Assignment Zero: Community Roles

The Editor : fine-tunes grammar, punctuation, usage, clarity, accuracy, and structure of the written article.

The Editor should not be expected to be your primary spellchecker, though even spellcheckers sometimes miss things (like the difference between 'there' and 'their' and 'they're'), and the Editor will make those kinds of corrections when needed.

Part of the Editor's job is to coach, to encourage, and to teach. There ought to be some things you can take "on authority" from the Editor, such as grammar, but an edit has to make sense to you, the writer, before it can become an edit. To help further this process, the Editor can give you feedback on specific edits, such as the rationale behind an edit or a comment regarding the narrative.

As a writer, you may think after writing, editing, and rewriting, that your work is impeccable and you'll anticipate acceptance and approval. Get ready to be disappointed. Or, to quote Roseanna Roseanna Danna, Gilda Radner's lovely character from Saturday Night Live, "There's always somethin'!"

And if I'm your Editor, get ready to have your writing flogged repeatedly... but don't take it personally. This is going to teach you something valuable.

:)

Evano also volunteers for this role in the originating thread at the Newsvine Blog. Yay!

Editor is right up my alley. If we need more than two, I'm all over it.

Add me to the editor core, please.

Didn't realize I was running against Myk for this one. Things get interesting all of a sudden! I'll compliment you and stab you in the back all at once on this one though Mykola - you've got a real flair for organization as you've demonstrated with your exuberance and contributions to the groups system. You'd really do very well as one of if not the only "group coordinator."

I'm hard pressed to think of anyone who's better at that sort of rapid distribution and delegation of work than you.

You're not, Kill. I am. You're the public face. You deal with Assignment Zero. The #2 is between you/AZ and Newsvine.

Necessary traits: organizational skills, people skills, a thorough knowledge of who does what in this community. You've got to hear a problem and have a name pop into your head of the person best equipped to address it. We're looking for people who spend a lot of time here.

I would like to do this. First of all, I live on Newsvine. Rarely miss a day. As for people skills, well, I've only ever had one comment deleted, and that was by Myk! I play well with others, and I have great organizational skills.

So, if there are going to be two (and I think there should), how about Mykola and me?

That may be approaching it backwards.

It seems to me that the first step is in determining what it is that Assignment Zero expects of us, as well as what we expect of them. Once we know the nature of the project, the roles will become much clearer.

What we do know now, from Calvin's post, is that we need, essentially, two liasons - one external (Killfile) and one internal.

So, Kill works with AZ, and a person or persons within Newsvine, who in turn work with the rest of Newsvine.

Sound about right?

I wrote this in the other thread; they are physically in Brooklyn so if you want Myk/Kill/whomever to have community outreach outside of virtual and a physical liaison it would work for me to go over to B-K-Y. I'm not sure what cyberspace can't do that physical interface can but that's why I'm a muckraker not an organizer. :~)

Fine thought, you are a great researcher Dom and have made some fine arguments on the vine.

Thanks Pamela, I hope I can be of any help-- this project sounds amazing.

Count me in as a helper on research as well. I love to do the stuff. I was weird about it when I had access to Westlaw (someday soon again).

This is exciting!

Ah, yasmin-- with the combination of LexisNexis and Westlaw, no one will stop us!

Hooray for duopolies ;)

Hm, I've never double posted before... sorry about that!

Google Docs is God. It has replaced MS Word in my life. Collaboration on that is pretty sweet.

I have a task for you. Write that Blues article, will ya?

Oh, you meant related to this. Sorry.

Blues article,

Synchronicity. I was just thinking of contacting you about that. I'm glued to the computer trying to edit a publication and only posting as a diversion when I feel my eyes are about to bleed. Check your email tomorrow. Sorry about the off-topic, everybody.

Plenty of people on Newsvine could use an analyst.

Yes Forrest, that's a dangerous term to use without an adjective. With all your good advice people might think you're signing up to be the Ann Landers feature. Some readers don't know who we are and what we do. You would be something Global Forest, what was that Star Wars Title someone used the other day? Some Grande Pooh Bah thing, ring a bell anyone?

I thought that was "Bantha Poodoo".

Thanks Pamela

Too much organization might mean nothing fun ever happens

Spoken like the survivor of more than one group event, corporate to PTA it happens.

I agree with Brian on this one... We certainly need a structured environment to assure tasks are completed by whoever, but lets not structure it to the point that people feel like they're trapped in a job they don't like. This is, after all, supposed to be fun. Lets not lose sight of that...

