  
For example, the statement by George W. Bush that America is "addicted to oil" can be found both in mainstream media outlets and in the official transcript of the 2006 State of the Union address. The advantage of a link to the primary source is that readers can read the full context of the original statement. Where possible, link to primary sources.
 
  
Often short mainstream news reports will omit important contextual information or miss important leads.
+
==="Subscription-only" resources===
  
==Referencing newspapers==
 
  
Citations for newspaper articles should use the following format:
 
*Paul Hutcheon, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]", ''Sunday Herald'', January 22, 2006.
 
  
 
Some online resources require a subscription (especially trade journals). If so, make this clear in the citation:
 
Some online resources require a subscription (especially trade journals). If so, make this clear in the citation:
*"[http://www.odwyerspr.com/members/0317vnr_new_standards_transcript.htm Transcript to VNR Teleconference]", ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'', March 17, 2005. (Sub req'd).
 
  
Bear in mind that even the more reliable news outlets make mistakes. Sometimes they append corrections at the head or foot of online stories or link to them. Sometimes points in an article are contested in a letter to the editor. Take care to see if there was a response or correction to an article before relying on it.
+
:"[http://www.odwyerspr.com/members/0317vnr_new_standards_transcript.htm Transcript to VNR Teleconference]", (2005), ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'', March 17 (sub req'd.)
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
However, some subscription-only articles can be found elsewhere on the web. A simple way to check for this is to search Google for the article's title, or a phrase from the article text. If so, provide a link.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
What you type:
 +
 
 +
:<nowiki>Jonathan Leake and Dan Box, "[http://www.newstatesman.com/Ideas/200505230004 The nuclear charm offensive]", (2005), ''New Statesman'', May 23. Subscription req'd after first page view. Available without restrictions at the [http://afr.com/articles/2005/05/26/1116950813750.html Australian Financial Review].</nowiki>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
What you get:
 +
 
 +
:Jonathan Leake and Dan Box, "[http://www.newstatesman.com/Ideas/200505230004 The nuclear charm offensive]", (2005), ''New Statesman'', May 23. Subscription req'd after first page view. Available without restrictions at the [http://afr.com/articles/2005/05/26/1116950813750.html Australian Financial Review].
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==Adding a country to publication references==
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Where the name of the publication is not well known or where there are a number of publications in different countries with the same title, consider adding where the publication you are referring to is published. For example, ''The Independent'' (UK) distinguishes it from other publications with the same title elsewhere.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==Articles not available online==
 +
 
 +
Earlier newspaper and magazine articles or other publications that are not readily available online for general users can still be cited.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==Edition details matter==
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Edition details matter - often a story will be included in one edition of the same day's publication and not in another. Therefore, note the edition in your reference where available.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
What you type:
 +
 
 +
:<nowiki>Bloggs, Joe, (2005), “Nuclear fallout 'harmless'”, ''The Biggsville Chronicle'', 1st edition, 20 July (accessed 30 October 2006)</nowiki>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
What you get:
  
However, some subscription-only articles can be found elsewhere on the web. A simple way to check for this is to search Google for the article's title, or a phrase from the article text. If so, provide a link:
+
:Bloggs, Joe, (2005), “Nuclear fallout 'harmless'”, ''The Biggsville Chronicle'', 1st edition, 20 July (accessed 30 October 2006)
*Jonathan Leake and Dan Box, "[http://www.newstatesman.com/Ideas/200505230004 The nuclear charm offensive]", ''New Statesman'', May 23, 2005. Subscription req'd after first page view. Available without restrictions at the [http://afr.com/articles/2005/05/26/1116950813750.html Australian Financial Review].
 
  
Where the name of the publication is not well known or where there are a number of publications in different countries with the same title, consider adding where the publication you are referring to is published. For example, Independent (UK) to distinguish it from other publications with the same title elsewhere.
 
  
Earlier newspaper articles that are not readily available online for general users can still be cited. However, it is best to state the publication title and date either in the text of the paragraph or in brackets at the end of the paragraph. In the External links section add the full citation details, including the page reference and, if appropriate, the edition it was from. (Edition details matter - often a story will be included in one edition of the same day's publication while clippings and microfiche might only have clips from an edition the story is not included in).
 
  
===Tips for finding permanent links to news sources===
+
==Avoid Latin==
* '''''CongressDaily'' stories:''' ''CongressDaily'' is a valuable source of detailed information about the actions of the U.S. Congress. However, it is also very expensive and its articles are generally behind a paywall, preventing most citizen editors from being able to read the full article. [http://www.govexec.com/ ''Government Executive''], however, often reprints articles on its website, which is not behind a paywall. Before linking to ''CongressDaily'' as a source, check the ''Government Executive'' site for a link to a copy of the story.
 
