tagged w/ Online Journalism
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Last week I laid out details about our editorial team and guidelines when it comes to finding and featuring content on Current.com. Today we're launching a brand new community-based experiment built on top of our editorial practices which, for lack of a better name, I'm calling "Developing Stories."
What is a Developing Story?
This doesn't always hold true, but quite frequently we notice that stories we feature on Current.com actually speak to a larger, ongoing story in play. Sometimes these stories are stretched out over longer periods of time (e.g. the ongoing discussions around public options in healthcare reform, or the debates surrounding gay marriage), and other times these stories are developing rapidly over the course of hours (e.g. Elections 2009, Afghan presidential elections, or Michael Jackson's death).
Starting today, we'll begin identifying certain featured stories that we think have the opportunity to be "developed" further. These stories will be added to our Developing Stories group, and we'll clearly mark it as such on both the story page and whichever image is picked to accompany the story.
What does it mean to have a story picked as a Developing Story?
This is the cool part. Getting your story featured as a Developing Story is like having the stage handed over to you. We're looking to take a closer look at the underpinnings of these stories, and we're giving you the opportunity to take on the role of online investigative journalist in the process. As long as things continue to progress in a relevant way, your story will remain featured on Current.com.
OK, so how does all of this work?
Well, it's pretty simple actually. When a story is selected to feature as a Developing Story, the editor will add it to our Developing Stories group, and message you in a comment on your story with a link to some guidelines and tips to help you develop your story. Here's how you'll develop your story:
Follow your story: Keep a watchful eye for new developments regarding your story. Have there been new stories with different angles published? Another great approach is to investigate the subject matter addressed in your story, see where that takes you. You might discover a story that mainstream media hasn't picked up on yet.
Update to keep your story current: When you find updates, interesting supporting information, or new angles on the story you will need to update your original story with a revised headline, new information, new media (image or video), and links to the details. This is the important part: Do not submit an entirely new story, instead make your edits in the original story description and title. We want to develop the story within the original post that you submitted, and your changes will be reflected on the homepage immediately.
Archive old information: Your original story will still be limited to the 5000 character limit in the description, so you might find that you run out of room quickly. It would be a shame to lose your research, so archive older portions of the story in a comment on the thread below your original post. For example: Once Karzai was declared President, we no longer need to hold onto links and information about the chance of a runoff election. So copy and paste those paragraphs and URLs into a comment, and preface the comment with "STORY ARCHIVE." It's important to be able to see how the story progressed, and discussions might still branch off of these elements, so we don't want to lose them altogether.
Watch out!: The rest of the community is going to know that you are developing a story, and anyone interested in getting featured will be eligible to scoop you on your own story (more on this below). This means you'll need to stay on top of things as they develop.
Once a story has run it's course, we'll cycle it out of the featured rotation. But, keep an eye on the matter over time. If you happened to develop a story on gay marriage laws a week ago and a new development breaks in that story, it would be best to revisit your older story in development, update it with new information, and attempt to revive the story into featuring prominence.
I have a story, and I think it should be a Developing Story...What do I do?
Developing Stories are picked by the Current.com Editorial Team, but we are always open to suggestions. If you want to get your story on our radar for consideration, please tag it with "Current Developing Stories," "Developing Story," "Developing Stories," or "Current Developing Story" when you submit to Current.com. PLEASE NOTE: Tagging is not the same as adding to a group. The "Current Developing Stories" is a CLOSED group managed by the editors, so you will not be able to add stories there. Tagging, however, will allow you to be seen by our editors we will monitor that tag for potential stories to develop.
[Ed. Note -- Someone asked if we could use something simpler as a tag for these, something like "CDS" or "dev stories." The issue here is that these tags already correlate to other information. "CDS" represents that archaic music format known as the compact disc, and "dev stories" sounds like a variation on developer tales. I've added a few more options that we'll keep an eye on, but for now lets stick with these. Thanks]
But...does this mean that the same folks will always be featured?
