ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 10, 2003 - One of the world's best-known newspapers is now available electronically in full page image from its first issue through 1990. The new Christian Science Monitor archive provides access to Pulitzer-winning coverage of world events in ProQuest Historical Newspapers. ProQuest Historical Newspapers is created and distributed by ProQuest Information and Learning, a unit of ProQuest Company (NYSE: PQE).

"We're delighted with this project,"said Steve Gray, managing publisher of The Monitor. "It will place the rich historical value of The Monitor online for researchers around the world. And it will enable them to see not just the text of an article, but also the context - how the story was played, what else was happening that day, and even what was on sale in the stores at the time."

The full run of The Monitor from 1908 to 1990 in ProQuest Historical Newspapers offers access to this respected newspaper's unique perspective. The database includes each page from every issue in PDF files. More than 800,000 pages of articles comprise the newly digitized archive and ProQuest will add a year of coverage every year.

The Christian Science Monitor's extensive network of bureaus worldwide provides first-hand perspective and insight into often-overlooked stories, as well as major breaking news. Although published by the First Church of Christ, Scientist, The Monitor provides secular coverage of global events. The Monitor has won seven Pulitzer prizes and hundreds of other awards for journalistic excellence.

Launched in 1908, The Christian Science Monitor quickly became known for unbiased, fair, and constructive reporting. Founder Mary Baker Eddy (1820-1910) was an influential American author, teacher, and religious leader. She was 87 when she launched The Christian Science Monitor in response to rampant yellow journalism in the tabloid press of the day. In the newspaper's first editorial, she wrote that it was intended to "injure no man, but to bless all mankind."

The Monitor is the latest famous masthead to be added to the ProQuest Historical Newspapers program. It joins The New York Times (1851-1999), The Wall Street Journal (1889-1985), and The Washington Post (1877-1987) in the exclusive database for educational institutions and libraries around the world.

The ProQuest Historical Newspapers project was initiated in January 2001 as part of the company's ongoing Digital Vault Initiative^TM. The collection offers ready access to the full content of each newspaper starting from its very first issue. Other titles in the ProQuest Historical Newspapers collection will soon include The Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times.

Information Today columnist Peter Jasco hails ProQuest for launching "the most important newspaper archive" (February 2003). This unparalleled resource gives users the tools to study specific historic events, compare coverage in different newspapers, or follow trends across more than a century of change.

Every backfile issue of The Christian Science Monitor has been digitized from cover to cover, including news stories, editorials, photos, graphics, and advertisements. Searchers can use basic keyword, advanced, guided, and relevancy search techniques to locate information. Or they can browse through issues page by page, as one would browse a printed edition.

Search results lists provide bibliographic information, including date, issue, article headline, page number, and byline (where given). Users may choose to display either the full image of any page in any issue or just the individual article they need. Indexing and abstracts of The Christian Science Monitor dating from 1988 forward are also available electronically from ProQuest. Both the archive and the current file are accessed by subscribers using the ProQuest®  Web-based online information service.

Free trials are available. Libraries may receive more information by contacting their account representative at 1-800-521-0600, ext 3183 or 3452 (outside the U.S., call +44-1-223-215-512), or pqsales@il.proquest.com. Editors may call 1-800-521-0600, ext 6489, or email pr@il.proquest.com.

 

About The Christian Science Monitor

The Christian Science Monitor is recognized for its in-depth, comprehensive and unbiased coverage of events and issues worldwide. During its 95-year history, The Monitor journalism has earned seven Pulitzer Prizes and hundreds of other awards. With 18 bureaus worldwide, The Mo nitor covers major news events as well as overlooked stories from every corner of the globe.

The Monitor's website, csmonitor.com, was named "Best Overall U.S. Newspaper Online Service" in its circulation bracket by Editor and Publisher magazine in 2000 and again in 2001. Drawing more than 2.6 million unique visitors a month, it features the complete contents of the print edition, full electronic archives dating back to 1980, and original material written for the site.

About ProQuest
ProQuest creates specialized information resources and technologies that propel successful research, discovery, and lifelong learning. A global leader in serving libraries of all types, ProQuest offers the expertise of such respected brands as Chadwyck-Healey™, UMI®, SIRS®, and eLibrary®. With Serials Solutions®, Ulrich's™, RefWorks®, COS™, Dialog® and now Bowker® part of the ProQuest brand family, the company supports the breadth of the information community with innovative discovery solutions that power the business of books and the best in research experience.

More than a content provider or aggregator, ProQuest is an information partner, creating indispensable research solutions that connect people and information. Through innovative, user-centered discovery technology, ProQuest offers billions of pages of global content that includes historical newspapers, dissertations, and uniquely relevant resources for researchers of any age and sophistication—including content not likely to be digitized by others. Inspired by its customers and their end users, ProQuest is working toward a future that blends information accessibility with community to further enhance learning and encourage lifelong enrichment.

For more information, visit www.proquest.com or the ProQuest parent company website, www.cig.com.