Spotlight | Search Page

SpotlightNews® supports three different search types of the Spotlight content library – Publisher Search, Topic Search, and Article Search.

The Publisher search is located in the Explore main tab bar selection under the Publisher tab as well as the Subscriptions main tab bar. The Publisher Search returns a list of all publications that are active on the Spotlight platform and match the search criteria. Search criteria include (partial) name match and location of coverage as well as keywords such as business or sports associated with the publication. By adding one of the identified publications, it is added to the selections presented in MyNews as the first selection. The order of MyNews selections can be changed at any time.

The Topic search is located in the Explore main tab bar selection under the Interests tab as well as the Interests main tab bar. The Topic search returns a list of pre-defined topics partially matching the search text entered as well as broader or more focused topics partially matching the search text. For example, searching for football returns a list including various college football programs, NFL teams, NFL, and NFL draft. Selecting a pre-defined topic displays the most recent articles related to the topic picked based upon a defined article search associated with the topic. If the user likes what he sees it can be added as a user interest presented in MyNews. Again, newly selected interests are presented in MyNews as the first selection. The order of MyNews selections can be changed at any time.

In addition to any pre-defined topics matching the Topic search criteria, a potential new topic of interest matching the entered search text is included in the list. If you select this potential new and custom topic defined by the search text entered, an article search is performed using the search text entered. That search text can be updated to increase the relevancy of identified articles to the user’s interest.

The article search consists of a text search of all article headlines and full text. While searches often include one or two keywords, a much more selective search can be defined using the search functions defined in the table below. All articles in the Spotlight content library are scored based on the search criteria. An identified phrase or word will increase the score if it appears in the article multiple times. If only a small number of articles have a positive score, all articles (i.e., headline, etc) are identified in reverse chronological order. If a large number of articles get a positive score, the top 10% are identified and listed in reverse chronological order. Should the user desire to see articles matching the search criteria on an ongoing basis as part of MyNews, the search can be given a topic name and saved as a user custom interest.

Syntax	Function	Description
search_text search_text	OR	Articles containing either search text string are returned. For example, a search including the word college followed by a blank character and the word football will return articles with either college or football in the article.
search_text \| search_text	OR	Articles containing either search text string are returned. For example, a search including the string college\|football will return articles with either college or football in the article.
search_text + search_text	AND	Only articles containing both search text strings are returned. For example, a search including the string college + football will return articles containing both college and football in the article.
(search_text)	Search Query Precedence	In evaluating the entire search query, any search expression enclosed by parentheses is performed prior to other parts of the search. For example, a search including the string (college ncaa) + (football gridiron) will return articles containing either college or ncaa AND football or gridiron in the article.
"text_phrase"	Exact Phrase	Only articles containing the phrase enclosed in double quotes are returned. For example, a search including the string "college football" will return articles with the phrase college football in the article rather than articles containing the word college or the word football.
-search_text	NOT	Only articles not containing the search text string are returned. For example, a search including (college ncaa) + (football gridiron) –“flag football” will return articles containing either college or ncaa AND football or gridiron but without the phrase flag football in the article (i.e., presumably eliminating articles about men’s or women’s flag football).
text ~n	Fuzzy Keyword Search -- n Letters can be different	Articles containing text or text differing by 1 to n letters are returned. For example, if the search string is creak~2 then articles containing words such as cream, read, ream, great, and bread would be returned.
"text_phrase"~n	Sloppy phrase search	Articles containing the text phrase or a phrase differing by 1 to n words from that text phrase are returned. For example, if the search string is One Gallon of Milk then articles containing phrases such as A Gallon of Milk, One Gallon of Soy Milk, One Gallon of Vanilla Soy Milk, One Gallon of Orange Juice would all be returned.