NEWS management suggestion

[lemonadesoda]

WE, comrades of TPU, want to ensure the quality of our community forum. In particular, we want the NEWS section to be fresh, sharp, and to the point. Preferably devoid of propaganda, marketing spin, copy+paste "copy", and other nonsense. While most news posting is excellent, there is an increasing amount of "marketing content" in the news recently.

I have 3 suggestions:

1. There should be 2 news sections, "real news", focusing on what TPU prides itself, ie. tech knowledge and expertise; and a new "spin news" section.

2. A request for news posters to improve the quality of their news postings, ie. less "spin" in "real news"

3. Some voting system on the news postings to improve quality of the "real news" section. Perhaps this is a new button called [SEND TO NEWS SPIN], which moves (or votes to move) a news item OUT of real news, and into SPIN. Alternatively, 2 voting buttons [Quality News] and[Spin] which a reader can press. It will calculate a percentage of "appreciation" for the news items. If a news poster is getting a LOW LOW percentage... then perhaps it will encourage the newsposter to adapt the style/content of postings :pimp:

[WhiteLotus]

i think all news guys do a good job.IMO this does not need to be implimented

[panchoman]

umm i think the news management is fine as it is atm, but this needs to be moved to comments & feedback none-the-less.

theres already a voting system, at the top of a thread, theres a drop down that you can use to rate the thread. if you rate news badly, then the news posters will notice and what not you know?

[3991vhtes]

is this about the MS says IE is more secure than FF?

[WhiteLotus]

the poll needs a stay the same option

[panchoman]

the poll needs a stay the same option

+1

[zekrahminator]

I think you should avoid a lot of drama and get something done by posting a "what I think would really improve the news section" thread in the comments and feedback section.

[AthlonX2]

personally i think news shouldnt be able to be replied to because it always causes flame wars

[lemonadesoda]

You cant manage what you cant measure. So we do need some kind of measurement system in any forum that gets managed. Since NEWS needs the MOST management (due to fees), seems like its the first place we should look to to implement some management concepts.

If you dont like the suggestions, post your own!

[pt]

personally i think news shouldnt be able to be replied to because it always causes flame wars

that's a GREAT idea! :)

[Ravenas]

There is a big difference between what is REAL news and what YOUR confirmation bias is telling you isn't real news. I think you really need to to rethink this post. I disagree with this completely.

I've noticed that you have been posting in many news threads that something is "false information" or "propaganda" without having any proof. I'm sure you would even go to the extent to try to find something to prove it wrong. The fact is, it just seems like you have started this thread purely because of certain news articles (I don't have to Include brand names) that you don't like, based on your own opinions.

This can all be easily explained due to your confirmation bias. News is news my friend. It's the same as how some people watch CNN, some people watch FOX, and some people watch MSNBC, ect... The point is, if you don't like the news, why not just find another source to find your news or just not read the news here altogether. If it really is "hurting" you that much, don't read it.

That's my 2 cents.

[malware]

There is a big difference between what is REAL and what YOUR confirmation bias is telling you isn't real. I think you really need to to rethink this post. I disagree with this completely.
My words, exactly.
Personally there's no unified way to make "real news" for everyone and you should know it...it has been discussed many times. I always give me as an example: I've been writing and working with hardware and computers only as professional for the past 5-6 years. For me "real news" are cars and mobile phones news not hardware, which means I have to start posting what's Toyota's latest model and post it as "REAL NEWS". I can't post what you think as real news either, I can't post 20 000 different opinions about "real news" EITHER. There's a simple way...if you don't like current story...you don't look at it, you don't comment and that's it.
And finally stop complaining about marketing...if it wasn't for the marketing you wouldn't have your computer parts.

P.S. I'll be glad to answer more questions, if there're any.

[Namslas90]

@ lemonadesoda;

I think if you don't like the news here, then read the news elswhere.

Maybe you should start your own site, and see how many people like the way you report the news.

I agree partly with Athlon, comenting on the news can be both good and irratating.
It's nice to be able to speak your mind, but on the other hand, we have to read about people like Lemonadesoda complain about it.

