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