  
* '''''Yahoo! News'' stories:''' ''Yahoo!'' news links expire quickly&mdash;months, weeks or even days after being posted&mdash;leaving articles to which they are attached orphaned, particularly if only the article's URL is posted as a source. When ''Yahoo!'' links are included in the External Links section accompanied by an article title, that also often ends in futility later to locate another active link for the reference. ''Yahoo!'', as do others using wire service reports, frequently slightly or greatly alters the original article title, making it most often impossible to locate a replacement source for the article.
 
  
:*Often, blogs follow the same practice of posting the ''Yahoo!'' news links within cited material. Linking to a blog which has as its sole source a ''Yahoo!'' news link will also result in an inactive link in the future, rendering the quoted material without a source and unreliable, as well.
 
  
:*Although the [http://www.waybackmachine.org WaybackMachine] and other archive sources are valuable tools, they cannot locate expired ''Yahoo!'' links. Once the article disappears from <i>Yahoo!</i>'s cache, neither a ''Yahoo!'' or a ''Google'' search will be able to find the link.
+
Please avoid Latin tags in references such as "Op. cit." (work previously cited) and "Ibid." (same as preceding reference), for two reasons. One, we are writing for the general public as well as academics, and these tags can be off-putting. And two, it's very likely that articles will be added to by other authors, and they will add their own references. This could instantly make references such as "Op. cit." and "Ibid." confusing or plain incorrect.  
  
*'''''Google'' news stories''': The most reliable way to ensure that news articles do not end up with inactive links (and sans a reliable source for the information to which the URL was attached) is to use a ''Google'' search to find a more reliable source for the article.
 
  
*''Google'' provides links to wire service as well as self-generated news articles for all the major news and wire services, including [http://abcnews.go.com/ ABC News,] [http://www.cbsnews.com/ CBS News,] [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/ NBC News]/MSNBC, [http://www.cnn.com/ CNN,] [http://www.bloomberg.com Bloomberg News,] and [http://www.foxnews.com/ Fox News;] the [http://www.ap.org/ Associated Press,] [http://www.reuters.com/ Reuters,] [http://www.afp.com/english/home/ Agence France Presse,] [http://ipsnews.net/ Inter Press Service,] [http://www.mcclatchydc.com/ McClatchy Newspapers,] [http://coxnewspapers.com/ Cox Newspapers,] [http://www.upi.com/ UPI,] and more; [http://www.washingtonpost.com/?reload=true ''The Washington Post''], [http://www.washingtontimes.com/ ''The Washington Times'',] [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/headlines/index.html ''New York Daily News'',] [http://www.nysun.com/ ''The New York Sun'',] [http://www.philly.com/inquirer/ ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'',] [http://www.boston.com/ ''The Boston Globe'',] [http://www.latimes.com/ ''Los Angeles Times'',] [http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ ''San Francisco Chronicle'',] [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/home/index.html ''The Seattle Times'',] [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/ ''The Seattle Post-Intelligencer'',] [http://www.suntimes.com/index.html ''Chicago Sun-Times'',] [http://www.chicagotribune.com/ ''Chicago Tribune'',] [http://www.dallasnews.com/ ''Dallas Morning News'',] [http://www.chron.com/news/politics/ ''Houston Chronicle'',] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/ BBC (UK),][http://www.guardian.co.uk/ ''Guardian Unlimited'' (UK),] [http://www.independent.co.uk/ ''The Independent'' (UK),] [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/global/ ''Times of London'',]    [http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/index.htm ''USA TODAY'',] [http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/index.jsp ''Editor & Publisher'',] [http://www.csmonitor.com/ ''Christian Science Monitor'',] [http://www.hillnews.com/ ''The Hill'',] [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032542/site/newsweek/ ''Newsweek'',] [http://www.time.com/time/ ''TIME'',] [http://www.newyorker.com/ ''The New Yorker'',] [http://www.vanityfair.com/politics ''Vanity Fair''  (politics),] [http://www.villagevoice.com/ ''The Village Voice'',] etc., which provide enduring article links.
 
  
:*Note that ''The New York Times'' is not a reliable source, as, like '''Yahoo!''', its local news feeds often expire (or are archived for $$$) within a very short time.
+
Therefore, please repeat any reference in full each time you cite it. This may seem clumsy at first glance, but it produces the clearest results for the reader in multi-authored articles. And for the author, it's just a matter of copying and pasting, and if necessary changing a page number.
::* However, you can use the ''New York Times'' [http://nytimes.blogspace.com/genlink link generator] to find permanent, non-pay links for older ''New York Times'' stories.
 
