Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
2009/12/2 Thomas Dalton : > 2009/12/2 Michael Peel : >> It's "out" - as in no longer draft. Andrew will be sending it out by >> email this evening, and it will be going on the WMUK blog and twitter >> feed at the same time. > > Now would be better... The Google story is doing the rounds now, it > might be finished by tomorrow. It's on the BBC News channel as I type. ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
2009/12/2 Charles Matthews : > Thomas Dalton wrote: >> The BBC is running an article about Google's latest move in this story: >> >> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8389896.stm >> >> If we get this release sent out soon then we might be able to get that >> article updated to mention us. >> > So someone do it. I don't understand about the links: if it is emailed > out links must be OK. HTML emails are the spawn of Satan. ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
2009/12/2 Michael Peel : > It's "out" - as in no longer draft. Andrew will be sending it out by > email this evening, and it will be going on the WMUK blog and twitter > feed at the same time. Now would be better... The Google story is doing the rounds now, it might be finished by tomorrow. ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
It's "out" - as in no longer draft. Andrew will be sending it out by email this evening, and it will be going on the WMUK blog and twitter feed at the same time. Please feel free to mention it to all your favourite journalists... ;-) http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Press_releases/Free_online_news Mike On 2 Dec 2009, at 15:29, Thomas Dalton wrote: > The BBC is running an article about Google's latest move in this > story: > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8389896.stm > > If we get this release sent out soon then we might be able to get that > article updated to mention us. > > ___ > Wikimedia UK mailing list > wikimediau...@wikimedia.org > http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l > WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
Thomas Dalton wrote: > The BBC is running an article about Google's latest move in this story: > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8389896.stm > > If we get this release sent out soon then we might be able to get that > article updated to mention us. > So someone do it. I don't understand about the links: if it is emailed out links must be OK. Charles ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
The BBC is running an article about Google's latest move in this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8389896.stm If we get this release sent out soon then we might be able to get that article updated to mention us. ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
2009/12/2 Brian McNeil : > I disagree about taking out links - most press releases are online now > and can (i.e. most do) include inline links. The online version can, but the one that is sent out to the press needs to be plain text. I expect this release will be posted to our blog as well, that version can include links (but it isn't in wikitext, so wikitext links aren't useful). ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
Brian McNeil wrote: > Mike, I edited one of the quotes; it should, under no circumstances, go > out until you okay that. > I have slain some verbiage and re-ordered. You can always revert me. Charles ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
On Wed, 2009-12-02 at 01:31 +, Thomas Dalton wrote: > 2009/12/2 Michael Peel : > > > > On 30 Nov 2009, at 18:17, Thomas Dalton wrote: > > > >> 2009/11/30 Michael Peel : > >>> Does someone want to start drafting a press release that can be sent > >>> out, then? > >> > >> Ok, here's a first draft: > >> > >> http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Press_releases/Free_online_news > > > > Steve Virgin's just rewritten this - any comments on the latest > > version? The current plan is to send it out tomorrow morning. > > I like most of that rewrite - talking about how social media is > already playing a big role in telling the news is a really good idea. > I've made a few changes, though: I've changed it back to being a > statement (rather than a kind of op-ed) since that how I've seen other > organisations do these kind of press releases. I've been told that > press releases should be ready to just be put straight into a > newspaper (although that isn't likely to happen with this one - it > will get incorporated into a larger story, but the style should be the > same) and no-one would publish an article about what we think, they > would publish one about us saying what we think. I've also rearranged > the first paragraph so it isn't such a run-on sentence (I've been > trying to cut back on my use of commas!). Steve, what do you think? I > have essentially no experience of writing press releases, so I may > have it all wrong! As you probably saw (I think you're the other person I was edit conflicting with) you