[Wikinews-l] Re: Contents of Wikinews-l digest
Joel Garcia
ardjasp at gmail.com
Mon Feb 28 22:53:59 UTC 2005
On Sat, 26 Feb 2005 12:39:07 +0000 (UTC),
wikinews-l-request at wikimedia.org <wikinews-l-request at wikimedia.org>
wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. RE: Wikinews language creation rules modified (David Speakman)
> 2. Bulgarian Wikinews launched (Erik Moeller)
> 3. Poll on Chinese Wikinews launch (Erik Moeller)
> 4. Fair use on Wikinews; local uploads disabled (Erik Moeller)
> 5. Wikinews Design Contest Open for Submissions (Erik Moeller)
> 6. Intent to launch pt., pl., ro. Wikinews; further procedure
> (Erik Moeller)
> 7. Polish, Portuguese, Romanian Wikinews set up (Erik Moeller)
> 8. Credentials verification using VoIP set up (Erik Moeller)
> 9. Re: [Foundation-l] fr.wikinews logo (Erik Moeller)
> 10. Wikinews: New State of the Wiki report (Erik Moeller)
> 11. Polish Wikinews report (Dariusz Siedlecki)
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 12:59:47 -0800
> From: "David Speakman" <david at speakman.com>
> Subject: RE: [Wikinews-l] Wikinews language creation rules modified
> To: "'Wikinews mailing list'" <wikinews-l at Wikimedia.org>
> Message-ID: <001301c50c8e$cae8a220$a905a8c0 at beancomp.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Sounds good to me.
>
> --
> David Speakman
> http://www.DavidSpeakman.com
> 501 Moorpark Way #83
> Mountain View CA 94041
> Phone: 408-382-1459
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: wikinews-l-bounces at Wikimedia.org
> [mailto:wikinews-l-bounces at Wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Erik Moeller
> Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2005 10:56 AM
> To: Wikimedia Foundation Mailing List; wikinews-l at wikimedia.org
> Subject: [Wikinews-l] Wikinews language creation rules modified
>
> I have modified the rules at
>
> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikinews/Start_a_new_edition
>
> New: At least 3 signing users have to be Wikimedia regulars (>200 edits
> + 3 months participation in a project) in the language they vote on.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sun, 06 Feb 2005 23:28:36 +0100
> From: Erik Moeller <erik_moeller at gmx.de>
> Subject: [Wikinews-l] Bulgarian Wikinews launched
> To: foundation-l at wikimedia.org, wikinews-l at wikimedia.org
> Message-ID: <42069A14.5090901 at gmx.de>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-15; format=flowed
>
> The Bulgarian edition of Wikinews is now set up at:
>
> http://bg.wikinews.org/
>
> An announcement has been posted on the Bulgarian Wikipedia Village Pump,
> as well as on the user talk pages of all interested users (all users who
> signed up had user pages on bg:, and several had far more than 200 edits).
>
> I'd like to ask the Board to discuss in the meeting tomorrow what steps
> are required to decide whether the Chinese Wikinews should be launched.
>
> Regards,
>
> Erik
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 08:40:21 +0100
> From: Erik Moeller <erik_moeller at gmx.de>
> Subject: [Wikinews-l] Poll on Chinese Wikinews launch
> To: foundation-l at wikimedia.org, wikinews-l at wikimedia.org
> Message-ID: <42071B65.7010102 at gmx.de>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-15; format=flowed
>
> I've set up a poll at
>
> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikinews/China
>
> to help decide whether we need a formal vote among the Chinese users or
> all users before launching the Chinese Wikinews edition (because of the
> risk of censorship). Please vote.
>
> Regards,
>
> Erik
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2005 04:17:40 +0100
> From: Erik Moeller <erik_moeller at gmx.de>
> Subject: [Wikinews-l] Fair use on Wikinews; local uploads disabled
> To: wikinews-l at wikimedia.org, foundation-l at wikimedia.org
> Message-ID: <420EC6D4.8070009 at gmx.de>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-15; format=flowed
>
> Local uploads have been disabled on the English Wikinews from the start.