::* Many of the same articles posted in the ''New York Times'' are cross-posted at the more reliable [http://www.iht.com/ ''International Herald Tribune''.]
 
  
:*Note that ''The Washington Times'' daily news links have a short expiration date. An archived link can be accessed via WaybackMachine.org.
 
  
:*''Google'' also includes links to online news journals, [http://blogsearch.google.com/ blogs], forums, message boards, and just about any possible online link, including cross-posted articles at [http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/*/index Free Republic] (with comments), [http://www.newsmax.com/ NewsMax], and [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/ WorldNetDaily], and archived articles at [http://www.truthout.org ''truthout''] and [http://www.commondreams.org ''Common Dreams''].
 
  
:*Significant article links are often buried several pages deep, however, and searching beyond the first five, ten, twenty or more pages of search results may be necessary to arrive at a "gem".
+
==Troubleshooting==
  
*'''''Breitbart''''': [http://www.breitbart.com/index.php?category=0 ''Breitbart''] provides links to breaking news
 
  
*'''''BuzzFlash''''': [http://www.buzzflash.com/ ''BuzzFlash''] provides links to current headline news and blog articles, as well as its own articles and provides a news alert service.
 
  
*'''''Ice Rocket''''': The [http://www.icerocket.com/ ''Ice Rocket'' search engine] accesses blogs, the web, MySpace, and news links. A word of caution is necessary, though, regarding blogs: unless you are familiar with a particular blog, tread carefully, as spyware, adware, malware and trojans may be lurking there. The same applies to MySpace pages.
+
There are two things that may happen if you don't quite get the coding right.
  
==Referencing news agencies / wire services==
 
The [http://www.ap.org/ Associated Press] (AP), [http://www.upi.com/ United Press International] (UPI), [http://today.reuters.com/news/home.aspx Reuters],  [http://www.allheadlinenews.com/ All Headline News], [http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/index.jsp?front_door=true&headlineSearchConfigBO=v2*G0 BusinessWire], [http://www.earnedmedia.org/cws.htm ChristianNewsWire], Agence France Presse (AFP), [http://www.prnewswire.com/ PR Newswire], [http://www.usnewswire.com/ U.S. Newswire], Market Wire, etc., are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_agency wire services]. They are not publications although each has its own news website. Articles may be written by a wire service reporter but when an article is used by a publication, that reporter's name may or may not remain attached. Additionally, often a wire service is not referenced at the top of an article but reference to it as <u>the</u> or <u>one of</u> the sources for an article is often located <u>at the end</u> of <u>or below</u> an article.
 
  
The original wire service author's name may not appear anywhere in the article itself or it may be mentioned in the credit line at the bottom or below the article. This is frequently the case for wire service articles cited by online news journals, international publications and blog and forum entries, especially where no other attribution has been noted.
 
  
==Referencing Websites==
+
* If you add the opening &lt;ref&gt; tag but don't include the "/" in the &lt;/ref&gt; second one, when you preview or save the rest of the text on the page after the ref tag will disappear. Don't panic. Just add the "/" in the second ref tag and all will be restored.
Be careful about quoting from websites. Check the validity of a website: just because it’s online doesn’t mean it’s true. Some websites are seen as more authoritative and reputable than others. Try to use these in preference. Avoid quoting from websites that contain 'conspiracy' material or that would be seen as extreme by a reasonable person sympathetic to our cause. Avoid quoting from anonymous blogs as there is no accountability.
 
  
For web sources such as Sourcewatch, GM Watch, Lobbywatch, and Corporate Watch, use the primary source referred to by those websites wherever possible. Facts and quotes need a primary source. If no primary source is given for a fact or quote, avoid using it. However, you can use analysis from those sources, but attribute the analysis to the source.
 
  
  
===Saving copies of the original article===
+
*If, when creating the new "References" section at the foot of the page, you omit the / from the &lt;references/&gt; command you will get the following error message
  
Often link addresses will change. Sometimes media releases will be removed from a website because of content that was later considered embarrassing. Sometimes entire sites will be removed. If a reference is critical to an article and you think there is a chance it might be removed later, it is worth saving a copy of the original page to your hard drive. (For example, you could save it as an Acrobat pdf file complete with the original web address and the date that you saved it). While there are Internet archives, they don't catch everything.
 
  
==Referencing the spoken word==
 
  
The SpinProfiles policy on quoting from speeches given at public meetings and telephone conversations is [http://www.spinprofiles.org/index.php/SpinProfiles:A_Guide_to_Sourcing|here].
+
:"Cite error 5; Invalid &lt;references&gt; tag; no input is allowed, use &lt;references/&gt;"
  
==Referencing partisan or biased sources==
 
  
Because SpinProfiles are dedicated to documenting the activities of public officials, people and organizations who are not unimpeachable sources of information, it is sometime necessary to reference their websites or other sources to make that documentation. Additionally, sometimes third-party documents are housed on the websites of biased sources, making it necessary to use those websites as a source. In these cases the website and the content should be clearly identified rather than treating the source as objective.
 
