Methodology

SOURCE/QUOTE LISTING POLICY:
  1. GENERAL RULES:

Although there could be exceptions, our sources include:

  1. Published books
  2. News agencies (i.e. Reuters or the Associated Press)
  3. Government websites (i.e. Department of State, U.S. Embassy)
  4. Relevant blogs
  5. Websites from foreign countries
  6. Senior government officials of our and other countries
  7. World bodies
  8. Interested and knowledgeable persons
  9. General Media
  1. DATING OF QUOTES:
  1. If a source contains important information and only identifies a month but not the specific date, the quote will be listed as taking place on the 15th of that month, and include a note in brackets saying: [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
  2. If the information is identified as happening early or late in a month or similar words (such as “near the beginning” or “end of the month”), but without the specific date, the quote will be listed as taking place on the 5th or the 25th of the month, respectively, and include a note in brackets saying: [The __th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
  3. If the information about that month contains data collected through the entire month, the quote will be listed as taking place on the last day of that month, and include a note in brackets saying: [The __th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
  4. If a quote given on one day alludes to or mentions events which took place on a specific earlier day or days, the quote will be recorded on either date.
  5. If a date is not identified directly in a quote from an online source, the date the article was written will be shown in the “source” column.
  6. If a book contains a dated preface, quotes taken from it will be dated in the same manner as those taken from online sources.
  7. When a quote does not list a specific year, month, or date, the missing information will be added in brackets, when information is attainable and applicable.
  8. If a date is not identified directly in a quote from an online source, but there is a reference to the day of the week in which the quote was made, the date used will be determined from the date the article was written and added in brackets.
  9. From time to time, if a quote gives a range of months (ex. September-October) of an event, the quote will be recorded on the first month given.
  1. EDITOR’S ADDITIONS:
  1. When a person is identified, their job title (or role in mentioned event) will be added in brackets. If noted individuals are mentioned by only their first or last name in quotes, the missing part of their name will be added in brackets.
  2. If additional information may be needed to identify material in a quote, it will be added in brackets. More substantial information can be added at the end of a quote, and identified as an “Editor’s note” in brackets and red bold font.
  3. When a quote contains Spanish, or other language, words or mistranscribed words, the translation/clarification may be added in brackets. If further explanation is needed, an “Editor’s note” can be added at the end of a quote, in brackets and bold red font.
  1. LAYOUT
  1. Quotes taken from online sources will identify the name of the article, name of the source, name of the author, and the article date in the “source” column, when that information is available.
  2. In the “source” column, newspapers are referred to by their full name, when appropriate (“The New York Times” not “New York Times”).
  3. The date appears in numerical form (1/5/2000) in the “Date” column, and written out when it appears in the “source” column (January 5, 2000)
  4. Quotes of potential greater interest are highlighted in red.
  1. FORMATTING
  1. 11 point font is used on all quotes, editor’s notes, and added information in brackets. 9 point font is used for content in “Date” and “Source” columns.
  2. Underlining signifies PDF attachments to come. Such attachments, when this information becomes a website, will be added.
  3. Italics signify Spanish words or foreign country organizations.
  4. When an “Editor’s note” is applied, the note will be in brackets and in bold red font.