Toward an Editorial Standard for Blog for America

Written by: Annilow on Jul 19, 2008 8:50 AM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Blog Network, Blog For America, Blogs United, Netroots Activism!, blog for America Test and Poll Group

Here at BFA we've been blessed with a plethora of new front thread writers in recent weeks.  These new writers have given us new subjects to think about and new points of view.  As a long time reader and commenter and sometime thread writer here, I've been a little perplexed by the lack of uniformity of form in these posts.  I know this sounds like the OPPOSITE of free speech, which I'm always ranting about, and maybe it is.  However, most of us who read and comment here read many other sources on the web.  We need conciseness and we need front posts that get to the point quickly.  Following is a list of standards I think we should adopt as an editorial standard for BFA.  This is offered as a jumping off point for discussion, nothing more:

1.  Keep front thread posts to around 300 words.  Anything less, consider making it a comment in the current thread instead.  Anything longer, consider what you can cut or use as a link.  

2.  Keep quotes to a minimum -- remember copyright laws.  Use links to the source to provide more information.  Always credit sources and use links to the source if you quote anyone.

3.  Main thread posters should be commenters, except in special circumstances like if Jim Dean wants to write something.  This is a community, not a free place to publish your essays.  

4.  Content should be original, not a copy of something you've posted already on Firedoglake or KOS.

5.  Content should be timely.  No matter how great a writer you are, if you aren't setting forth something from which we can LEARN, you are wasting our time.

6.  Use the toolbar provided to make your front thread look nice.  Use the link for links and the quotes to get an inset blue box. We love the occasional great picture.  And SPELLCHECK SPELLCHECK SPELLCHECK.

7.  This one is for HQ -- authors of front thread posts should have their names be clickable to their profiles so we can see their picture, where they live, what their interests are.  They could be trolls for all we know, especially if we haven't gotten to know them through comments on previous threads.

I think if we adopted these standards, our front threads would be easier to read, digest, and stay on topic for discussion.

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