  
For example, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) released a report on Republican congressional corruption. A proper way to cite the material would be to write, “Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) released a report in 2006 accusing Republican members of Congress of designing the nations energy policy to ‘enrich the oil and energy interests that have financed the Republican agenda’,” and link to the report on her website as the source. An improper way to cite the material would be to write, “Republican members of Congress designed America’s national energy policy to benefit the oil and energy industries that have financed the Republican agenda,” and link to the report on her website as a source.
+
Again, you just need to go back and add the missing "/" and all will be fixed.
  
If you would like to explore allegations like the one Rep. Slaughter made then an even more valuable way of contributing to SpinProfiles would be to locate the original sources in her report, verify the information and present it in a fact-based, objective manner. That way what is documented is not the fact that Rep. Slaughter made the allegations but that her allegations are (possibly) true.
 
  
==Referencing books==
 
  
When citing passages from a book, especially one not searchable online via Google books, reference it as for a newspaper article that is not available online.
+
==Saving copies of the original article==
  
It is worth stressing that when citing a page number check whether there was more than one edition of the book and, if so, state which edition you are citing. Page numbering differs between editions for a range of reasons including revisions in later editions, deletions for legal reasons in one country or printing on slightly different format paper in one country. If a book was published in both softback and hardback it is worth identifying which one you are citing.
+
Often link addresses will change. Sometimes media releases will be removed from a website. Sometimes entire sites will be removed. If a reference is critical to an article and you think it might be removed later, it is worth saving a copy of the original page to your hard drive. For example, you could save it as an Acrobat pdf file complete with the original web address and the date that you saved it. While there are Internet archives, they don't catch everything.
  
==Evaluating sources==
 
* '''Institutional sources vs. blogs and other amateur sources:'''
 
  
* '''Not a problem: Rhetoric and opinion in a source:''' Reporting that uncovers new and valuable information is done on blogs and other sites that are written by people with a distinct point of view. These include pieces in magazines that have ideological points of view (including the [http://www.WashingtonMonthly.com Washington Monthly] and the [http://www.nationalreview.com/ National Review] as well as some blogs like [http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com Talking Points Memo]. It is ''best'' to find a source that has an established, independent point of view in order to aid other editors in quickly evaluating the reliability of your additions. However, sometimes a "biased" source is simply the best one. While the opinions they express should not be treated as facts, there are two types of information you can glean from them:
 
*# Definite, incontrovertible statements of fact like a quote or action. Not to be confused with a ''characterization'' of something, which is basically an opinion.
 
*# Documentation that the writer of the piece said something. Sometimes when reporting on writings by pundits or reporters it is useful to document that they said something, in which case their "biased" piece is the primary source.
 
  
* '''Not a problem: Profanity in sources:''' In the blogosphere particularly, authors sometimes use profanity. While it is ''best'' to link to a source that does not contain profanity in order to protect other editors who are checking your work from having to be exposed to it unwillingly, sometimes a source that includes profanity is simply the best one.
+
==Finding permanent links to news sources==
  
==Inaccuracies & complaints==
+
It's important that in your references you provide weblinks to sources that are as permanent as possible. See our guide to [[Finding Permanent Links to News Sources|finding permanent links to news sources]].
  
It is the intention of this site to provide factually correct information that is referenced to a high standard. Whilst we undertake our own fact checking and encourage all our users to do so, it is not possible to check all the original references used on this site.
 
  
If anyone believes that information on Spinprofiles is not factually correct or contains significant errors, we will try and correct them as soon as possible. Please email with as much detail and supporting material to management AT spinprofiles.org
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 +
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
[[Category:SpinProfiles Help]]
+
 
[[Category:SpinProfiles policy and guideline pages]]
+
 
 +
[[Category:Powerbase Help]]

Latest revision as of 07:31, 11 February 2014

Help Guide

How do I do that?

Getting in touch

Information and resources for contributors


Contents

The super-quick guide to referencing

Please ensure first that you have the following coding at the foot of any new page you create:


==Notes==


<references/>


Without this coding, none of your references will appear on the page.


Put full information into your references, e.g. when referencing an article, include author, url (weblink), article title, publication or name of website, date of article, date accessed. Thus:


<ref>Paul Hutcheon, '[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]', ''Sunday Herald'', 22 January 2006, accessed 12 November 2008</ref>


If a weblink exists to your source, always make your reference into a weblink by following these simple instructions: open square bracket, then url, then space, then article or web page title, close square bracket, then rest of publication info and date accessed.


