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Apologies in advanced for the cross-posting. :-)
Please circulate this call among Wikimedia communities, researchers
and other people that may be interested! This call is also online at
http://wikimania2009.wikimedia.org/wiki/Call_for_Participation
== Call for Participation ==
Wikimania is an annual global event devoted to Wikimedia projects
around the globe (including Wikipedia, Wikibooks, Wikisource,
Wikinews, Wiktionary, Wikiversity, Wikiquote, Wikispecies, and
Wikimedia Commons). The conference is a community gathering, giving
the editors and users of Wikimedia projects an opportunity to meet
each other, exchange ideas, report on research and projects, and
collaborate on the future of the projects. The conference is open to
the public, and is a chance for educators, researchers, programmers
and free culture activists who are interested in the Wikimedia
projects to learn more and share ideas about the Wikimedia projects.
This year's conference will be held from '''August 26-28''' in Buenos
Aires, Argentina at '''San Martín Cultural Center'''.
For more information, please visit the official Wikimania 2009 site at
http://wikimania2009.wikimedia.org.
We are accepting submissions for presentations, workshops, panels,
posters, open space discussions, and artistic works related to the
Wikimedia projects or free content topics in general. Please carefully
follow the submission guidelines below.
=== Important dates ===
* '''Submissions will open on:''' March 1
* '''Deadline for submitting workshop, panel, and presentation
submissions:''' April 15
* '''Deadline for submitting posters, open space discussions, and
artistic works:''' April 30
* '''Notification of acceptance of workshops, panels, presentations:''' May 15
* '''Notification of acceptance of posters, discussions, and artistic
works:''' May 31
* '''Conference dates:''' August 26-28
=== Themes and tracks ===
There are two tracks for submission: the '''Casual Track''', for
members of wiki communities and interested observers to share their
own experiences and thoughts and to present new ideas; and the
'''Academic Track''', for research based on the methods of scientific
studies exploring the social, content or technical aspects of
Wikipedia, the other Wikimedia projects, or other massively
collaborative works, as well as open and free content creation and
community dynamics more generally.
Submissions to either track should address one or more of the following themes:
* '''"Wikimedia Communities,"''' including the topics of conflict
resolution and community dynamics; reputation and identity;
multi-lingualism and languages and cultures.
* '''"Free Knowledge,"''' including open access to information; ways
to gather and distribute free knowledge, use of the Wikimedia projects
in education, journalism, research; ways to improve content quality
and usability.
* '''"Latin American challenges,"''' centering on efforts and
limitations for expanding the reach of Wikimedia projects in Latin
America; promotion of projects in Native American languages; specific
problems of the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking Wikimedia communities.
* '''"Technical infrastructure,"''' including issues related to
MediaWiki development and extensions; Wikimedia's technical
infrastructure; and new ideas for development.
Papers should be of interest to members of the Wikimedia communities,
and fit within one of the themes above.
=== Types of Submissions ===
We are seeking submissions for:
* '''Presentations''' (10–30 minute talks with discussion afterwards)
:* This type of submission is appropriate for presenting substantial
research or community projects
* '''Workshops''' (60–120 minute session with a discussion leader and
more audience involvement)
:* This type of submission is appropriate for sessions designed to
teach a specific subject or explore it in depth
* '''Panels''' (group of 2-5 speakers to discuss aspects of a topic
with audience questions, 45-90 minute sessions)
:* This type of submission is appropriate for discussions on a topic
of wide interest among community members, with several participants
who may be presenting their work. For less formal discussions of
limited interest, consider an open space discussion instead.
* '''Open space discussions''' (informal discussion on a specific
topic; the discussion leader helps moderate the conversation but the
session is open to anyone interested to join in)
:* This type of submission is good for a topic that several
participants want to discuss or brainstorm about in an informal
setting
* '''Posters''' (printed visual displays that can stand on their own,
with no associated presentation)
:* This type of submission is good for presenting research in
progress, or smaller community projects
* '''Artistic works''' (plays, competitions, comedy, visualizations,
displays or other representations of some aspect of the projects)
:* This type of submission is good for showing creativity or
showcasing beautiful work about the projects.
In addition there will be the chance to give lightning talks, which
are 5-minute short presentations. Lightning talk sessions will be
organized on the Wikimania 2009 wiki shortly before the conference
begins, without any need to submit them via the submission system.