> Uploads are only possible through the Wikimedia Commons. This is meant
> to make the upload of "fair use" images as well as images under other
> non-free licenses impossible, and generally encourage use of the
> Commons. The decision to disable uploads on the English Wikinews was
> made in accord with Jimmy. Uploads on the other wikis were only enabled
> to begin with in order to allow them to replace the logo. Since that has
> now happened, local uploads are disabled there as well.
>
> In order to nicely integrate a link to the Commons into the sidebar, I
> suggest using [[MediaWiki:Currentevents]] as well as
> [[MediaWiki:Currentevents-url]], which are pointless in Wikinews anyway
> since the entire wiki is about Current Events. You can point those
> directly to [[Commons:Special:Upload]], which will then put users on the
> Commons upload form if they are logged in.
>
> The decision to disable uploads is not permanent and subject to change.
> The reasoning behind this decision is as follows. Wikinews is a project
> which directly competes with major news organizations, magazines and
> newspapers. It also allows and encourages commercial use of its content.
> Fair use of photos from a news agency, for example, is very difficult to
> justify under these circumstances. But regardless of the legal
> arguments, there is also the practical argument that Wikinews will soon
> be perceived as a threat, because most of its stories are based on
> reporting done by others -- and we give it away for free, while they
> charge money. These people will eventually try to stop us by all means
> necessary.
>
> There is a distinct possibility that we will face issues similar to SCO
> v. Linux, where a competitor accuses us of stealing content -- even if
> we didn't. Fair use, being so volatile in its definition, makes a
> successful attack more likely and opens us up to additional legal risks.
> That is why uploads will not be enabled until it is fully clear under
> what circumstances non-free licenses can be allowed.
>
> Work is currently being done on the English Wikinews to formulate a
> "fair use" policy. I encourage other Wikinews editions to do the same.
> Fair use on Wikinews could encompass things like logos, graphics,
> screenshots -- or photos that have not been produced by competing
> organizations and companies. Once that policy is written, we shall
> submit it to the Board for approval and possibly legal review. If it
> passes that review, uploads will be re-enabled. The same goes for all
> the other Wikinews editions.
>
> In the meantime, I ask you to only upload images under free licenses or
> in the public domain, directly to the Wikimedia Commons. Uploading them
> there does not affect the image syntax at all -- you can use them like
> you would use a local image. But they will not show up in Wikinews
> Recent Changes.
>
> If the Board would like this decision to be reverted, please let me
> know. Otherwise I will coordinate the next steps as described.
>
> All best,
>
> Erik
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2005 08:14:51 +0100
> From: Erik Moeller <erik_moeller at gmx.de>
> Subject: [Wikinews-l] Wikinews Design Contest Open for Submissions
> To: foundation-l at wikimedia.org, wikinews-l at wikimedia.org
> Message-ID: <4214446B.9010408 at gmx.de>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-15; format=flowed
>
> Help us create a unique visual identity for the Wikinews project!
>
> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikinews_design_contest
>
> The Wikinews design contest, which will run until April 17, 2005,
> consists of two components:
>
> * www.wikinews.org multilingual portal
> * site stylesheets
>
> You can also offer prizes for the best designs! If you can't contribute
> a design, please offer a prize, to increase the incentive to contribute.
>
> While the contest is running, please also feel free to edit the existing
> portal at:
>
> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Www.wikinews.org_portal
>
> All best, and good luck to all participants,
>
> Erik Möller
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2005 07:33:11 +0100
> From: Erik Moeller <erik_moeller at gmx.de>
> Subject: [Wikinews-l] Intent to launch pt., pl., ro. Wikinews; further
> procedure
> To: foundation-l at wikimedia.org, wikinews-l at wikimedia.org
> Message-ID: <42158C27.4080805 at gmx.de>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-15; format=flowed
>
> As per the procedure on
>
> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikinews/Start_a_new_edition
>
> I'd like to launch three new editions later today or tomorrow:
> Portuguese, Polish, and Romanian. For Portuguese, I count Carlosar as a
> valid vote, because he has made 3000+ edits on the English Wikinews, and
> he is a native speaker.