For a web page, it's open square bracket, url, space, page title, close square bracket, then owner of website, then date you accessed:


<ref>'[http://www.bloggsco.com About Us]', ''Bloggs Co website'', accessed 12 November 2008</ref>


If your source does not have a weblink (i.e. if it is not an online source), then miss out the square brackets and url. Thus:


<ref>Paul Hutcheon, 'Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood', ''Sunday Herald'', 22 January 2006</ref>


If you are referencing a long report, have a care for your reader and give a page number or range of numbers. Thus:


<ref>Joe Bloggs, "[http://www.instituteoflongreports.com/joebloggsreport A Very Long Report], Institute of Long Reports, September 2006, p. 204, accessed 18 March 2010</ref>


Similarly when referencing books, give a page number or range of numbers, e.g. pp. 204-233.

The not-so-quick guide to referencing

If you are a student doing your thesis and are adding bits of your material to Powerbase, you may wish to ensure that even in Powerbase, you follow the accepted academic system of referencing as laid out below in the section, "Reference examples". This will enable you to transfer material with the minimum of changes to references.

What is referencing?

Referencing is when you acknowledge sources of information that you have used to write your article. When you refer to someone else’s work in your article, you are citing that work.


Why should I reference?

There are a number of reasons why you should reference the sources you use:

  • To avoid plagiarism - this is when you use someone's ideas or work without acknowledgment
  • To show the authority on which you base your arguments
  • To enable others to find your sources


When should I reference?

You should include a reference every time you quote, paraphrase (i.e. write someone's information in your own words), summarise or gain ideas from another person's work. You should include a reference no matter what format the work takes (e.g. web page, journal article, email or diagram).


Powerbase's referencing policy

Powerbase's purpose is to expose manipulation of information and therefore we need to be extra careful in what information we use, how we use it and where we get it from. It is extremely important to provide references that are as authoritative as possible. Try to use primary materials where possible – original sources as opposed to secondary reports – and information that is up to date as possible. If the issue is very contentious, try to reference from more than once source.


Powerbase is strictly referenced. This means that every piece or set of information in an article should be accompanied by a reference or weblink to an authoritative source for that information. The link should be provided in two places: as a plain numbered reference link immediately after the sentence or paragraph containing the assertion, such as this link [1], and as a full citation in the References section at the end of the article. If done correctly, placing the source in the main body of the text will automatically see it listed in the references section.

Dealing with unreferenced material

  • If there is a significant point in an article which is not supported by a reference contributors can:
a) do a search to see if there is a reference for the point
b) if not, or at least via an initial search, you can relocate the sentence or paragraph to the talk page pending further efforts to find a supporting reference.

Some basic guidelines

  • In referencing websites, reference links should point directly to the relevant page on the website. It is not enough to give a link to the homepage. The aim is to make it as easy as possible for readers to verify assertions in articles.
  • Consider the authoritativeness of the external website when giving a citation. For example, many Wikipedia articles are themselves poorly referenced, and so Wikipedia is not considered an authoritative source for external references.
  • If you fail to provide adequate and convenient references for your article or contribution, expect it to be heavily edited down by other users or Powerbase editors, relocated to the 'talk' page pending verification, or deleted altogether. It is your job to bring your contributions up to the required referencing standard.


People will only use information from Powerbase if they feel confident that it’s well sourced and can check out the source if needed. So it’s important for authors to reference the source of each piece or set of information. See A Guide to Sourcing for more details.


With this kind of resource, it is not necessarily a strength to make it seem as if you have originated information or analysis yourself, so please be generous to your sources and give them full credit.


Referencing controversial views or information to another source is not a protection against being sued, but the more you back up your argument with well referenced material, the less chance there is of being sued. See Powerbase Libel Policy for more details.

All editors on Powerbase are required to read and understand Powerbase Libel policy.
If you have not already done so - Do It Now!


Please reference with more than just a weblink, as many of the links in older articles are now dead and there is no further information in the article or notes regarding the source. In such cases, especially where the information quoted is controversial, anyone reading the article will simply discount the information as lacking credibility. If we give a complete set of information in the reference, then even if the weblink is dead, people will be able either to google the information in the reference and find a live link, or find a print source.


Reference primary rather than secondary sources

Reference primary rather than secondary sources for facts and quotes. If no primary source is given for a fact or quote, avoid using it. For web sources such as Sourcewatch, GMWatch, Lobbywatch, and Corporate Watch, reference the primary source given by those websites where possible. You can use analysis from those sources, but attribute the analysis to the source.