:toast:

[malware]

Commenting on the news can't be stopped, because this is of interest to the whole site. If you're unable to comment you'll just visit the front page, read and forget. Now you can comment and check back what's other members' opinions. That's good for both sides, although sometimes comments are not quite logical.

[Kreij]

News section is fine. Leave it as it is.

[lemonadesoda]

... a lot of rubbish
Nam, you are missing the point. Go back through the news comments over the last months. I didnt start the "this is propaganda" commentary. There have been comments like this going on a long time. The first time I used those words were yesterday.

So why this poll... because I can see an increase in a certain type of "news" and an increase in the number of people saying "this isnt news"... and an increase in news posters posting "easy copy + paste" into the news forum. I have not got personal at any of the news posters. In general they all do a good job on average.

But if I didnt care about the "quality" or continuous improvement of TPU, then I'd just "walk away" as you suggest as your own natural behavioural mode.

The difference between an active contributer to the community, and a passive member, are those that stand up to take a view, offer it to the community to comment, and respond accordingly. Its responsible investigation and management.

Your view "no, I'm ok with news, no changes" is sufficient. There's no need to reveal yourself as a "take a hike" method to solving problems.

I've got to quote you on this one "Maybe you should start your own site, and see how many people like the way you report the news.". Pathetic.

[Ravenas]

Nam, you are missing th point. Go back through the news comments. I didnt start the "this is propaganda" commentary. There have been comments like this going on a long time. The first time I used those words were yesterday.

So why this poll... because I can see an increase in a certain type of "news" and an increase in the number of people saying "this isnt news"... and an increase in news posters posting "easy copy + paste" into the news forum.

If I didnt care, I'd just "walk away" as you suggest as your natural behavioural mode.

The difference between an active contributer to the community, and a passive member, are those that stand up to take a view, offer it to the community to comment, and respond accordingly. Its responsible investigation and management.

Your view "no, I'm ok with news, no changes" is sufficient. There's no need to reveal yourself as a "take a hike" method to solving problems.

No one is saying take a hike, we're saying if you don't think it's "news" and you don't want to read it, DON'T READ IT. How simple is that? Man I think FOX news is full of shit, so I don't watch it, I watch MSNBC.

Furthermore, you're calling yourself an active contributer to the community when all you're really doing is complaining about news you don't want to see. There is nothing more that needs to be said because you have proven my point countless times. :cool:

[zekrahminator]

You know, your points would seem a lot more valid if you didn't discredit the original poster by declaring his views "... a lot of rubbish".

Here is my point of view on the situation.

As a newsposter, I used to try and post 3 stories a day. Then, Hellas came along, posted 20 a day, and forever set the bar as far as the pure output we had to be shoving on the front page. While we were once focused on quality, you guys demanded more news. Fine. Malware and I (excluding countless other newsposters that are a lot more freelance about the job) stepped up to the plate and began posting as much news as we could find. I know in general (excluding today, of course, and any day I'm really busy) I try to post a minimum of 5 stories a day, and sometimes I go crazy and post 8-12.

We try our hardest to keep stories relevant and interesting. If you have issues with the way the news is posted, you should just say something like "hey, I think you guys need to focus less on the console wars and more on the upcoming G92 release". Instead, you have created drama by starting a poll and discussion based on the idea that the news section is inherently flawed.

I spend between one and two hours a day making sure you guys have something to read when you come home from work/school. I don't appreciate being told that my news doesn't quite make the cut, and I REALLY don't appreciate being told that my news is a fat load of "spin".


Regardless of how you brought up this issue, we're quite happy to resolve it. Because we post between 5-12 stories a day on average, we can't remember everything we post. Some references to stories you think are "spin" and some stories that you think are "real news" would really get the ball rolling towards improvement.

[lemonadesoda]

zek, thanks for the comment... and history. Interesting point about the motivations of TPU posting "more news".

May I offer an observation of the maxim "quantity" vs. "quality". We all know there are LIMITED RESOURCES for the news section. My suggestion is to make sure there is a balance in Q vs. Q. Perhaps some days there really isnt 3 posts worth making... or there isnt enough time to track down 3 good posts.

