I've already said what I can on-wiki to try and encourage people to put
{{support}} votes in for WikiBlue. I feel that we took a risk with David
Shankbone and it paid of handsomely; I think this is another case where we
need to take a risk, but one where I'm - personally - more sure it will pay
off. David was a case where I thought we'd just get a load more pictures, we
did - and some truly outstanding interview work to go with them.
Sandy's work as the Communications Manager for the WMF really meant she
didn't have time to work on any of the wiki projects to a particularly great
extent, but that experience is what makes her someone I really want to see
welcomed into the community and accredited. Perhaps if she listed/linked
press releases she wrote for the WMF as "achievements" then people might
understand better why I hold this opinion.
What I like about Sandy's response to my query about how she'd work on
Wikinews is her enthusiasm to promote the project. With her background and
contacts, we'd effectively have a professional PR person promoting the
project with the mainstream media, journalism schools, and college
newspapers. Part of what I believe Wikinews should be is a proving ground
for aspiring journalists. I'm sure many on the list would like to turn their
experience on-wiki into something they could make a job out of. I believe
Sandy can promote this possible use of the project, and by running an online
seminar or two get us more contributors using the site to hone and practice
their journalistic skills. Wikipedia has had similar successes where
colleges have used the site for term papers with the assignment being to
write on-wiki. I believe we too can use this approach and have journalism
students use Wikinews as a platform to work on and get their assignments
critiqued by those of us with the experience as well as exposure to a wider
community.
Brian McNeil