>
> For future editions, I'd also like to suggest changing the language
> procedure in the following way:
>
> The "activity on existing Wikimedia projects" requirement can be
> dropped if a few support pages (FAQ, Mission Statement, etc.) are
> created on Meta for the project to be launched. These can be
> translations or original creations.
>
> Such an effort indicates a genuine interest in working on a Wikinews
> edition in a language. It also reduces the dependency of new projects on
> existing ones -- we already know that many key people working on
> Wikinews have not done substantial work on Wikipedia or other Wikimedia
> projects. There would still be a requirement of at least 5 signatures,
> so it's not just one person playing an overarching role.
>
> If this works out, perhaps we can substitute one procedure for another;
> I prefer the translation procedure, because it also makes sure that
> certain pages are in place before the wiki is set up (a problem on some
> new editions which were essentially blank for several days).
>
> I'd like to credit the Memory Alpha wiki for this procedure, which has
> successfully used it for setting up new languages.
>
> Regards,
>
> Erik
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2005 03:46:43 +0100
> From: Erik Moeller <erik_moeller at gmx.de>
> Subject: [Wikinews-l] Polish, Portuguese, Romanian Wikinews set up
> To: foundation-l at wikimedia.org, wikinews-l at wikimedia.org
> Message-ID: <4216A893.8070106 at gmx.de>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-15; format=flowed
>
> As announced and in accordance with the existing language policy, three
> new Wikinews editions have been set up:
>
> http://pl.wikinews.org/ - Polish
> http://pt.wikinews.org/ - Portuguese
> http://ro.wikinews.org/ - Romanian
>
> I left messages for the users who have pledged to participate (and who
> could be located), and on the respective Wikipedia Village Pumps.
>
> Good luck to the new editions!
>
> Peace,
>
> Erik
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2005 13:01:12 +0100
> From: Erik Moeller <erik_moeller at gmx.de>
> Subject: [Wikinews-l] Credentials verification using VoIP set up
> To: wikinews-l at wikimedia.org
> Message-ID: <42187C08.2060306 at gmx.de>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-15; format=flowed
>
> Ilya Haykinson has proposed a policy for requesting accreditation as a
> Wikinews reporter. This is not meant to be the only way to do original
> reporting, but a way to be recognized at events as a Wikinews reporter.
>
> The cool part is that he has set up a voicemail account people can call
> in order to verify credentials:
>
> http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews:Credential_verification
>
> Any call made to that number is sent to an internal mailing list
> (subscription requires approval, currently all sysops will be approved):
>
> http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikinews-accreditation
>
> Anyone on that list can then take a verification request and respond to
> it. People can also simply check the list of accredited reporters on
> Wikinews itself.
>
> Regards,
>
> Erik
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 14:29:43 +0100
> From: Erik Moeller <erik_moeller at gmx.de>
> Subject: [Wikinews-l] Re: [Foundation-l] fr.wikinews logo
> To: Wikimedia Foundation Mailing List <foundation-l at wikimedia.org>,
> wikinews-l at wikimedia.org
> Message-ID: <421DD6C7.8030701 at gmx.de>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> I suggest editing MediaWiki:Tagline and putting the "beta" there. That
> might be done for any Wikinews editions which does not yet have a
> sufficient level of activity. This is better than defacing the logo, in
> my opinion.
>
> It turns out that it is very difficult to predict that activity, and I
> don't think the current process on Meta is really anywhere close to
> doing that. The Swedish Wikinews is very active, for example, thanks in
> large part to a handful of dedicated editors -- but that might change
> any day. Of course, all the editions are suffering from the current
> slowness, and recent downtime.