Well, the possibility that our more proficient community members will take the spotlight for longer periods of time is very, very real. However, being featured as a Developing Story is by no means permanent. Think of the "Developing Story" banner as an alert that this type of story is on our radar. Someone might already be developing a health care reform story on the homepage, but they have to eat and sleep at some point. If you scoop developments in the story out from under them, you'll find your story swapped into the featured spot in place of the original poster.
Here's how that works:
Keep an eye on Developing Stories: Our group is the best place to get an indication of stories we are looking to develop. Visit it often, then hit the Interwebs and do a little investigating of your own. You never know, you might find an angle that the original poster didn't consider, and it might be your ticket to scooping the story out from under them.
Pitch your scoop to get it on our radar: We'll be following Developing Stories very closely, so if you find a potential scoop in a story, here's the best way to call it to our attention. First, submit an item with your scoop, and be sure to tag your story with "Current Developing Stories" and include a link to the Developing Story you're attempting to scoop in the description. Next, post a link to your scoop story in the comments on the Developing Story and clearly call out that this is an angle you think the story should take.
Now to be fair, this is an experiment. It isn't going to be perfect out of the gate, but it seems like an opportunity to open things up a bit more on Current.com and get a little friendly competition started. We rely on you for researched stories, so the more original and unique your angle is, the better chance it will have to become a Developing Story.
As I stated initially, not every story will be considered "Developing Story" potential, and we'll likely ease into this with only one or two stories a day at first, just to see how things go. Developing Stories are still subject to our editorial guidelines for featuring, so make sure you're up to speed on those. You may also want to keep in mind some of the recent changes made to our submission tool.
Sound good? Let us know what you think!Last week I laid out details about our editorial team and guidelines when it comes to... more
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Basically, the predatory Union Bank of California had suckered me into a $2,000 overdraft line. When I had to use it last year, it became a predatory 18 percent loan I couldn't repay. Therefore, I was paying $40 to $50 per month for a free checking account.
Not only that, but Union Bank was making robot transfers without my knowledge or approval. Each month, they would withdraw around $65 and put it in the cash reserve account. They timed this in many cases to coincide with my withdrawal of funds, causing checks to bounce into the cash reserve and then charging me $10 per overdraft.
Going to the Rancho Santa Fe branch, I spoke with the bank manager. Oh so sympathetic eyeball-to-eyeball, "I know the economy is tough", "I sympathize" yada yada.
Of course, she quickly handed me off to an underling who was oh so sympathetic, yada, who then made a few phone calls and gave me a number to call, saying they would be able to help me.
My point to each of them was this: My paying such exorbitant interest on this balance was akin to a rat chasing a treadmill. I asked them to put back the interest they had stolen -- I used a more asshole friendly term, I believe, assessed -- and I would make good on the balance under an agreement, repaying some each month. I said they could close the overdraft for all I care, but they need to do something for their long-time consumer -- won't say customer -- me.
The underling gave me phone number to call. It turned out to be the collections department. I called the underling again and he gave me another number for a lady in the overdraft department. I called her. She took down my information and said, oh so politely, Mr. Jack, she would get back to me, but first had to determine if she were the appropriate department. Strictly an internal matter, our "team members" -- my interjection, she could have said assholes -- will discuss this, she added.
Before we resume this thread, fast forward to today. I felt I was getting something accomplished, and went "reverse shopping". I had a pair of denim jeans bought last year at Kohls I never used. I went back to return it. First though, I had some old Brett Favre and other NFL player rookie cards and went to the collectors shop to try to sell them.
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After getting home, I received a call from the bank's "I'll get back to you" person. She said we examined your financial status and have decided to close your overdraft account. "I will be transferring you to the collections department."
Whoa...Hey lady, I CALLED YOU, because you have been taking $40 to $50 per month yada yada and offered to pay back the balance. But you need to put back the interest payments...asshole interrupt-us in faux authoritarian voice, which didn't fly with me as you who know me know...I started putting it to her bluntly until she yelled, "I am terminating this call" click.
Immediately, I took out what's left of my money from the bank, and surprisingly the account still worked. I went to the store and used my debit card -- again, not canceled, how shoddy of them to shaft me, but not finish the job, and typical of the "Brazil"ing of our society -- withdrawing all but $4 from the cash reserve. (Couldn't quite max it, darn).
