[Foundation-l] Proposal for the creation of a Wikinews foundation

[Christophe Henner]

Hi,

This is my opinion, I don't think it's a good idea. On a short term,
it would be really usefull, but in fact on the long term I do believe
it wouldn't be a so good idea. There would be confusion like "is
wikinews a Wikinews Foundation project or a Wikimedia Foundation
Project." Moreover, you're proposal looks like, to me, like a
"Wikinews Chapter".

In France, but I think it should be the same in other countries, in
order to have a press card, the main aim of the "Wikinews Foundation"
you have to earn 50% in a journalism job. And earn it in France. So
Wikinews Foundation won't help the french wikinewsie. For
accreditation the French Chapter is helping at it, and actually we are
not that bad in having them.

So, what could handle your foundation a chapter couldn't? In my
opinion, worldwide, really few, and perhaps even "less". Wikinews is,
in fact, a really different project, but I don't think that's a reason
to have a "Wikinews Foundation".

By the way, did you asked and discussed for a "user at wikinews.org"
adress or other global @wikinews.org adresses recently?


On 21/08/07, Brian McNeil <brian.mcneil at wikinewsie.org> wrote:
> To add to Craig's comment on the effectiveness of users having
> @wikinewsie.org email addresses... The guys in New Zealand have said the new
> addresses return a 100% response rate versus a "hope and a prayer" with
> @gmail, I got a 40 minute telephone interview with the UK Labour party's
> longest serving MP, Tony Benn, and we have all this for 5 years.  There is a
> long time for the foundation to work out how it could/should be handling
> this before I'd have to put my hand in my pocket again. Perhaps by that time
> it will be more generally accepted that Wikinews has unique characteristics?
> I don't know how the foundation can serve what the current crop of
> wikinewsies want as output, but an acceptance of the unique nature of the
> project needs to be more widespread.
>
>
> Brian.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: foundation-l-bounces at lists.wikimedia.org
> [mailto:foundation-l-bounces at lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Craig
> Spurrier
> Sent: 21 August 2007 23:37
> To: foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
> Cc: wikinews-l at lists.wikimedia.org; scoop at wikinewsie.org
> Subject: [Foundation-l] Proposal for the creation of a Wikinews foundation
>
> Hello,
> I am proposing the creation of a separate organization that would allow
> Wikinews to properly handle press accreditation. The Wikimedia
> foundation has been unable to do this due to concerns over being seen as
> the editor and the legal consequences that go with that. Proper press
> accreditation is however very necessary for Wikinews.
>
> A separate organization with a trademark license would be able to
> properly handle press accreditation and have very minimal assets at
> risk. This organization would not handle anything beyond accreditation
> and tools to provide support for accreditation. I am in no way proposing
> splitting Wikinews from the foundation or anything like that. We are
> overall very happy with the foundation, but we have a need that the
> foundation is unable to provide for.
>
> The problem:
> The English language Wikinews has an accreditation policy [1]. This
> allows us to receive press credentials at events and also assists us in
> getting recognition as media for interviews and the like. The press pass
> usually allows free access to an event or, priority access to normally
> off-limits areas.
>
> At the present we have a rather awkward arrangement for accrediting
> users. Users who have gone through our accreditation process are
> considered community accredited. The lack of any sort of organization
> behind creates a problem when the events require a letter from the
> organization before issuing the press pass (the G8 being the most
> recent), and we have been unable to get the board/foundation to do this
> or officially approve the accreditation program. The problem with this
> is in order to obtain press badges and other press benefits a user must
> either confuse the person (risking the request being denied) with an
> explanation of how they are not really representing Wikinews but rather
> the Wikinews Community or they must mislead the person into thinking
> they really do represent Wikinews.
>
> There are several other resources the foundation has been unable to
> provide that are very helpful to us such as official e-mail addresses.
> Brian McNeil has the wikinewsie.org domain and has offered e-mail
> addresses with it. The response rate with these addresses has greatly
> increased. Once again there are legitimate concerns that prevent the
> foundation from being able to do this, but a separate foundation would
> be able to.
>
> -Craig Spurrier
> [[n:Craig Spurrier]]
>
> 1. http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews:Accreditation_policy
>
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-- 
schiste