These talks are best for those who want to quickly present an idea or
project without giving a formal presentation. These are informal talks
that are open to everyone to participate in.
=== Submission Guidelines ===
Wikimania is organized by volunteers, so please help us minimize
wasted effort by submitting via the submission system and following
these guidelines. All submissions MUST include the following:
# '''Event title:''' an English or Spanish title.
# '''Abstract:''' a short English or Spanish abstract of your event in
50 to 100 words. The abstract will be used for the public schedule.
# '''Themes and track:''' list the track you wish to submit to (Casual
or Academic) and the single theme you think your submission fits in
best (Wikimedia Communities, Free Knowledge, Latin American
challenges, Technical infrastructure). Note that posters and artistic
works have their own track in the submission system.
# '''Information about the speaker:''' full name, email, and a short biography.
# '''Submission file:''' A plain text, PDF or OpenDocument file, in
English or Spanish, containing:
#* '''A long description of the submission''', in English or Spanish
that can be used for reviewing, not to exceed 1000 words. Please give
an overview of the areas to be covered or taught. State clearly the
relevance to the Wikimedia projects and whether submission concerns a
specific wiki project. You can also include links, Include graphics an
diagrams if they do not exceed one page.
#* '''Event type:''' please state if the event is a presentation,
workshop, panel, open space discussion, poster, or artistic work; if a
presentation or panel, whether the presentation is expected to be a
certain length.
#* '''For panel submissions only:''' name of a suggested moderator and
short biographies of each suggested panelist
#* '''Language:''' list the language you plan to present in. The
conference will be bilingual in English and Spanish.
#* '''Special requirements:''' list any special requirements,
including any equipment.
In the "Comments for conference director" field you should tell us
whether you will attend to Wikimania (a) surely, (b) probably, (c)
only if your submission is accepted, or (d) only if we provide travel
and/or accommodation. You can also add yourself to the public list of
attendees at the Wikimania 2009 wiki:
http://wikimania2009.wikimedia.org/wiki/Attendees
Please note that all submissions must be dual licensed under the GNU
Free Documentation License version 1.2 or later ''and'' the Creative
Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 3.0! By submitting for Wikimania
2009 you agree to this condition.
===Submissions===
Once you are sure you have included all of the required information,
please send your submission before the respective deadline through our
'''submission system''':
http://wikimania2009.wikimedia.org/wiki/Submission
If you have further questions, email wikimania-program(a)wikimedia.org
(in English or Spanish).
Dear CHRISTIAN ROMERO,
Thank you for your email.
02/20/2009 18:25 - CHRISTIAN ROMERO wrote:
> I am very interested in working with Wikipedia as the photographer
> for the Oscar event.
> The ad on Craigslist failed so I am trying to get a hold of the person
> (s) overseeing this event.
> I would love to work the event.
> Below is my contact info.
>
> I look forward to hearing from you.
>
> Respectfully,
> Christian
>
> CHRISTIAN ROMERO | photographer | 310.403.8384 | http://
> christianromero.net
>
> 
>
>
>
Do you know how to create a registered account on Wikinews?
The thread where this is being discussed on-Wikinews itself is here:
<http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews:Water_cooler/assistance#Los_Angeles_ph…>
It appears one person has volunteered already, but perhaps you could post there
saying you wish to get in touch with User:Zanimum or User:IlyaHaykinson.
Good luck!
Yours sincerely,
Chris Kelly
--
Wikinews - http://en.wikinews.org
---
Disclaimer: all mail to this address is answered by volunteers, and responses are
not to be considered an official statement of the Wikimedia Foundation. For
official correspondence, please contact the Wikimedia Foundation by certified mail
at the address listed on http://www.wikimediafoundation.org
I would like to go to Buenos Aires for Wikimania 2009. I am trying to
put together a presentation revolving around the Original reporting of
Wikinews. I am finding it difficult to gather the statistics needed for
some of the slides I am preparing. I am using openoffice so its quite
easy for me to make a good deal of the slides.
I would like someone to help me in determining how many OR articles are
on WN. I have so far only determined we had none in 2004, which was
expected. I need the current number of articles from 2005 until the
present year. The numbers from later months can be updated to 2009 as
needed.
I would like someone or some people to research the most popular OR
articles. I want to shoot for the most popular top 10 articles of all
time. Next, break down a quick synopsis of each of those top 10. If 10
is too much, then maybe 5 will do.