need to zap "that" and "the" where not absolutely essential. Not just for PR, but for all news style; give an impression you want to say a huge amount more, but are squeezing the message as much as possible to impart information quickly. Mike, I edited one of the quotes; it should, under no circumstances, go out until you okay that. I disagree about taking out links - most press releases are online now and can (i.e. most do) include inline links. I would have preferred not to touch this, but - for once - I think 4+ years Wikinews experience is useful. ;-) -- Brian McNeil |http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Brian_McNeil Content of this message in no way represents the opinions or official position of the Wikimedia Foundation or any of its projects. * Problems replying? Forward bounces to bria...@skynet.be to raise with Godaddy Hosting. signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
2009/12/2 Michael Peel : > > On 30 Nov 2009, at 18:17, Thomas Dalton wrote: > >> 2009/11/30 Michael Peel : >>> Does someone want to start drafting a press release that can be sent >>> out, then? >> >> Ok, here's a first draft: >> >> http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Press_releases/Free_online_news > > Steve Virgin's just rewritten this - any comments on the latest > version? The current plan is to send it out tomorrow morning. I like most of that rewrite - talking about how social media is already playing a big role in telling the news is a really good idea. I've made a few changes, though: I've changed it back to being a statement (rather than a kind of op-ed) since that how I've seen other organisations do these kind of press releases. I've been told that press releases should be ready to just be put straight into a newspaper (although that isn't likely to happen with this one - it will get incorporated into a larger story, but the style should be the same) and no-one would publish an article about what we think, they would publish one about us saying what we think. I've also rearranged the first paragraph so it isn't such a run-on sentence (I've been trying to cut back on my use of commas!). Steve, what do you think? I have essentially no experience of writing press releases, so I may have it all wrong! ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
On Wed, 2009-12-02 at 00:12 +, Michael Peel wrote: > On 30 Nov 2009, at 18:17, Thomas Dalton wrote: > > > 2009/11/30 Michael Peel : > >> Does someone want to start drafting a press release that can be sent > >> out, then? > > > > Ok, here's a first draft: > > > > http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Press_releases/Free_online_news > > Steve Virgin's just rewritten this - any comments on the latest > version? The current plan is to send it out tomorrow morning. I like this new version. Needs a few more eyeballs over it to check for grammar and so. -- Brian McNeil |http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Brian_McNeil Content of this message in no way represents the opinions or official position of the Wikimedia Foundation or any of its projects. * Problems replying? Forward bounces to bria...@skynet.be to raise with Godaddy Hosting. signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
On 30 Nov 2009, at 18:17, Thomas Dalton wrote: > 2009/11/30 Michael Peel : >> Does someone want to start drafting a press release that can be sent >> out, then? > > Ok, here's a first draft: > > http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Press_releases/Free_online_news Steve Virgin's just rewritten this - any comments on the latest version? The current plan is to send it out tomorrow morning. Thanks, Mike ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
2009/11/30 Charles Matthews : > In other words (and I believe this to be entirely true) if you want to > "get the word out" through the media, you have to play the game their > way. Writing a competent press release is just a way of showing you know > what they want, and they certainly know what you want in terms of > getting into the papers. (WP is immensely fortunate that it has grown by > word-of-mouth, not hype.) But for this kind of thing you go along with > the game: don't be lengthy, and don't be boring, and if they want > corporate identity stuff you rely on them to ask. It's just about > getting them to contact you. Yep, yep, yep. As I keep saying: these days I don't get upset when they get something wrong, I'm deliriously happy when they get anything right. Message: Wikinews exists, you can write for it. (subtext: small project, still room to get in on the ground floor. Citizen journalism. Neutrality and high standards, not polemic. Etc., etc.) [I've never managed to contribute too much to Wikinews - my experience of journalism is largely the polemical kind. I did get a photo of a terrorist suspect's house in there, 'cos it was just at the end of my street ...] - d. ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
