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

[Craig Spurrier]

Christophe Henner wrote:
> 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".
>   
The proposal is essentially Wikinews Chapter, what we actually call it 
is only a small concern assuming we get usage of the Wikinews trademark.
> 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.
>   
This is mostly a European issue. In the US, Canada, New Zealand (and 
most other countries) anyone who wants to can call themselves a 
journalist and create a press card. The problem is in the absence of any 
sort of government press cards most event organizers and government 
officials (police mostly) base their decisions off of the presence of an 
organization that issued the person with a presscard. One important step 
of this process is that event organizers and government official will 
contact or expect contact from the issuing organization who must be 
willing to verifiy that the person is one of their own.
> 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".
>   
Most of the current accredited reporters are not currently covered by a 
chapter. I would imagine this will always be the case. A Wikinews 
foundation would however be able to act globally, since the vast 
majority of our task would just be to confirm that user is with us.
> By the way, did you asked and discussed for a "user at wikinews.org"
> adress or other global @wikinews.org adresses recently?
>   
It was discussed on our water cooler and an e-mail was sent to the 
foundation(or so I am told) after Brion said that it technically was 
doable. BrianMC would probably be the better person to answer this.
-Craig Spurrier
[[n:Craig Spurrier]]