Old and new style referencing

In Powerbase you will find 2 methods of referencing: An older method of formatting which adds references to External Links and a newer method which automatically adds the reference to a references section at the bottom of the page.


Old style referencing (please do not use in new articles)

The original older format used was by (i) embedding external links in the body text or (ii) by adding references to the "External Links" section, like this:


(i) Embedding external links in the body text


What you put in (in the body text):


Body text blah blah... CropLife International has six regional nodes, including [http://www.croplifeamerica.org/ CropLife America], [http://www.croplifeasia.org/ CropLife Asia] and the [http://www.ecpa.be/website/index.asp European Crop Protection Association] (ECPA). Continue body text...


What you get:


Body text blah blah... CropLife International has six regional nodes, including CropLife America, CropLife Asia and the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA). Continue body text...


(ii) Adding references to an External Links section


What you put in:


'''External Links'''
Paul Hutcheon, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]", ''Sunday Herald'', 22 January 2006.


What you get:


External Links
Paul Hutcheon, "Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood", Sunday Herald, 22 January 2006.


Since Powerbase was first launched, the MediaWiki software has been upgraded. One of the new features allows a slightly modified version of reference style above to be added at the relevant point in the text. In conjunction with the creation of a new section for References before the "External Links" section at the foot of the page, this automatically indexes all the references. Over time we aim to convert old article references over to the new system.


New style referencing (please use in new articles and when updating old ones)

This new method is how referencing should be done in Powerbase.


Step 1


All references must be enclosed within the reference coding: <ref> ... </ref>


Insert your reference into the body text at a point that makes the source of your information clear to the reader. This may be after you quote or paraphrase from the article or web page to be referenced.


Where the source you are referencing is available online, make the title of the article or web page into a weblink. This is done by opening a set of square brackets, then pasting in the url of the article or web page, then leaving a space, then typing the title of the article or web page, then closing square brackets. Then add the rest of the publication information.


Add <ref>Paul Hutcheon, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]", Sunday Herald, 22 January 2006, accessed 12 November 2008</ref> at the appropriate point in the text. The appropriate point is in the body of the text you are writing.


When positioning the reference, consider: "Is it clear what information this reference is a source for?" If it's for a quote, then place it at the end of the quote. If it's for a bulk of text that has been paraphrased from a source, then it would be helpful to make reference to the source and add it there. For example:


Paul Hutcheon, writing in the Sunday Herald <ref>Paul Hutcheon, "[http://www.sundayherald.com/53711 Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood]", Sunday Herald, 22 January 2006, accessed 12 November 2008</ref>, reports that...


When saved it will look like this:


Paul Hutcheon, writing in the Sunday Herald [2], reports that...


The details of the reference will automatically go to the Notes section at the foot of the page.


If you go on to refer to the source again (for example, in the next paragraph) add something along the lines of 'The report continues by stating...' This makes it clear that you are still representing Hutcheon's views, and not necessarily your own.


There are no hard and fast rules for how to do this. It will depend upon your preferred style. But once you've written your piece, give a moment's thought to readers who have no knowledge of where the information has come from and ensure that it is clear.


Step 2


Check the bottom of the page to make sure there is a Reference section.

On a new page or where there is only an "External Links" section, you will need to create a new section for the references to appear.


This is done by adding Notes (enclosed in two sets of == to make the sub-heading). Then add <references/>. The Notes coding goes just above the Categories coding. So the bottom of your page should look like this:


==Notes==


<references/>


[[Category:Category name here]][[Category:Another category name]]


What if I'm adding to a page that has references in the old format?

Add your new material using the new format. If the article is reasonably short, you could convert some or all of the other references to the new format.


If you don't have the time, that's OK. Over time we aim to convert old references to the new system.


Same reference used more than once

The first time a reference appears in the article, you can give it a simple name in the <ref> code:

<ref name="smith">DETAILS OF REF</ref>

Subsequent times that you use the same reference in the article, you can use a shortcut instead of re-typing it:

<ref name="smith" />

You can then use the shortcut as many times as you want. This will then display only one full reference but with the markers as < sup > 1.1< sup > etc. You can see multiple use of the same reference in action in the article Patrick Michaels.

Don't forget the /, or it will blank the rest of the article. Some symbols don't work in the ref name, but you'll find out if you use them.



What information should be included in the reference?

Each article should include a list of quoted references at the bottom, including as much information as possible about the reference as well as a weblink if possible. Please do not just provide a weblink as these change and it is then difficult to find the source unless other information is given.