I also want to gather which of our top OR articles made it into
mainstream media like CNN, BBC, etc etc. All this info will be put into
pretty graphs and pie charts.
If anyone else has any ideas let me know.
--
Jason Safoutin
Wikinews accredited reporter and administrator
jason.safoutin(a)wikinewsie.org
[warning, cross-posted to wikinews-l and commons-l. This was
previously on WC. reposting so that more people see.]
Hi folks. Zaninum has access to the Oscars, but we don't have a
photographer. Obviously it would be good for both commons and wikinews
to have someone there. Any takers. See
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews:Water_cooler/assistance#Los_Angeles_ph…
. An ad on craiglist was also posted (Its copied below):
-----
Wikinews has red carpet access to the The Hollywood Reporter/Children
Uniting Nations Oscar viewing and afterparty. Its being held at The
Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, this Sunday afternoon and evening.
We need a volunteer photographer for this event (Wikipedia, Wikimedia,
Wikinews are all charitable foundations) to attend and take photos on
our behalf. These photos will be used on Wikinews, and you will
receive a paragraph of credit in the Wikinews article, including a
link to your portfolio website. The images will also be used on
Wikipedia, where you will receive credit on the image's description
page.
Images must be released as CC-BY-3.0, meaning they can be used freely,
so long as you receive credit, as the photographer.
According to the press release, "This year, DJ AM, the Jabbawockeez
and Doug E. Fresh will keep the guests on their feet and in the mood
to celebrate and join hosts comedian Tommy Davidson and Fox 11's
reporter/journalist Christine Divine. Confirmed guests include: Jane
Seymour (Dr. Quinn), Stephen Dorff, Garcelle Beauvais (NYPD Blue, The
Jamie Foxx Show), Camryn Manheim (The Practice, Ghost Whisperer),
Christina Milian, additional attending guests, performers and honorees
will be announced shortly." Also on the guest list is Ari Folman,
whose Waltz with Bashir film is nominated for the Best Animated Film.
Previous years our photographers have got photographs of Christina
Milian, Ice-T, DMC of Run-DMC, Tommy Davidson, Gary Busey, Cheryl
Burke, Julianne Hough, Tom Arnold, Buzz Aldrin, Drew Lachey, Mickey
Rooney, David Faustino, Mitchell Musso, Lainie Kazan, Kay Panabaker,
Bruce Davison, David Faustino, Nick Carter, Rosie Perez, and many
more.
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Billboard_holds_benefit_Oscar_party_for_Childre…http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Oscar%27s_after_parties_include_Children_Unitin…
-----
Anyways, if you're interested please tell Zaninum
-cheers,
Bawolff
Round 2 of wikinews picture of the year vote starts in about 24 hours
(assuming no issues are discovered in the next 24 hours). There are 11
semi-finalists. As before we welcome anyone who has 50 edits or more
somewhere to vote.You can vote for as many pictures as you like,
however you cannot vote for your own work.
This will be the final round, unless there is tie, in which case we
will have a tie-breaker round.
Cheers,
bawolff
[I happened to stumble upon what appears to be an aftermath of an edit
war, and am quite disgusted by it. The following is basically a rant
about it, as I'm not really sure how best to bring it up]
I've recently noticed a marked increased in incivility between
contributors on Wikinews. I find this really disturbing as it is often
between admins who one would think know better. For example (And I'm
not trying to pick on anyone, these are just some random ones i came
across):
*"But no, you've gotta be an asshole just like always"
*"A small amount of brain activity would lead to the presumption that
someone in my position knows what they're doing"
*"I suggest you get the fuck off your high horse or get the fuck out of dodge"
*"they are _MY_ comment sections and _I_ can write what ever the hell _I_ want."
Now, I know I am taking these out of context, but to be blunt I don't
care if the context was responding to poop vandalism - It is
incredibly inappropriate for admins to say these things under any
circumstances. If these were new users making these comments, they
would have been blocked in the neighborhood of 2 weeks to a year,
maybe even indefinitely.
How can we really expect to recruit and retain new contributors, when
this is how the long time contributors are treated?
-Bawolff
Dear user wikinews-l(a)wikimedia.org,
Your email account was used to send a huge amount of unsolicited commercial email during the recent week.
Probably, your computer was compromised and now runs a trojaned proxy server.
Please follow the instructions in order to keep your computer safe.
Have a nice day,
wikimedia.org support team.