There is an ongoing discussion on English Wikinews about ID cards for
community accredited reporters (
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/WN:WARIC). Basic
summary of the idea put forward by skenmy is to have more professional ID
cards than the home-laminated ones currently issued.
It struck me that with Wikinews being such a small community it would be
quite a bit of money to spend on the professional card printer. Initially
this prompted me to consider some sort of 'accredited photographer ID' for
Commoners. Bearing this in mind in relation to projects like 'Wikipedia
loves art' brings me here, along with another minor point that might justify
the printer expense.
Would WMUK'ers see a use for a community test for distribution of cards to
established project photographers? A clear code of conduct alongside this
might help open doors at museums, exhibitions, and events and help WP and
WN.
A second use for an ID printer would possibly be WMUK membership cards, or
even for other chapters. I would guess the German chapter is big enough to
have their own printer and run their own cards. This in itself might suit
the Wikinews goal as cards could be issued more locally.
Lastly, a Wikinews technicality I think this overcomes. The WMF cannot take
any position on the Wikinews accreditiation process without potentially
exposing themselves to editorial liability. Putting this in chapter hands
and at arm's length would help, for any wiki community process of issuing ID
cards.
What are people's thoughts on expanding the scope of skenmy's proposal as
outlined above?
Brian McNeil