There are several different referencing systems and it does not matter which you use. Regardless of the system you use, references for books and journals will generally require a selection of the following components:

  • Author(s) / Editor(s)
  • Title of article, research paper, talk, radio or TV programme, web page, etc.
  • Publication in which article, research paper, etc. appears, e.g. book, newspaper, magazine, journal, website
  • Edition
  • Place of publication (though this is becoming optional as the publishing world becomes less localised)
  • Publisher
  • Year of publication
  • Volume number, issue number/month
  • Page(s)
  • URL (weblink)


Electronic and specialist materials will have additional referencing components e.g. the URL and date accessed for websites. Please do not just provide a weblink as a reference as these change and it is difficult to find the source unless other information is given.


Reference examples

In the examples that follow, the non-web examples are in the Harvard referencing style. The web examples are an adaptation of this style that suits the Powerbase wiki software.


You do not have to use Harvard style but whichever style you choose, please be consistent and ensure that all the information needed is included.


Put the titles of magazines, books, journals, and newspapers in italics. Titles of articles, research papers, TV and radio programmes, and talks, go in double inverted commas.


Book: single author

Blaxter, E., (2006), Creating References. Glasgow, University of Strathclyde


Book: 2-3 authors

Blaxter, E. and Wood, M., (2006), Creating References. Glasgow, University of Strathclyde


Book: 4 or more authors

Blaxter, E. et al., (2006), Creating References. Glasgow, University of Strathclyde


Book: no author

Creating References (2006). Glasgow, University of Strathclyde


Book: edited

Blaxter, E. (ed.), (2006), Creating References. Glasgow, University of Strathclyde


Book: article or chapter in edited book

Blaxter, E., (2005), “Subject searching techniques”, in Wood, M. (ed.), Conquering the Information World, London, Hard Work Press, pp. 50-69


Book: e-book

Blaxter, E., (2006), [http://www.netlibrary.com/bookid=26849 Creating References]. Glasgow, University of Strathclyde (accessed 30 October 2006)


Journal, magazine, or newspaper: article with author

Blaxter, E., (2005), “Subject searching techniques”, Journal of Library Skills, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 10-19


Journal, magazine, or newspaper article with author, that also is available on WWW

What you type:

Blaxter, E., (2005), “[http://www.netlibrary.com/bookid=26849 Subject searching techniques”], ''Journal of Library Skills'', Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 10-19 (accessed 30 October 2006)


What you get:

Blaxter, E., (2005), “Subject searching techniques”, Journal of Library Skills, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 10-19 (accessed 30 October 2006)


Journal, magazine, or newspaper: article without author

“Subject searching techniques” (2005), Journal of Library Skills, Vol.30, No.2, pp. 10-19


Document on WWW with author

What you type:


Blaxter, E., (2006), "[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/bib.htm Creating references]", University of Strathclyde website (accessed 30 October 2006)


What you get:


Blaxter, E., (2006), "Creating references", University of Strathclyde website (accessed 30 October 2006)


Document on WWW without author

What you type:


"[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/bib.htm Creating references]" (2006). University of Strathclyde website (accessed 30 October 2006)


What you get:

"Creating references" (2006). University of Strathclyde website (accessed 30 October 2006)


Document on WWW without date

What you type:

Blaxter, E., (undated), "[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/bib.htm Creating references]" (accessed 30 October 2006)


What you get:

Blaxter, E., (undated), "Creating references" (accessed 30 October 2006)


Podcast

What you type:

"[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/podcast/ref.htm Getting it referenced, getting it right]" (2006), podcast radio programme, Glasgow, Andersonian Radio, 30 October (accessed 1 November 2006)


What you get:

"Getting it referenced, getting it right" (2006), podcast radio programme, Glasgow, Andersonian Radio, 30 October (accessed 1 November 2006)


Email discussion lists

What you type:

Blaxter, E., (2006), “[http://www.lib.strath.ac.uk/discuss_archives/2006.html Using the Harvard system]”, Library Skills discussion list, 30 October (accessed 1 November 2006)


What you get:

Blaxter, E., (2006), “Using the Harvard system”, Library Skills discussion list, 30 October (accessed 1 November 2006)


Wire services

Some articles are not attributed to publications (e.g. The Independent, The New York Times) but to wire services (e.g. Reuters, Agence France Presse, BusinessWire, PR NewsWire, etc.). Sometimes an author is also credited, but sometimes not. References are written as follows.


What you type (author given):

Joe Bloggs, (2007), “[http://uk.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUKN1036065820070710 Organic farming yields as good or better - study]”, Reuters, 10 July (accessed 14 March 2008)


What you get:

Joe Bloggs, (2007), “Organic farming yields as good or better - study”, Reuters, 10 July (accessed 14 March 2008)


The spoken word

The Powerbase policy on sourcing from speeches given at public meetings and from telephone conversations is in the Guide to Sourcing.


