Wikinews talk:Writing contest 2013

Wikinewsie
Wikinewsie is a group of Wikinews users organized on Wikinewsie.org, most of whom are identified on English Wikinews as Accredited Reporters. (This group does not have a special on English Wikinews flag.) This contest is being organised by Wikinewsie.--LauraHale (talk) 04:31, 25 March 2013 (UTC)

Contest creation
This discussed this on IRC with members of the community before launching it. Hence, the length is two months, diminished points for photoessays from the 2010 contest, inclusion of interviews as a separate category point wise from 2010, points for encouraging new people to join, and allowing points for reviewing. --LauraHale (talk) 04:31, 25 March 2013 (UTC)

Photoessays
This looks good, but one thing I'd suggest rethinking is the scoring guidelines around photoessays.

The only photoessay I've done is WorldPride London 2012: In pictures. It has more than 8 photos that I've taken, but does have two photos that another user has taken (User:Fæ). The rules state "All pictures must be taken by you, and uploaded using a free license unless they were taken at an event where uploading images under a commercial license was prohibited." If this were entered in the contest this year, it would be ineligible as two of the photos aren't mine.

The point of such a restriction is to make it so that someone actually has to go out and take some photos rather than just collect a bunch together of Commons and make a photo essay. But if they supplement the photo essay with some photos from another photographer, I don't see that as a bad thing. In the case of something like covering a protest or parade or other event, it's impossible for one photographer to get a complete picture of the whole event. This rule would possibly encourage people to not include images that would make for a better, more comprehensive story.

Instead, try something like "At least 8 photos, of which six or more need to be taken by you." —Tom Morris (talk) 09:35, 26 March 2013 (UTC)


 * Tweaked to allow that. Goal was to avoid people just randomly going to Commons and grabbing pictures, or trying to secure pictures from others with non-compatible licenses for points. --LauraHale (talk) 09:41, 26 March 2013 (UTC)