But please dont take it personal "I dont appreciate...". Its not about YOU. While we all know this is a private site, and you hold a banstick, please dont start waving it around like that. Those words are a sign of you getting publically PISSED OFF, and that really is not the purpose of my original post.

Please also note I put this in Gen Nonsene rather than comments and feedback to keep it more LOW KEY. Someone moved it.

I apologise to all who have GOT UPSET by the post. It is a genuine effort to give some constructive directional feedback. Since the poll is getting LOW SCORES, then you guys can just take the feedback as being "INSUFFICIENTLY COMPELLING EVIDENCE - TAKE NO ACTION".

[lemonadesoda]

[QUOTE=Ravenas;558603]you're calling yourself an active contributer to the community when all you're really doing is complaining about news you don't want to see...[QUOTE]Actually I didnt make any attempt at SELF AGGRANDISEMENT. Just made a view of what an active contributer should do.

Anyway Ravenas, lets stop bitching at each other... it gets us know-where. You are equally as bad as I am at "contributing" if we look at our thanks per post ratio. Perhaps we should BOTH STFU. :pimp:

[zekrahminator]

'Tis cool.

Now that we're making progress, please gimme some links to news that you'd like to see more of, and news you'd like to see less of. I could care less about the original author of the post, it's the story that matters.

[PVTCaboose1337]

I think the news is great how it is. I like the two sided opinions. This thread is stupid. All our newsposters do a good job, especially zek with his "Danthebanjoman discovers blurble" story.

[panchoman]

I think the news is great how it is. I like the two sided opinions. This thread is stupid. All our newsposters do a good job, especially zek with his "Danthebanjoman discovers blurble" story.

too bad he got yelled at for the banjo story and got the story thrown into general nonsense

[imperialreign]

Honestly, I think maybe having a little more of a specific way to rate news postings might be alright . . . but at the same time, you might get all the people that don't find a particular posting to be interesting rating it low.

Otherwise, I think for the most part the news section is alright.

The only idea I could recommend, would be to maybe seperate "general tech news" from "hardware news". Granted, we all love seeing that unexpected article about some been-rumored-at-for-6-months piece of hardware now and then, and we all get a kick out of scoping out the specs of that new super whoompum-ass processor . . . but the hardware news articles tend to dominate the news section as they tend to draw more attention than regular news articles and in turn tend to stay towards the top of the forum.


Maybe I just have an aversion to the "search" button :laugh:

[TUngsten]

maybe if the propaganda-like "spin" stories weren't considered news there wouldn't be an issue.

[sneekypeet]

So where is the option in the voting for ....Leave it like it is?

[W1zzard]

i'm not sure what the big issue is, read the headline, dont like?, scroll down to next

[panchoman]

So where is the option in the voting for ....Leave it like it is?

+1 to both


i'm not sure what the big issue is, read the headline, dont like?, scroll down to next

[PVTCaboose1337]

i'm not sure what the big issue is, read the headline, dont like?, scroll down to next

Yes thats right. You CHOOSE to read news you dont have to read TPU, you can read some other place if you do not like. If it was that bad, W1z would have changed it himself, so stop whining you pussies. :)

[Namslas90]

Nam, you are missing the point. Go back through the news comments over the last months. I didnt start the "this is propaganda" commentary. There have been comments like this going on a long time. The first time I used those words were yesterday.

You still, 'started yesterday'.

So why this poll... because I can see an increase in a certain type of "news" and an increase in the number of people saying "this isnt news"... and an increase in news posters posting "easy copy + paste" into the news forum. I have not got personal at any of the news posters. In general they all do a good job on average.

All news agency's have "dry periods" where there is no new news. thus "spin" was invented.

But if I didnt care about the "quality" or continuous improvement of TPU, then I'd just "walk away" as you suggest as your own natural behavioural mode.

I think TPU is comming along just fine.

The difference between an active contributer to the community, and a passive member, are those that stand up to take a view, offer it to the community to comment, and respond accordingly. Its responsible investigation and management.

