The observant reader will notice that we have reduced the number of stories we post on weekdays from about 15 stories per day to about 13 stories per day. We would certainly like to continue with the higher rate, but we have been struggling to do so with current staff.
We try to post enough stories each day so that there is "something for everyone". Ultimately this site is for the community. It is also by the community; it does not run all by itself.
We Need Your Help
People's lives change. They move, get married, have health issues, change jobs, etc. All of these place additional demands on their spare time. SoylentNews is not immune to this; in fact we have experienced all of these. With less free time available, more work falls upon the other staff members — whose lives are already quite full.
What would help?
Volunteer! Have you ever thought about being an editor at SoylentNews?
You'll get to learn a super-sekret handshake, the passcode to enter our volcano-lair, and the admiration of your fellow Soylentils!
Right from the start, let me point out that we — SoylentNews — aim to be impartial. If you have an agenda that you would like to push or advocate (or denigrate) then skip to the next story.
On the other hand, not a great deal of time is needed. Even if you have only an hour or two per week that you could contribute, that would be greatly appreciated!
An earlier request for help summarized things nicely (slightly updated here):
Well we are all volunteers, so we contribute what we can, when we can, no one is expected to edit X stories/day (make your own hours). I would say a strong recommendation (maybe not requirement) is signing onto IRC once in a while (especially when editing) so one can communicate with the other editors. Editing a few stories a day, or even a few a week would be welcome. A typical submission takes me about 15-30 minutes to edit, usually on the longer side if I'm expanding or adding a balanced point of view without trying to put words into the mouth of the submitter. The rest is pretty much what you'd expect:
- Opening up a story
- Checking links
- Checking basic grammar and spelling
- Correcting wording
- Expanding a weak submission (sometimes it's just a few links and a sentence or quote)
- etc.
One also needs to:
- Learn the editing interface (not particularly hard but it has its quirks like UTC 24 hour time and the interface could use a little polish)
- Learn the SN Style Guidelines
How else could I help?
Nominate someone. Have you noticed someone who tends to compose well-written comments or journal entries? Think they might be a good fit? Please let us know!
How else could I help?
Submit a story! A well-written story that needs little editing takes a huge load off of the editorial staff. If just a few Soylentils submitted a story each day it would make a world of difference. Ideally, a story submission would be grammatically correct, have no spelling errors, be balanced and impartial, and be "publication ready". But even if your writing skills are not up to (or are even far from) that level, we are experienced at "cleaning things up", so do not let that keep you from making a story submission! If you see something tech-related that you think would be of interest to the community? Send it in!
How can you reach us?
Send an email to editors (at) soylentnews (dot) org. Or drop a message on our IRC (Internet Relay Chat) channel. Just issue the command "/join #editorial" and leave a message expressing your interest, along with your SoylentNews nickname, and someone will get back to you.
What's in it for me?
That is a good question. Speaking for myself, it started with my getting onto IRC and occasionally pointing out an error I'd seen in a story. Sometimes it would take a while before I could get the attention of an editor who could make the correction. I got frustrated. Finally, I suggested that if I were made an editor, I could fix things myself without having to track people down. Over the 5 ½ years since then, I have made mistakes... and learned how to own them, in writing, in front of all of you. I've developed a thicker "skin". I've made great friendships with people all around the world. The technical expertise on staff here is amazing; they've taught me so much. And, I hope, I've been able to teach them a thing or two, too.
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Wednesday January 15 2020, @08:05AM (3 children)
No, janrinok, sometimes it is takyon's fault!
Or, contrary to your loss of long term memory, sometimes it is TMB's fault, what with him worrying about broad brushes and Flathead catfish. So now I am encouraged to correct my submission on how Richard Spencer, White Person, regrets voting for Trump, so that it will meet the high standards of our very professional and accomplished volunteer right-wing editores. What was it, minute particle editor? The exposing of your antipathy towards SLS? Or the Medical wishful thinking?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 15 2020, @12:56PM (2 children)
I'd have rejected that too.
That seems to be an editorial. Editorials are opinion pieces not news.
Why should a soylentil care about Richard Spencer? Are you promoting him for some reason?
Quotes of quotes. Go to the source if it is interesting, which in this case it seems not to be.
Who the hell is Frank Miller ?
That is maybe a little harsh, you and possibly a few others do. What he should have said is "Almost nobody cares".
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by aristarchus on Wednesday January 15 2020, @07:21PM (1 child)
I would have rejected it as well. But, fixed it and resubmitted! Result?
janrinok is of a single mind, a very limited view, tunnel stem, you might call it. At least he is polite.
Frank Miller? Seriously? This is why we cannot have witty and entertaining discussions on SoylentNews, that and all the damn alt-right.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 15 2020, @07:46PM
ha, ha, cute puns.
But takyon is right. Richard Spencer is a non-entity, and no-one cares. Not bothering to putin the links just nailed the lid on.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Miller [wikipedia.org]
Could be just about anyone apparently.
I would guess this is another reason your submissions get rejected. We're not fucking mind readers, most of us don't even share the same zeitgeist. You put a lot of obscure shit in that makes you feel superior and everyone else goes "blah blah, he's waffling again, if he can't communicate, ignore him".