David Gerard wrote: > 2009/11/30 Charles Matthews : > >> Thomas Dalton wrote: >> > > >>> I understood what you were suggesting, I'm just wondering why you >>> think that is better. You sounded like you were quoting some standard >>> rule about press releases and I know very little on the subject. >>> > > >> I've done press releases before, and got some coverage. I don't know of >> a rulebook: I picked up a few things from someone who had done them >> himself. I don't regard them as hard to do, if you do have a "story". >> There's a kind of template, and if you can fit your message into it, >> that's the easy part. Then you have to know where to send them (how is >> easier, now fax machines have gone out). >> > > > Yeah. Remember that anything you say will be grossly distorted and > written to fit into a preconceived story which may have no relation > whatsoever to reality, and if anything that's actually accurate makes > it into the article then it's a bloody miracle. And all this happens > with the best of intentions and no malice whatsoever. > Remember that Gordon Brown taught Tony Blair how to do a press release. And how much thanks he got. In other words (and I believe this to be entirely true) if you want to "get the word out" through the media, you have to play the game their way. Writing a competent press release is just a way of showing you know what they want, and they certainly know what you want in terms of getting into the papers. (WP is immensely fortunate that it has grown by word-of-mouth, not hype.) But for this kind of thing you go along with the game: don't be lengthy, and don't be boring, and if they want corporate identity stuff you rely on them to ask. It's just about getting them to contact you. Charles ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
2009/11/30 Charles Matthews : > Thomas Dalton wrote: >> I understood what you were suggesting, I'm just wondering why you >> think that is better. You sounded like you were quoting some standard >> rule about press releases and I know very little on the subject. > I've done press releases before, and got some coverage. I don't know of > a rulebook: I picked up a few things from someone who had done them > himself. I don't regard them as hard to do, if you do have a "story". > There's a kind of template, and if you can fit your message into it, > that's the easy part. Then you have to know where to send them (how is > easier, now fax machines have gone out). Yeah. Remember that anything you say will be grossly distorted and written to fit into a preconceived story which may have no relation whatsoever to reality, and if anything that's actually accurate makes it into the article then it's a bloody miracle. And all this happens with the best of intentions and no malice whatsoever. - d. ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
Thomas Dalton wrote: > I understood what you were suggesting, I'm just wondering why you > think that is better. You sounded like you were quoting some standard > rule about press releases and I know very little on the subject. > > I've done press releases before, and got some coverage. I don't know of a rulebook: I picked up a few things from someone who had done them himself. I don't regard them as hard to do, if you do have a "story". There's a kind of template, and if you can fit your message into it, that's the easy part. Then you have to know where to send them (how is easier, now fax machines have gone out). Charles ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
2009/11/30 Charles Matthews : > Thomas Dalton wrote: >> But my draft is only 2 paragraphs... >> >> > OK, my version is now on > http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Press_releases/Free_online_news . Just > wanted to illustrate what I meant about style. I understood what you were suggesting, I'm just wondering why you think that is better. You sounded like you were quoting some standard rule about press releases and I know very little on the subject. ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
Thomas Dalton wrote: > But my draft is only 2 paragraphs... > > OK, my version is now on http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Press_releases/Free_online_news . Just wanted to illustrate what I meant about style. Charles ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
2009/11/30 Brian McNeil : > On Mon, 2009-11-30 at 20:16 +, Thomas Dalton wrote: >> 2009/11/30 Charles Matthews : >> > If you can put the message in three paragraphs each of two sentences, >> > then you have a press release. >> >> Can you explain why it should be 3 paragraphs? > > Because MSM don't read further than that? The rest is assumed to be "We > are X", "We're promoting Y", "We have association Z with Y" stuff. But my draft is only 2 paragraphs... ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
