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