Please write down and quote the speaker's actual words and keep your notes filed away. Quote the speaker's actual words: do not paraphrase as it is not accurate enough.


Reference the quote as follows:


Speaking at the 2006 BigBio conference, Joe Bloggs said, "Transgenic contamination of organic crops is about as likely as getting pregnant from a toilet seat."<ref>Joe Bloggs, speaking at the BigBio Conference in Chicago, USA, 12-17 April 2006, witnessed by Jane Smith, who was present</ref>


If possible, add a weblink to show that Bloggs spoke at the meeting:


Speaking at the 2006 BigBio conference, Joe Bloggs said, "Transgenic contamination of organic crops is about as likely as getting pregnant from a toilet seat."<ref>Joe Bloggs, speaking at the BigBio Conference in Chicago, USA, 12-17 April 2006, witnessed by Jane Smith, who was present. Bloggs is listed as a speaker at the BigBio Conference on the [http://www.bigbio.org BigBio website] (accessed 13 November 2008)<ref>


"Subscription-only" resources

Some online resources require a subscription (especially trade journals). If so, make this clear in the citation:

"Transcript to VNR Teleconference", (2005), O'Dwyers PR Daily, March 17 (sub req'd.)


However, some subscription-only articles can be found elsewhere on the web. A simple way to check for this is to search Google for the article's title, or a phrase from the article text. If so, provide a link.


What you type:

Jonathan Leake and Dan Box, "[http://www.newstatesman.com/Ideas/200505230004 The nuclear charm offensive]", (2005), ''New Statesman'', May 23. Subscription req'd after first page view. Available without restrictions at the [http://afr.com/articles/2005/05/26/1116950813750.html Australian Financial Review].


What you get:

Jonathan Leake and Dan Box, "The nuclear charm offensive", (2005), New Statesman, May 23. Subscription req'd after first page view. Available without restrictions at the Australian Financial Review.


Adding a country to publication references

Where the name of the publication is not well known or where there are a number of publications in different countries with the same title, consider adding where the publication you are referring to is published. For example, The Independent (UK) distinguishes it from other publications with the same title elsewhere.


Articles not available online

Earlier newspaper and magazine articles or other publications that are not readily available online for general users can still be cited.


Edition details matter

Edition details matter - often a story will be included in one edition of the same day's publication and not in another. Therefore, note the edition in your reference where available.


What you type:

Bloggs, Joe, (2005), “Nuclear fallout 'harmless'”, ''The Biggsville Chronicle'', 1st edition, 20 July (accessed 30 October 2006)


What you get:

Bloggs, Joe, (2005), “Nuclear fallout 'harmless'”, The Biggsville Chronicle, 1st edition, 20 July (accessed 30 October 2006)


Avoid Latin

Please avoid Latin tags in references such as "Op. cit." (work previously cited) and "Ibid." (same as preceding reference), for two reasons. One, we are writing for the general public as well as academics, and these tags can be off-putting. And two, it's very likely that articles will be added to by other authors, and they will add their own references. This could instantly make references such as "Op. cit." and "Ibid." confusing or plain incorrect.


Therefore, please repeat any reference in full each time you cite it. This may seem clumsy at first glance, but it produces the clearest results for the reader in multi-authored articles. And for the author, it's just a matter of copying and pasting, and if necessary changing a page number.


Troubleshooting

There are two things that may happen if you don't quite get the coding right.


  • If you add the opening <ref> tag but don't include the "/" in the </ref> second one, when you preview or save the rest of the text on the page after the ref tag will disappear. Don't panic. Just add the "/" in the second ref tag and all will be restored.


  • If, when creating the new "References" section at the foot of the page, you omit the / from the <references/> command you will get the following error message


"Cite error 5; Invalid <references> tag; no input is allowed, use <references/>"


Again, you just need to go back and add the missing "/" and all will be fixed.


Saving copies of the original article

Often link addresses will change. Sometimes media releases will be removed from a website. Sometimes entire sites will be removed. If a reference is critical to an article and you think it might be removed later, it is worth saving a copy of the original page to your hard drive. For example, you could save it as an Acrobat pdf file complete with the original web address and the date that you saved it. While there are Internet archives, they don't catch everything.


Finding permanent links to news sources

It's important that in your references you provide weblinks to sources that are as permanent as possible. See our guide to finding permanent links to news sources.


References

  1. Kevin Maguire and Ewen MacAskill, Fundraiser's role as envoy under attack, The Guardian, 1 October 2001.
  2. Paul Hutcheon, "Sleaze probe into nuclear lobbying at Holyrood", Sunday Herald, 22 January 2006, accessed 12 November 2008