My suggestion is that after a list of jobs/responsibilities is drawn up, we create a pool of people to fill each position. In the early days at least, duplication of effort would go a long way towards helping us be successful. For example, when assignments are handed out to team leaders, give two team leaders the same assignment. If one fails to get the job done, you still have the other. If both accomplish their assignment, they could either combine their work or pick the best of the two. I think that if we don't do it this way (at least in the early days till we know who is dependable and who's not) we stand the risk of falling on our faces. At the very least, competition between teams working on the same product would be healthy and make for a better product.

Just my two cents... : ☽

Alright, everyone.

I guess it's time we actually figure out who are point person/liason to Absolute Zero will be.

Killfile was nominated and accepted, and Myk was also nominated and has shown initiative.

So, as I see it, the choices are as follows:

Killfile; or
Myk; or
Both; or
Let them decide between themselves.

Discuss!

Whoa wait a second hold up yo

No problem, Myk. See my comment above this one - the one where "are" should have been "our."

Damn, I'm starting to warm up to the idea of an edit button.

Does it have to be a single person? If not, we can just have both, or they can figure it out between themselves. If it has to be only one, we should probably vote.

Old School Voting System:

A vote for this comment is a vote for Mykola!

Old School Voting System:

A vote for this comment is a vote for Killfile!

Old School Voting System:

Brian Ford Swears that he hadn't read Calvin Tang's comment before initiating comments 13.7 and 13.8.

:)

It's already there, Jerry. I've also seeded several relevant articles to the group.

Not necessarily. Tech is a broad field. Articles on citizen jounalism, for instance, fall (partly) under the tech umbrella.

That's not a great idea. The formatting is terrible, it's hard to follow and there is no conversation tracker. Keeping everything in a proper comment thread is best.

I kinda wish newsvine would get rid of the discussion block in its current form and replace it with a comment thread like here, just with no article attached.

Adam I can understand what you are saying. I will agree with you conditionally. If all the chatter could be held to this or any other thread I would be happy. I just don't see an effort to make that happen. Crawling through 5 or 6 or eventually more articles to find and keep up with all the threads will make an old man of me. There has to be a better way.

Perhaps it is because I am only following just this thread then. I guess I'm out of the game then on the other threads.

I don't think it has -- so, you should be as caught up as anyone, at this point.

I actually wrote to the Newsvine crew because, frankly -- I don't get it.

I've read the press release, I've perused the web-site and I'm still not sure what our role is or what we need to do.

Just looking at this comment thread, it seems as though everyone is sort of paddling in the dark.

Organization could have been a bit better, methinks.

This, for example:

Where? What is that?

Seriously, am I the only person that feels a bit -- lost?

Brian, it is a Group set up specifically for this project. I wish these administrators could be held to a 24/7 service of such groups.

I thought that's what -this- was.

Are you talking about a group on Newsvine, or on the AZ website?

Just to make something clear, Jerry, this is the discussion. The other articles, aside from the Newsvine blog, were seeded just so people could learn more about the Assignment Zero project.

Also, to anyone following the discussion, if Killfile wants the job of community liaison i have agreed to concede it. Now he just has to agree to accept it.

Oh... sorry, that wasn't clear from our exchange. I'll be honored to serve as the community liaison. Don't imagine that gets you off the hook though Mykola. I imagine you'll be busier than I on this project. No one here understands how Newsvine functions as a community "behind the curtain" like you do.

Great. Thanks.

So, If I may, let me tie all of this together.

Amanda will deal with our liason, whom I believe is Killfile (correct me if I'm wrong).

Killfile will in turn relay information to our Point person (#2 in Mykola's list) who will work with the project managers.

The project managers will coordinate reasearch, writing, fact checkeing, editing with their teams.

Have I missed anything?

Dennis, nice verbal flow chart. That seems to fit with my understanding.

I suppose -- it's just odd to me that it isn't succinctly "put" like that anywhere -- or that someone "not" involved (officially) with AZ had to parse it for me.

I've been paying attention ;-)

Not really, Myk.

We don't know that precise topic we will be investigating, but we do know that we will need investigators. Reseachers. Fact checkers. Editors.

This would be a good time to line people up for that.

When the topic comes to us from Killfile, it would help if we could talk about the topic, with some sort of structure already in place.

I don't think it will work that way, Jerry, other than perhaps new group, such as this, formed specifically for this project.

As for the "spokesman" position, well, that hasn't quiyte been determined yet. Killfile (if Myk's concession is accepted) will be the spokesman/representative of Newsvine to AZ. I would like to be his counterpart inside Newsvine, working with Killfile and the project managers.

I should add that the real organization lies wityh the project managers, as I outlined above.

So, who wants to throw out their names for those positions?

And let's not dawdle, folks. There's no time like the present. Don't be shy.

