User:voorts/The spectrum of coverage

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Significance is in the middle of a spectrum of coverage. That spectrum runs from a

original research
.

This essay proposes using a spectrum approach to determine whether a set of sources establishes notability. The spectrum approach recognizes that sources from the entire spectrum can be used to write articles, but that not all sources on the spectrum will contribute equally to the notability of a subject. Under this approach, at least some sources must contain significant coverage of a topic to establish that topic's notability.

The spectrum of coverage

The

general notability guideline says: "A topic is presumed to be suitable for a stand-alone article or list when it has received significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent
of the subject."

The guideline can be read to define significant coverage as being on a spectrum of coverage: it is "more than a trivial mention, but it does not need to be the main topic of the source material."

trivial mention is usually short, and discusses a topic indirectly or in passing. When something is the main topic of a source, most of the source is about that topic, and it will usually be addressed directly and with a lot of detail.

Image of a double sided arrow representing a spectrum. On top are the titles and below are bullet points. At the far left, "Trivial mention", with the bullet points "Indirect" and "In passing". In the center, "Significant coverage", with the bullet points "Direct" and "In detail". To the far right, "Main topic", with the bullet points "Direct" and "Very detailed".
The spectrum of covearge

The guideline gives two examples that illustrate the spectrum of coverage:

In the first example, IBM is the "main topic of the source material", and in the second, the mention of Three Blind Mice is trivial because it is said in passing.

The spectrum of coverage is useful as a

neutral point of view
.

Placing significance on the spectrum

Significance is in the middle of the spectrum of coverage. The general notability guideline defines "

no original research is needed to extract the content".[a][c]

Directly and in detail

A

significance guideline
for organizational and corporate notability further clarifies the meaning of "directly and in detail":

The depth of coverage of the subject by the source must be considered. Trivial or incidental coverage of a subject is not sufficient to establish notability. Deep or significant coverage provides an overview, description, commentary, survey, study, discussion, analysis, or evaluation of the product, company, or organization. Such coverage provides an organization with a level of attention that extends well beyond brief mentions and routine announcements, and makes it possible to write more than a very brief, incomplete stub about the organization.

Significant coverage is not just slightly more than a trivial mention. Coverage that is direct and in detail must cover an aspect of a topic through a description, discussion, or analysis that has enough depth to allow editors to write an article from a neutral point of view with enough

context
for a reader to understand the topic.

Significance cannot be based on a

run-of-the-mill
news story might discuss an insignificant local event, such as a high school band concert. On the other end of the spectrum, one sentence in a peer-reviewed scientific journal may be significant enough to establish that an idea or theory is notable.

No original research

Coverage in a source is not significant if

a heap of 'what if?'s
" to determine if the source covers a topic.

On the spectrum of coverage, a

stringing together
a series of trivial mentions to establish notability.

The spectrum approach to determining notability

The general notability guideline requires that a topic receive significant coverage in reliable sources. It does not require that each source have significant coverage for that source to count towards establishing notability.

sports figure
won a competition at the highest level.

The spectrum approach to determining notability is a framework for determining whether all sources, taken together, provide enough coverage to establish notability. This approach recognizes that sources from the entire spectrum can be used to write articles, but that not all sources on the spectrum will contribute equally to the notability of a subject. Generally, sources that contain only trivial mentions of a topic are not likely to establish notability because an article cannot be written on

one point of view
. In the middle, two short academic journal articles about a topic and two trivial mentions in newspapers might show that a topic is notable.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Emphasis added.
  2. ^ Citing Martin Walker (January 6, 1992). "Tough love child of Kennedy". The Guardian.
  3. ^ Notably, the guideline does not define the word "significant". Merriam-Webster defines "significant" as "of a noticeably or measurably large amount".[1]
  4. every source
    be evaluated "separately and individually" for significant coverage.

References

  1. ^ "Significant". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. December 23, 2023. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
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