So, there you have the sickness of our society in a 36-hour time capsule. Some pigs get away with a lot, but they can't do it properly either because they're idiots. Many people get shafted one way or the other. Shame shame, sham sham on them (and us for being a part of it).
Tomorrow, Wednesday, the adventure will continue. I will go to the San Diego County Credit Union at Escondido and open another "free" checking account, no overdraft protection thank you very not.
Fully, I expect Union Bank's collection pigs to harass me, file litigation, get judgments from the crooked court system...Basically, the predatory Union Bank of California had suckered me into a $2,000... more
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"The Pulitzer Prize, the prestigious award for excellence in print journalism, is being expanded to include online-only publications."
Get blogging with your original and unique content; write something interesting and you could win the Pulitzer Prize!"The Pulitzer Prize, the prestigious award for excellence in print journalism, is... more
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In a reflection of the digital age, more online journalists are jailed around the world than journalists from any other medium, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported on Thursday.
The New York-based media watchdog group, in its annual census of imprisoned journalists, said that as of December 1, a total of 125 journalists were behind bars, two fewer than at the same point in 2007.
It said 56 of the imprisoned journalists were considered online journalists -- bloggers, Web-based reporters, or online editors -- surpassing the number of print journalists for the first time.
Print reporters, editors, and photographers are the next largest category of jailed journalists, with 53 cases, the CPJ said, adding that television and radio journalists and documentary filmmakers constitute the rest.
For the 10th consecutive year, China was the leading jailer of journalists, the CPJ said, followed by Cuba, Myanmar, Eritrea and Uzbekistan.
The moral of this story is, if you are ever in China, don't go to Current.com...In a reflection of the digital age, more online journalists are jailed around the... more
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I've got a Diebold voting machine at my house. Totally legal. The San Diego County Registrar of Voters gave it to me.
Makes you wonder, who else has these machines? How secure is this? Even, is this legal?
They have numerous seals and safeguards and such. It's also a felony to violate the rules. So, the system seems OK.
Still...If somebody wanted to do something, it doesn't seem that hard.
They swore us to uphold the Constitution. Thought that was implied. Suppose somebody just mouthed the words or crossed finger behind the back? How is the oath even binding?
So, when you're voting this Election Day, don't cry for me. I've got a touchscreen voting machine at my house. It's a party monster.I've got a Diebold voting machine at my house. Totally legal. The San Diego... more
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Dear Mr. President,
WHAT THE MF'IN HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING???
Seriously, what the F is wrong with you?
Why do you even want to pretend t be president? It makes no sense. It almost looks like a hassle for you.
AND YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING!!!
Katrina-ing the oil situation would be the worst of it, too, if you can get past the murders of tens of thousands of innocent people due to this insane invasion of Iraq. Then, there's the actual Katrina disgrace and all the other little murders you commit every day.
But again, the part that is so difficult to understand is the stealing of the presidency in 2000. All that effort to subvert the actual vote and will of the people. FOR WHAT?
FOR WHAT? So that everything is ridiculous for the people who actually have to live ON THIS PLANET. Of course, you get to live in Fantasyland.
The oil companies are traitors to this country. They should be nationalized. This stuff where the chairman of ExxonMobil during congressional hearings this week has the absolute temerity to suggest that the company should keep billions of dollars in tax breaks while making a $40 Billion annual profit is a war crime against the people of this nation and the world. And he smiled when he said they should continue to get tax breaks because they "reinvest" their profits in exploration.
Disgusting.
Equally disgusting that the entire situation is caused by inaction, incompetence, and perhaps greed by you, George Bush, and whomever is u there with you. Or maybe Dick Cheney. We really don't know. Funny, not-ha-ha, isn't it that you try to get agencies to spy on everyone (and ask agencies to torture and otherwise break the actual law and moral codes) YET OTHERWISE KEEP EVERYTHING YOU DO SECRET AS well as incomprehensible.
Gasoline at more than $4 a gallon is a breaking point. People need to get together and do something about the situation.
