News Department Feedback 2k13

[BigtimeRyan]

Oh and
http://prntscr.com/2bdohe

[Martin]

Oh and
http://prntscr.com/2bdohe

Now that's just being picky omg. I am not going to spell check my posts on the forum now pfft!!! Articles should be though.

[Kardan]

Honestly how many people do you think even read these news reports? It could be loads but I highly doubt it.

Because news is on the homepage, I'm sure they'd tell you the hits for Habbox.com, and claim that every person that visits the site also reads the news

[sex]

whoever the news manager is doesn't seem to be putting in the effort, maybe demote them?????

[BigtimeRyan]

whoever the news manager is doesn't seem to be putting in the effort, maybe demote them?????

Well Samanfa was but she just got promoted so she isn't as active in News department.

[sex]

Well Samanfa was but she just got promoted so she isn't as active in News department.

swear she got promoted like 2 days ago

[Samantha]

I will write more soon, but I'll say that currently there is no News Manager, we have 2 AGMs looking over the department with experience in it. However, as @sex; said, I was promoted 5 days ago and I've been getting sorted for the Christmas activities as @Bolt660; they will be beginning soon. I didn't know there was an article unedited on the site, otherwise I would have either sorted it out myself or asked @Emily; to take a look at it.

There are a few points that I don't agree with currently, or that I think you've just missed as they are available on the site etc. but I will go over them soon!

[Martin]

I will write more soon, but I'll say that currently there is no News Manager, we have 2 AGMs looking over the department with experience in it. However, as @sex; said, I was promoted 5 days ago and I've been getting sorted for the Christmas activities as @Bolt660; they will be beginning soon. I didn't know there was an article unedited on the site, otherwise I would have either sorted it out myself or asked @Emily; to take a look at it.

There are a few points that I don't agree with currently, or that I think you've just missed as they are available on the site etc. but I will go over them soon!

Should head reporters not be checking each article anyway though rather than being asked to? It's been up there a few days now.

Also there are problems with articles on the majority of pages, not just recent ones either which makes me wonder just how closely they are actually monitored and how much feedback is given to reporters. I know nobody is perfect and mistakes will happen, but basic layout/format/image errors/problems are easy to spot as soon as you post the article so I'm not sure why they haven't been picked up on.

Glad to hear Christmas is starting soon and hopefully we'll see lots of advertising for it soon to get everyone excited and into the Christmas spirit!

[Chippiewill]

Bolt660 for news manager 2k14

[Samantha]

Staff numbers too low

It seems the same with a few department now and not just the News Department, I've noticed recently that others such as Events perhaps have also struggled, but where they have gained more members News has not. When I returned a few months ago there were less members then there are now and that's saying something, applications do come in and if they're good enough for the trial they receive one, but usually as soon as you get an increase in members then others begin to resign. This can be pushed of course and I think whoever does take over needs to take example from @lawrawrrr; as she brought Content from just a couple of staff to more than a handful in about a week. It can be done, but I believe that it can be done by a manager - like I said above, when I was manager we gained members and the same will happen under another member.

I will go over about how @Bolt660; said ask members back - I believe you were witness to this as I sent a PM asking them to return or offering them trials t about 20 people, one of which was you and one of our current members @-:Undertaker:-;. Although it only got about 3 returning that's better than nothing and at least we still have one who brings that unique feel to Habbox again and brought back his own article!

Writing style

I don't fully agree with this, not the sloppy part, but saying we look like other Habbo fansites - we don't as I would be ashamed if I worked at their fansites as their SPAG is horrible, they don't write enough (I think some of their latest Habbo reports were in July, when Sulake says content should be up to date) etc. Now I have noticed that reports have gone down, and that can also be from various reasons - the staffing is an issue here too and it most likely will be for a lot of problems we're currently facing. Writing style can be different for everyone and we need to show that more as again you said bring back the featured articles (although this was before my time, I know where you're coming from).

SPAG

Like I said, I've currently been settling in and I know recently (not completely sure when), Emily has been enduring exams so I don't blame her if her focus isn't currently on Habbox. Rest assured this will be quicker in the future as now I have been made more aware of it. Luckily it wasn't the worst report I've ever seen and easily resolved. I have noticed this previously though that SPAG has been appalling - when I wasn't in the department it got to the point where I'd just go on the site just to see if X mistake had been changed.

Images

I agree with you, I've been a little lenient with some (such as sizing etc.) however, then again some just take the biscuit and need to be sorted out. We do have rules in place for images, although we need to clamp down on them further.

Motivation

Every time I send a PM I use CC, I inform them how it needed changing, why etc. and more often than not I'll tell them I enjoyed reading the report (which I do). However, if they're not writing reports for whatever reason then the only thing I can do is PM them and tell them they need to write which isn't the most positive thing to say although it's needed.

Comments

Comments are now more based, or trying to be based on the forum - I know on some reports (most actually) we write, about sharing your thoughts or just discussing it on the forum thread here and linking to it. This is a start, but more could be done - I know competitions worked this way and a lot got a good few entries, but a lot also can't access the site for whatever reason. Comments could be improved or driven more though if that's what people wanted.

Personalisation

See writing style.

Section of news

Articles don't get written much, but there's not that many who would want to write them currently. We don't really allow people just to write one type of news, unless it's Habbo based, but I would consider it under a new manager and they could drive the need of articles and such more.

Important news

This is a definite flaw at the moment and I fully agree with you! I used the urgent tag to get reports done and that didn't even happen (this was only used when I couldn't write the report immediately myself) and this could be linked to the motivation they have. I know I have asked Emily for one to write reports that were needed, the secret reports more, but I do agree with this. This can and will be improved I'm sure as there are many ways to improve motivation. I honestly don't think the editor helps, it's appalling to use and when it just decides to break that's the end of that.

Advertising

I've advertised a bit, there's always room for improvement, but advertising has got members to return. We have a Habbox Today banner, it still has Ryan on, but it still does its job. Forum wise advertising hasn't been that high, but like I said it can be improved.

Site or forum

Warming to the idea of having it on both, but this would help hits most probably and actually get members talking about the site.

Competitions

I do these, hence I had the News Competitions section made. It hasn't been used yet, but forum competitions have been done and they have been done previously. Prizes can be sorted and reporters can do them if they wish. I actually have rules/guidelines for competitions as well like making sure it's ok, how to set it out etc.

Interviews etc.

Not sure if you read the interview with Ediootti last month? I was rather happy with that! We also did get an interview from a semi famous player, which can be pushed again as that made News take a break from the sale old department manager interviews.

I think that will do for now!