>
> One notable difference in Wikinews to other projects is that a quick
> glance at the frontpage gives you an impression of the level of
> activity: if you only see old news, obviously the project is not very
> active. This is good if it is seen as an incentive to work on it, bad if
> it frustrates people and makes them give up on the project. Wikipedia,
> Wikibooks, Wikisource, Wiktionary in the different languages all have
> their phases of activity and inactivity, but nowhere are those phases
> more visible than on Wikinews.
>
> Switching the project into read-only whenever it enters such a phase
> seems like a bad and un-wiki idea; perhaps you could create a template
> like this for the frontpage instead:
>
> The French edition of Wikinews is currently not very active. Please
> participate in building this website into a useful resource! Ideas
> for increasing activity are collected at [[Wikinews:Building Wikinews]].
>
> Here are a few suggestions to increase activity:
>
> 1) Translate. It is much easier to translate a well-written article than
> to write a new one from scratch. Wikinews articles have to grow to
> publishable quality very fast, "stubs" aren't helpful, and references
> are a strict requirement. As such, writing them takes a lot of effort.
> But the English Wikinews, for example, is now publishing articles at a
> reasonable rate. As an author of that edition, I also get great
> satisfaction out of knowing that my work is going to be translated into
> languages I do not speak.
>
> 2) Prominently link the equivalent of
> http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews:Submit_a_story - this helps to
> attract people who do not know about the Wikinews process and just want
> to get their feet wet.
>
> 3) Have brief news items on the frontpage which aren't fully developed
> stories yet. This should only be done until real stories are being
> published regularly, so as to not conflict with the [[Current events]]
> pages on Wikipedia.
>
> 4) Edit MediaWiki:Sitenotice and point people to the IRC channel,
> mailing list and Village Pump. Building a community helps to create a
> feeling of identity and the desire to protect that community, which is
> an incentive to do work on the site.
>
> 5) Organize and participate in events like the design contest or the
> Wikinews chats. Point people on Wikipedia to these events to get them
> interested in the project.
>
> 6) If you are a software developer, help us to implement MediaWiki
> features like category RSS feeds and dynamic article display.
> http://bugzilla.wikimedia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1411 is the only code
> currently being actively worked on, to my knowledge.
>
> Please also join the international Wikinews channel at #wikinews -- a
> lot of good people are hanging out there who may help you to answer
> questions with the project.
>
> Regards,
>
> Erik
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 10
> Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2005 12:17:53 +0100
> From: Erik Moeller <erik_moeller at gmx.de>
> Subject: [Wikinews-l] Wikinews: New State of the Wiki report
> To: foundation-l at wikimedia.org, wikinews-l at wikimedia.org
> Message-ID: <42205AE1.7050705 at gmx.de>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-15; format=flowed
>
> I've written a new, detailed report on the current state of the Wikinews
> project. If you haven't kept up, or want to read my opinions on where we
> are headed, the report is at:
>
> http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/User:Eloquence/State_of_the_Wiki
>
> Comments are welcome.
>
> All best,
>
> Erik
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 11
> Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2005 13:39:04 +0100
> From: Dariusz Siedlecki <datrio at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Wikinews-l] Polish Wikinews report
> To: wikinews-l at Wikimedia.org
> Message-ID: <283332d205022604391660e6df at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>
> Well, I decided to write a quick report on the state of our Wikinews project.
>
> You can view this report at
> http://pl.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikipedysta:Datrio/Polish_Wikinews_report_-_February_26%2C_2005
>
> Everyone is open to ask question on the page's talk page, or edit this
> article and add his own thoughts on the project.
>
> --
> Best regards,
> Dariusz Siedlecki
>
> ------------------------------
>
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> End of Wikinews-l Digest, Vol 2, Issue 2
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