Archive:Tutorial:Statistics in focus articles

This Statistics Explained tutorial is outdated and has been archived.

From April 2013 on, Statistics Explained is being used as the common working platform to create Statistics in focus articles (SiFs). This tutorial presents the difference between SiFs and statistical articles, gives information on the procedure (which is very similar to the one applicable for statistical articles), on whom to contact for help if necessary, and describes how the print/PDF version is created (in principle by the Dissemination Unit).

SiFs are a subcategory of statistical articles with special features:

• detailed statistical analysis, "once-only" in principle, putting data in wider context;
• mentioning the author(s);
• with more elaborated lay-out, including a journalistic title (main results rather than topical label);
• with high-quality print/PDF output;
• identified by an ISSN and a catalogue number for easier referencing;
• remaining unchanged over time, except for error correction.

A Statistical article, on the other hand, should be continuously updated once new data are available and is not a "once-only" edition. A statistical artilce can also mention the author and can also contain a journalistics title, but it is not mandatory.

SiFs are accessible via the 'Statistics in focus' tab under 'Online publications' and they make up the category Statistics in focus. The latest SiFs are also displayed, with other new and updated articles, on the Statistics Explained Main Page and via feed on the Eurostat home page.

The production of SiFs is coordinated and organised by the SiF coordinator of the Statistics Explained team: Dominique Verdon (backup Lucie Peterkova).

Procedure

The validation procedure to create a Statistics in focus is exactly the same as for a new statistical article, see tutorial on how to validate new statistical articles. There is one additional step, however: the Statistics in focus has to be sent to the Statistics Explained team via ARES.

Timing

One week has to be foreseen between the delivery of the first version by the author and the print-ready PDF version. This week is particularly needed in the case of a press conference, normally in Brussels, at the date of publishing: in that case the PDF file has to be sent on time to Brussels for locally printing the copies to be handed out to journalists.

Creating a PDF/print version

With the help of the tags described below and in the tutorial Creating pdf version, a PDF/print version can be produced. The Statistics Explained team will assure the tagging and prepare for a nice printout. The only input required from the author is list of the most relevant definitions. Whereas definitions are available through hyperlinks in the online version, they need to be copied manually into the print/PDF version.

Insertion of special tags

In order to create the special SiF print/PDF version, tags have to be inserted. This is taken care of by the SiF coordinator, at whatever point in time is considered optimal, but ususally towards the end of the procedure, when the version has become reasonably stable and final.

It has to be noted that a Statistics in focus article is first and foremost a web article and that this is the form accessed by an overwhelming majority of users. The print version is a secondary and much less used format, although still quite useful for specific purposes.

• The following tags are required for SiF articles (=articles in the category 'Statistics in focus') and are disregarded for all other articles:

        <siftheme>Theme</siftheme> defines the theme number of the Statistics in Focus (1 to 9)

        <sifauthor>Author</sifauthor> defines the author(s)

        <siftitle>Title of the sif</siftitle> replaces the title of the article with the title indicated

        <sifnumber>Number</sifnumber> defines the number of the SiF (This tag is added by the dissemination unit)