It might be a good idea for the two of you to discuss that via private emails. Obviously, this is your column and your group -- but, this sounds like a long discussion that probably isn't going to clear up anything related to my confusion about AZ.

OK. Killfile has accepted the role as liason. I want the role of manager within Newsvine, and brian has expressed an interest in that too.

Brian - sabres at dawn.

I'm going to need a bit longer than that.

I'm fresh out of focusing crystals.

Frankly -- if you want it, you can have it.

If it's a two man job, I'd be happy to share the duties.

Myk, we basically know what the project is, just not the specifics (which we will have later today).

OK, so Amanda will work with Killfile, who will work with me and perhaps, Brian. We will then work with the project leaders.

When we find out the scope of the project we will be able to determine how to split it up into separate tasks. The nature of those tasks will determine who is best suited to be task leaders.

For now, though, I'm going to compile lists of people who want to be researchers, fact checkers and editors.

Anyone?

Mykola, that is why I suggested appointing someone to act as a scout and recon the situation before we start choosing up sides and deciding fates. I see several are eager for leading roles in this project and that is wonderful. I think there should be some broad discussion and consideration before we go too far. What if this turns into a 24/7 operation? What if some want to charge ahead and others want to caution patience? This project could very well impinge on the future of all CJs and Social Sites and especially News Sites. We need to make sure we are headed in the right direction.

I think we need to hold off any picking any other positions or any other anything until we here from Killfile more about the project and let others get their voice heard as well. No need to rush anything.

Exactly, Jerry.

But, withing a few hours, the marching orders are goint to comeon from AZ. At that poinbt, we need to be ready. Here's how I see it happening:

Amanda talks to Killfile. Explains the project, gives him an outline. He relays that to me.

I start thread to organize team leaders. The Team leaders will be determined by a combination of factors: Experience, willingness, knowledge of the field, etc.

The team leaders then form teams of researchers, fact checkers, writers, editors, and go to work.

What we need right now is a talent pool. Who are these editors, etc.

Volunteers so far:

Editors: Aine, VikiBabbles, Raat Ki Raani

Research: Yasmin, Dom Pody

Fact Checking: Dom Pody

Oh, and Adam Hobson: Anything but editing.

I'd like to point out that, while a chain of command is a great thing, the very logical and almost necessary purpose of this entire project is a pyramid like structure. A liaison as the point of contact makes sense because it's easy for AZ.

If that liaison basically plots out how everything is going to work with... say two or three other conspirators and the system branches down from there we harness the full power of the social network.

What we don't want is a vertical structure. The role of liaison is the only one that really benefits from being a unitary position. Everything else should be structured to take full advantage of Newsvine's collaborative and communal nature.

Of course, until we have details on the project we won't know how fast that pyramid needs to expand and how wide it needs to get - so trying to work out who should be where is fairly fruitless.

I've got emails out to Amanda and AZ -- when I get something back I'll probably post it as a new article in this group and the NV community group

Absolutely. You may have noticed that I haven't said much about the project leaders/team managers. Those positions will be determined mostly by the subject itself. But everything below that - the base of the pyramid, should be open to discussion right now.

You guys work at an astounding rate. Just to reaffirm, I'm OK with editorial input.

Yep, me too. I'm on board as an editor, if needed.

I'll support that, as well. I don't want to feel like I'm being kept in the dark about something if I'm to participate.

To me, the upper level roles are for convenience -- not because they're on a "need to know basis" or because they're receiving info that no one else needs to know.

Yes. Transparency is essential.

I have a feeling the Assignment Zero folks were not quite prepared for the reaction. In the meantime I hope people are giving Killfile the breathing room to conduct his reconnaissance. I have been monitoring activity at AssignmentZero.com and activity is practically zero. I have gone over their site and it provides some much needed possibilities. I would suggest others might want to be members there regardless of the Newsvine project.

Well "reconnaissance" right now consists of "making contact." We'll see where this goes from there.

Thanks for the Zero update. I may have ticked them off. I asked if we could shorten Assignment Zero to A0 or Ass.0. AZ makes me get hot and dry.

oldfogey, why not just Zero then if you want a shortened name? That sounds cool.

"A0" looks weird, and "Ass.0" is confusing because the actual sight is the reverse http://zero.newassignment.net/.

Hey, oldfogey, I just noticed that you just happen to be a Featured Contributer over there right now :-)

I guess they weren't too ticked. Actually I think I am featured because it is lonely over there. I was just kidding about the shortened version. Have you ever noticed I seldom fail to use anothers full name in my work. Have you noticed that Adam Hobson?

BTW, Adam Hobson, I don't think I ever really thanked you for all your assistance last Fall. I looked myself up on Wikipedia and remembered what all the good Newsviners did for me in my hour of need. Someday I will have to write a book.