Hi,

Firstly, if your native language is not English, I apologize for not addressing you in your native language. After consulting with a number of Wikinews community members, we have started the first step in creating a potential Wikimedia Affiliate group. The details can be found at https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/The_Wikinewsie_Group . The purpose of the group is to: # support open license, independent journalistic efforts that provide neutral and verifiable reporting of news stories, # support the education of future journalists in trying to insure they maintain historical journalistic ideals regarding reporting standards, # support efforts to increase journalist freedom to report around the globe, # encourage participation of and facilitate non-professional journalists practicing their craft on Wikinews, and # support the mission statement and vision of the Wikimedia Foundation.

This aims to compliment and support existing efforts, and there is zero intention of imposing one language's policies on another language. The project should assist in increasing original reporting, improving original reporting according to local project standards, better supporting our small community and increasing participation.

Please sign at https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/The_Wikinewsie_Group#Participants by listing your name to indicate you support our group. If you have any questions, please do not hestitate to ask as we will be more than happy to answer them.

Thank you, Laura Hale