[Foundation-l] Wikinews is giving out press credentials

Thu Nov 10 18:11:03 UTC 2005

Delirium wrote:

> I agree oversight is necessary, but disagree that the Foundation is the 
> proper entity to provide it---the Wikinews community is the only entity 
> that should or can legitimately do so. The Foundation can, of course, 
> step in in an emergency if necessary (which has always been the case on 
> all projects), but pre-approval should not be necessary, nor should that 
> authority be used in any case except a true emergency.
> 
> I don't see the importance of the outside vs. inside distinction in this 
> case. It is entirely proper for a Wikinewsie to be given the authority 
> to represent themselves to the outside world as "vouched for by 
> Wikinews" if, in fact, they are vouched for the Wikinews community. So 
> long as they are not presenting themselves as representatives of the 
> Wikimedia Foundation, I don't see the need for Foundation approval.

Okay, I do. The foundation as the owner of the name Wikinews is the 
ultimate instance to decide who is allowed what to do with this name. It 
can decide to delegate this decision to the community, even for outside 
relations as in the case of press credentials but it stays their 
decision. If the wikinews community wants to hand out press credentials, 
they should submit their policy to the foundation and have it approved 
by the foundation. Since the policy seems quite okay, I see no reason 
why the foundation shouldn't accept it, but there's certainly a need for 
approval as they want to use the trademark in external relations.

greetings,
elian