On Mon, 2009-11-30 at 20:16 +, Thomas Dalton wrote: > 2009/11/30 Charles Matthews : > > If you can put the message in three paragraphs each of two sentences, > > then you have a press release. > > Can you explain why it should be 3 paragraphs? Because MSM don't read further than that? The rest is assumed to be "We are X", "We're promoting Y", "We have association Z with Y" stuff. -- Brian McNeil http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Brian_McNeil Content of this message in no way represents the opinions or official position of the Wikimedia Foundation or any of its projects. signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
2009/11/30 Charles Matthews : > If you can put the message in three paragraphs each of two sentences, > then you have a press release. Can you explain why it should be 3 paragraphs? ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
I wrote: > If you can put the message in three paragraphs each of two sentences,then you > have a press release. > Sort of like this: 1 December 2009, UK -Michael Peel, Chairman of Wikimedia UK, today responded to recent discussions about free online news: "Wikimedia UK is very concerned about the recent announcements by online news suppliers that they intend to charge people to access their websites." "Companies need to make money, but making it more difficult for people to read news is not the way to do it. There is an alternative news website that will always be completely free for anyone to use for any purpose, Wikinews at http://www.wikinews.org."; "Wikinews is a sister project to the Wikipedia encyclopedia site, where news articles are written collaboratively by anyone who wants to help out, or to initiate articles about any news story. Wikipedia has shown that volunteers can produce quality work, and Wikinews has the potential to fill the gap if commercial news sites disappear behind paywalls." Charles ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
Thomas Dalton wrote: > 2009/11/30 Michael Peel : > >> Does someone want to start drafting a press release that can be sent >> out, then? >> > > Ok, here's a first draft: > > http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Press_releases/Free_online_news > > I've done it as a statement from you and have tried to keep it short > and sweet. I think that is the best approach. I've put it on the wiki > since it could really do with someone editing it to make it read > better - I expect it could be made shorter still if it wasn't so > clumsily worded! > > If you can put the message in three paragraphs each of two sentences, then you have a press release. Charles ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
2009/11/30 Michael Peel : > Does someone want to start drafting a press release that can be sent > out, then? Ok, here's a first draft: http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Press_releases/Free_online_news I've done it as a statement from you and have tried to keep it short and sweet. I think that is the best approach. I've put it on the wiki since it could really do with someone editing it to make it read better - I expect it could be made shorter still if it wasn't so clumsily worded! ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
2009/11/30 Brian McNeil :
> On Mon, 2009-11-30 at 16:31 +, Michael Peel wrote:
>> Does someone want to start drafting a press release that can be sent
>> out, then?
>
> [CC'd wikinews-l, people there please see WMUK mailing list for prior
> discussion - papers behind paywalls is the topic with Mr Murdoch one of
> those most desperate to do this.]
>
>
> Uhm Points I'd cover/emphasise.
>
> * Slight element of conflict Wikipedia/Wikinews where people seek to do
> extensive WP coverage of recent events (turning recently-deceased's
> BIO into hagiography).
> * [[WN:NPOV]] still applies.
> * Require credible sources, or well-documented Original Research.
> * WN a project in the shadow of WP for the time being.
>
> * Opportunity for aspiring journos to learn wiki tech.
> * Operates as a "wannabe" wire service and has unashamedly copied from
> BBC News website (eg {{haveyoursay}}).
I don't think any of those points should go in the press release... We
just want to tell people that Wikinews exists and give some very basic
information about what it is. That it is under a free license is the
key detail.
___
Wikimedia UK mailing list
wikimediau...@wikimedia.org
http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l
WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
On Mon, 2009-11-30 at 16:31 +, Michael Peel wrote:
> Does someone want to start drafting a press release that can be sent
> out, then?
[CC'd wikinews-l, people there please see WMUK mailing list for prior
discussion - papers behind paywalls is the topic with Mr Murdoch one of
those most desperate to do this.]
Uhm Points I'd cover/emphasise.
* Slight element of conflict Wikipedia/Wikinews where people seek to do
extensive WP coverage of recent events (turning recently-deceased's
BIO into hagiography).
* [[WN:NPOV]] still applies.
* Require credible sources, or well-documented Original Research.
* WN a project in the shadow of WP for the time being.
* Opportunity for aspiring journos to learn wiki tech.
* Operates as a "wannabe" wire service and has unashamedly copied from
BBC News website (eg {{haveyoursay}}).