Thanks for nothing Mr. Irrelevant. Thanks for stealing the election for no reason, apparently (although some suggest financial gain or "power tripping" may be reasons, we won't know until historians unravel this crap) and FOR RUINING WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOLDEN AGE IN THE WORLD.
Al Gore or John Kerry would never have invaded Iraq, authorized torturing people, secret surveillance; they would have caught Bin Laden, and the economy wouldn't be killing everybody, except you and yours.
So, Go F yourself, thanks for nothing and hey, why waste everybody's time, resign or something.
Sincerely,
Dan Weisman
IN THE NAME OF, AND FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
Dear Mr. President,
WHAT THE MF'IN HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING???... more
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Dear Mr. President,
WHAT THE MF'IN HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING???
Seriously, what the F is wrong with you?
Why do you even want to pretend t be president? It makes no sense. It almost looks like a hassle for you.
AND YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING!!!
Katrina-ing the oil situation would be the worst of it, too, if you can get past the murders of tens of thousands of innocent people due to this insane invasion of Iraq. Then, there's the actual Katrina disgrace and all the other little murders you commit every day.
But again, the part that is so difficult to understand is the stealing of the presidency in 2000. All that effort to subvert the actual vote and will of the people. FOR WHAT?
FOR WHAT? So that everything is ridiculous for the people who actually have to live ON THIS PLANET. Of course, you get to live in Fantasyland.
The oil companies are traitors to this country. They should be nationalized. This stuff where the chairman of ExxonMobil during congressional hearings this week has the absolute temerity to suggest that the company should keep billions of dollars in tax breaks while making a $40 Billion annual profit is a war crime against the people of this nation and the world. And he smiled when he said they should continue to get tax breaks because they "reinvest" their profits in exploration.
Disgusting.
Equally disgusting that the entire situation is caused by inaction, incompetence, and perhaps greed by you, George Bush, and whomever is u there with you. Or maybe Dick Cheney. We really don't know. Funny, not-ha-ha, isn't it that you try to get agencies to spy on everyone (and ask agencies to torture and otherwise break the actual law and moral codes) YET OTHERWISE KEEP EVERYTHING YOU DO SECRET AS well as incomprehensible.
Gasoline at more than $4 a gallon is a breaking point. People need to get together and do something about the situation.
Thanks for nothing Mr. Irrelevant. Thanks for stealing the election for no reason, apparently (although some suggest financial gain or "power tripping" may be reasons, we won't know until historians unravel this crap) and FOR RUINING WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOLDEN AGE IN THE WORLD.
Al Gore or John Kerry would never have invaded Iraq, authorized torturing people, secret surveillance; they would have caught Bin Laden, and the economy wouldn't be killing everybody, except you and yours.
So, Go F yourself, thanks for nothing and hey, why waste everybody's time, resign or something.
Sincerely,
Dan Weisman
IN THE NAME OF, AND FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
Dear Mr. President,
WHAT THE MF'IN HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING???... more
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The Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club is a nonprofit local institution dating to 1926. Members recently held the annual spring flower show and plant sale. Enjoy!The Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club is a nonprofit local institution dating to 1926.... more
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Advertising sucks especially when it consists of a driving diorama van that gets 10 miles per gallon. The promotion for a rip-off insurance company's Web site stopped by the beach at Cardiff the other day. What do you think of life, it?Advertising sucks especially when it consists of a driving diorama van that gets 10... more
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The director of the California Chaparral Institute led a tour of people around Lake Hodges recently to show how the area's flowers have recovered from the Witch Creek Fire last year.The director of the California Chaparral Institute led a tour of people around Lake... more
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www.92067freepress.com looks in and around Rancho Santa Fe, Ca. as people send in their taxes. The video further introduces one of the wealthiest communities in America to its new online journalism experience.www.92067freepress.com looks in and around Rancho Santa Fe, Ca. as people send in... more
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Nudie is one of the longtime residents of this rural area near Rancho Santa Fe, Ca. and one of the people you'll meet by visiting http//www.92067freepress.com, the voice of Rancho Santa Fe. Plus, the scenery and music rock.Nudie is one of the longtime residents of this rural area near Rancho Santa Fe, Ca.... more
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