[Wikinews-l] Editorials on de.wikinews.org and en.wikinews.org

Fri Jul 8 08:19:24 UTC 2005

I have noticed that editorials are now posted regularly on the German 
Wikinews, at http://de.wikinews.org/ - these are basically regular pages 
signed by a single user. Examples:

http://de.wikinews.org/wiki/Kommentar:_Chinas_Langer_Marsch_ins_All
http://de.wikinews.org/wiki/Kommentar:_Der_Bundeskanzler_bewegt_sich_mit_der_Vertrauensfrage_auf_d%C3%BCnnem_Eis

I do think we should let the German experiment unfold for a bit, but I 
also think people should be aware that it is happening, due to NPOV 
concerns about the issue.

As an alternative to editorials, I have suggested moderated debates, 
whose transcripts would be edited, summarized and published on the wiki:
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews:Debates

I believe this model allows us - by having the topics decided by the 
community - to avoid the specter of the "In defense of white power" type 
editorial, and to present opinions from notable individuals in an NPOV 
manner instead.

Meanwhile, editorials in the user namespace are also being debated again 
on the English edition:
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews:Water_cooler#Wikinews_Editorials

Which solution, if any, do you think might be best?

Best,

Erik