If a release does go out, I promise to take the "be nice" pills for a
couple of extra weeks. ;-)
--
Brian McNeil
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Brian_McNeil
Content of this message in no way represents the opinions or official
position of the Wikimedia Foundation or any of its projects.
signature.asc
Description: This is a digitally signed message part
___
Wikimedia UK mailing list
wikimediau...@wikimedia.org
http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l
WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
Does someone want to start drafting a press release that can be sent out, then? Mike On 30 Nov 2009, at 16:06, Brian McNeil wrote: > On Mon, 2009-11-30 at 15:41 +, George D. Watson wrote: >> Thomas Dalton wrote: >>> 2009/11/30 Brian McNeil : > > The thought's good, but right now enWN is currently only pushing out about 5 articles a day. Recruitment campaign might be better. >>> >>> I was thinking of a statement that included a suggestion that people >>> contribute to it. Getting contributors and getting readers are very >>> closely related problems - contributors usually start out as readers >>> (at least, they do on Wikipedia). > > >> Yes, we need publicity, and this is a good chance to get it. If we >> release something, it should highlight the free license and the wiki >> format, as well as pushing the free to access thing. More activity >> will be great, whether that activity results in a greater number of >> editors, or in readers. If a reader recommends it to their friends, >> their friends may become editors, even if the original reader >> doesn't. >> We should probably mention the link to Wikipedia, which more people >> will be familiar with, but stress that they are separate projects and >> focus on Wikinews alone. > > Anything that can encourage more contributors and readers is good. > Really a need to move beyond "Wikinews: Popular in Cuba" (according to > Alexa). > > There are Twitter, Facebook, Identi.ca, and RSS feeds of published > content available. [1] > > > [1] http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews:Social_networking > > > > -- > Brian McNeil > http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Brian_McNeil > Content of this message in no way represents the opinions or official > position of the Wikimedia Foundation or any of its projects. > ___ > Wikimedia UK mailing list > wikimediau...@wikimedia.org > http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l > WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
On Mon, 2009-11-30 at 15:41 +, George D. Watson wrote: > Thomas Dalton wrote: > > 2009/11/30 Brian McNeil : > > > The thought's good, but right now enWN is currently only pushing out > > > about 5 articles a day. > > > > > > Recruitment campaign might be better. > > > > > > > I was thinking of a statement that included a suggestion that people > > contribute to it. Getting contributors and getting readers are very > > closely related problems - contributors usually start out as readers > > (at least, they do on Wikipedia). > Yes, we need publicity, and this is a good chance to get it. If we > release something, it should highlight the free license and the wiki > format, as well as pushing the free to access thing. More activity > will be great, whether that activity results in a greater number of > editors, or in readers. If a reader recommends it to their friends, > their friends may become editors, even if the original reader doesn't. > We should probably mention the link to Wikipedia, which more people > will be familiar with, but stress that they are separate projects and > focus on Wikinews alone. Anything that can encourage more contributors and readers is good. Really a need to move beyond "Wikinews: Popular in Cuba" (according to Alexa). There are Twitter, Facebook, Identi.ca, and RSS feeds of published content available. [1] [1] http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews:Social_networking -- Brian McNeil http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Brian_McNeil Content of this message in no way represents the opinions or official position of the Wikimedia Foundation or any of its projects. signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
Thomas Dalton wrote: 2009/11/30 Brian McNeil : On Mon, 2009-11-30 at 11:01 +, Thomas Dalton wrote: There is a lot in the news at the moment about newspapers, etc. charging people for accessing news on their websites. I wonder if Wikimedia UK should issue a press release recommending Wikinews as an alternative. The project could do with some publicity and this might be a good time to get it some since the subject of news websites is being discussed. It probably won't be in the news for long, though, so we would have to move quickly (the release probably needs to go out in the next 24 hours at the longest). The thought's good, but right now enWN is currently only pushing out about 5 articles a day. Recruitment campaign might be better. I was thinking of a statement that included a suggestion that people contribute to it. Getting contributors and getting readers are very closely related problems - contributors usually start out as readers (at least, they do on Wikipedia). ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org Yes, we need publicity, and this is a good chance to get it. If we release something, it should highlight the free license and the wiki format, as well as pushing the free to access thing. More activity will be great, whether that activity results in a greater number of editors, or in readers. If a reader recommends it to their friends, their friends may become editors, even if the original reader doesn't. We should probably mention the link to Wikipedia, which more people will be familiar with, but stress that they are separate projects and focus on Wikinews alone. -- George D. Watson ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
