Conflicting Policies/Support Regarding Linking Articles to "Related News" Section

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Hi, all. Longtime lurker, first time posting, as I'm experiencing some conflicting support quality and contradictory definitions of IMDb's policies from various IMDb customer service folks regarding linking "Related News" pieces to an IMDb actor page (I'm said actor, just to avoid wording confusion).

As I understand the policy, based on the most recent statements I can find from official IMDb reps in this community, the "Related News" section -- ideally -- automatically links news stories from IMDb's NewsDesk partners when the article contains the associated actor's name. This understanding was recently corroborated when, just a few weeks ago, I used this help.imdb.com contact form (again, recommended by a community rep) to successfully add a news article to my IMDb actor's page. The article was from a NewsDesk partner, had the appropriate IMDb news link, and featured my full name. The automated system just didn't catch it, so the IMDb customer service person added it manually. No problem.

Now here I am again. The exact same situation; an IMDb NewsDesk article, has an IMDb news links, the article clearly mentions my name ("This film stars so-and-so and so-and-so..."). The article wasn't automatically linked, so I used the contact form and submitted all the necessary info (IMDb link, link to actor's IMDb page, link to full text of article), just as I did before. 

But this IMDb rep refuses to add the article. First, she writes (quoting directly from her email): "We are unable to add this as you are not named directly in the title." This is the first mention I've read of the title before, and the vast majority of articles linked on any actor's page certainly don't mention their names in the title (in fact, none of the ones on my page, linked automatically or manually, have my name in the title). She says, "If you're not listed by name in the article, you can always submit the news article URL to the Links to Other Sites section found under "Edit Page."" This is not what I'm after, and I am listed by name in the article, as I clearly explained and provided.

So, I follow up about this title stuff and tell her that I've literally just been through this process with a different article that meets the same qualifications, which was promptly added. I even resend all the pertinent info/links and quote where in the article I am named (not that it's hard to find). Now she says:

"As we have previously advised [my note: no we haven't] when we receive articles from our NewsDesk partners, we receive either a short version of the article or the full article. When we get the full article we are able to create links to all the names/titles referenced in the article (even when they appear in a section of the text which we don't display).  However, when we get only the short version, we can only create links for names/titles that are mentioned in that short version."

Okay, so this is new info. My name is indeed not in the short version. But neither was my name in the short version of the article that was linked a few weeks ago (it's in the full text, of course), and the previous rep had no problem manually linking that. In fact, my name isn't in the "short version" of about half of the articles linked to my page. 

So is this the policy and my previous rep was just a super helpful leprechaun, or is this rep confused? Either way, I'm sure confused at this point. I know it's a long read, and I really appreciate anyone who made it through -- this type of silly stuff is important for visibility and whatnot, so I'd really value some clarification on this policy.
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Deeveetea

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Posted 5 months ago

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Will, Official Rep

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Hi Deeveetea,

"When we receive articles from our NewsDesk partners, we receive either a short version of the article or the full article. When we get the full article we are able to create links to all the names/titles referenced in the article (even when they appear in a section of the text which we don't display).  However, when we get only the short version, we can only create links for names/titles that are mentioned in that short version."

This is the correct policy. I've taken a look at your past contacts and I can see that we have tagged you in any articles where your name is mentioned in the shorter version. If you have any other examples that qualify then please continue to use the contact form to get them added to your page.

Regards,
Will
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Deeveetea

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Thanks, Will, I appreciate you getting back to me. I sure wish the rep I had spoken to had just said that rather than starting with incorrect policies. 

I'm still unsure how the previous rep added an article manually when my name is not in the "short version" (maybe they had access to the "long version?") and I find the policy pretty darn cumbersome (it seems like a crapshoot whether or not the automated system "finds" your name in the full text of the article). It's super disappointing that folks, especially paying IMDb Pro users, are unable to correct or update what the automated system misses. Just for what it's worth, feedback-wise.    

Is there any way to know whether or not IMDb staff has access to just the short version or the long version? That would help to know going forward, before using the contact form. 
(Edited)
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Michelle, Official Rep

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Hi Deeveetea -

Thanks for your feedback regarding your desire to allow IMDbPro users the ability to directly fix news article hyperlinks. 

Unfortunately, there is no way for you to identify whether we have the short or long version article stored in our system, and our support team can only identify them individually as we look them up internally. 

So while I understand this process may seem tedious, anytime you identify your name referenced in an article and if that article is displayed on IMDbPro, I would encourage you to continue requesting that your name be linked, as we will need to look at each article individually to determine what version we have stored.  
(Edited)
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