Lots of members here "actively contribute", without the "investigation and management"...because they are not assigned investigators and managers by the administrator.

Your view "no, I'm ok with news, no changes" is sufficient. There's no need to reveal yourself as a "take a hike" method to solving problems..

I never siad "take a hike" I said "read the news elsewhere".
What "problems" most of us don't see this problem you see.

I've got to quote you on this one "Maybe you should start your own site, and see how many people like the way you report the news.". Pathetic.

Yes this entire arguement - "pathetic".

No offense , but I don't see any issues important enough to start all this over. It's not that big a deal. Every site has it's share of SPIN, SPAM, Fanboyism, ETC. We live in a reader beware world and you have to take it as that. People are people and TPU is full of people, just like the rest of the World Wide Web.

:toast:

[lemonadesoda]

Why, what a personal tirade! Just go back to the OP. It's a poll in GN asking about views on news. Perhaps not particulary well written, but I haven't entered your house and forced you to do anything. What a performance!

[zekrahminator]

...Right. Now that that's over with, are you going to do as I asked and let me know what stories (http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=558665&postcount=21) you think are good and which ones you think are "spin"? Because otherwise, none of us have any idea what you're talking about...

[Ravenas]

...Right. Now that that's over with, are you going to do as I asked and let me know what stories (http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=558665&postcount=21) you think are good and which ones you think are "spin"? Because otherwise, none of us have any idea what you're talking about...

He is never going to have a defiant opinion on what "real news" is and what "spin" is. He has a functional fixedness in relation to what news he considers real. His basis on what is real and what is spin is quite biased, and that's why I said he has a functional fixedness. The following links (cites) with his posts will explain why:

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=45815
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=46088
Notice in this link, that is pertaining to the Xbox (the competitor of Sony) lemonade speaks nothing about spin. This news article is also the same type of news... (http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=45926)

The two problems I'm going to cite are:
(A). Confirmation bias
(B). Functional fixedness

That's my two cents, again.

EDIT: I don't understand the problem...If you don't like what you're reading, don't read it. You think I read every article in the newspaper?

[lemonadesoda]

LOL. Kettle calling pot black, eh, Ravenas.

Have you turned into the resident TPU quack? LOL. Before you start throwing terms around that you dont understand, at least learn to spell "definitive opinion" and not "defiant"! ROTFL

Seems to be that you've got ODD because you're matching all the DSM-IV-TR criteria!

Take some WISE WORDS from the knowledgeable W1zzard. If you dont like an OP, "scroll down and move on".

@zek, I'm not here to start researching the archives of TPU news. I made an observation. Responded and made a post in GN. This is not a legal case, I am not identifying parties as being "guilty" or "innocent". If you'd asked a question like "have you got any suggestions about how we could define 'real' vs. 'spin' because in some cases its pretty hard to decide" then that would have been, IMO, smarter approach than saying "no, I dont like your opinion, my opinion rules, prove me wrong by dragging up all the articles, and then i'd just say no i dont agree anyway with your examples". Getting us nowhere fast.

[lemonadesoda]

So where is the option in the voting for ....Leave it like it is?
zek... can you mod the poll and add this?

[Ravenas]

Seems to be that you've got ODD because you're matching all the DSM-IV-TR criteria!


(copied right out of my notes from last year)
DSM-IV classification
• The current edition of the DSM, DSM-IV-TR, provides information about a person’s overall functioning, not just a diagnosis. People may receive diagnoses for clinical syndromes or personality disorders, or a combination of the two.
• The classification system:
o Clinical syndromes
o Personality disorders
o General medical conditions
o Psychosocial and environmental problems
o Global assessment of functioning

Funny because the two things I cited have nothing to do with the DSM (also known as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual). Completely different section of Psychology btw, I'm sure you didn't know that, but then I'm sure you Googled something. :D

[Polaris573]

This thread is producing nothing useful. Therefore if you do not like a posted story please send a PM to the poster or Malware containing a detailed explanation of what you do not like.