Thomas Dalton wrote: > 2009/11/30 Brian McNeil : > >> On Mon, 2009-11-30 at 11:01 +, Thomas Dalton wrote: >> >>> There is a lot in the news at the moment about newspapers, etc. >>> charging people for accessing news on their websites. I wonder if >>> Wikimedia UK should issue a press release recommending Wikinews as an >>> alternative. The project could do with some publicity and this might >>> be a good time to get it some since the subject of news websites is >>> being discussed. It probably won't be in the news for long, though, so >>> we would have to move quickly (the release probably needs to go out in >>> the next 24 hours at the longest). >>> >> The thought's good, but right now enWN is currently only pushing out >> about 5 articles a day. >> >> Recruitment campaign might be better. >> > > I was thinking of a statement that included a suggestion that people > contribute to it. Getting contributors and getting readers are very > closely related problems - contributors usually start out as readers > (at least, they do on Wikipedia). > > Thought: while it's topical. According to p. 43 of today's Independent, Jason Cowley who is the new editor of the New Statesman is giving the Staggers a facelift. This cluster of issues (free content activism, citizen journalism, who controls news media) ought to be of interest to them, but last time I bought it the magazine had a rather fogeyish and literary take on culture. Would someone like to contact the editor to see if he'd like an opinion piece on it all? As for press releases: they're usually in the form of a story that is half-written, to attract the attention of hacks who can assess how hard it would be to make a complete story out of the bits. Charles ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
2009/11/30 Brian McNeil : > On Mon, 2009-11-30 at 11:01 +, Thomas Dalton wrote: >> There is a lot in the news at the moment about newspapers, etc. >> charging people for accessing news on their websites. I wonder if >> Wikimedia UK should issue a press release recommending Wikinews as an >> alternative. The project could do with some publicity and this might >> be a good time to get it some since the subject of news websites is >> being discussed. It probably won't be in the news for long, though, so >> we would have to move quickly (the release probably needs to go out in >> the next 24 hours at the longest). > > The thought's good, but right now enWN is currently only pushing out > about 5 articles a day. > > Recruitment campaign might be better. I was thinking of a statement that included a suggestion that people contribute to it. Getting contributors and getting readers are very closely related problems - contributors usually start out as readers (at least, they do on Wikipedia). ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
On Mon, 2009-11-30 at 11:01 +, Thomas Dalton wrote: > There is a lot in the news at the moment about newspapers, etc. > charging people for accessing news on their websites. I wonder if > Wikimedia UK should issue a press release recommending Wikinews as an > alternative. The project could do with some publicity and this might > be a good time to get it some since the subject of news websites is > being discussed. It probably won't be in the news for long, though, so > we would have to move quickly (the release probably needs to go out in > the next 24 hours at the longest). The thought's good, but right now enWN is currently only pushing out about 5 articles a day. Recruitment campaign might be better. -- Brian McNeil http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Brian_McNeil Content of this message in no way represents the opinions or official position of the Wikimedia Foundation or any of its projects. signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
[Wikimediauk-l] Paying for news
There is a lot in the news at the moment about newspapers, etc. charging people for accessing news on their websites. I wonder if Wikimedia UK should issue a press release recommending Wikinews as an alternative. The project could do with some publicity and this might be a good time to get it some since the subject of news websites is being discussed. It probably won't be in the news for long, though, so we would have to move quickly (the release probably needs to go out in the next 24 hours at the longest). ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
