News Department Feedback 2k13

[Samantha]

I'm going to just jump in here, I have only skim read the recent replies so please inform me if it's been mentioned.

From when this first mainly came about I was very set against integrating on the forum, but over time it has helped sometimes when we've posted articles in news and rumour threads or directed members from the site to the forum. A couple of months ago too, I wanted to completely move it to the forum (I got told no, I did try though) as apparently Sulake wouldn't allow it. However, I know other fansites have separate forums for their news and redirects it from the main site - I kno duplication will be a problem, but I think it'd be nice to see or something similar.

A few managers have tried branching out to the community, telephrase mazes, weekest link etc. all help (however minimally, or whatever), but it'd be great to see it take a more community side too - interviews with members etc.

I'll discuss it more later, but some of the things brought up seems interesting.

I know a couple of people, including myself suggested more guides and similar sort of articles again.
@FlyingJesus; 'least 2 managers who've said they'd get staff to do this sort of thing but have completely failed to do so.' I really hope you don't mean me in this, for the majority I did make staff do it/attempt to (you can go back in news and rumours a bit to see this). Admittedly, it was more in my first stint as NM not second, but I got rather annoyed if staff posted the threads informing members before we had an article (if they were news staff that is). However, I appreicate the comments and I agree to an extent.

[FlyingJesus]

Of course I mean you; you didn't do it

[Samantha]

Of course I mean you; you didn't do it

How didn't I, it's just like what Dan does by informing members of the article, linking it to them etc. I did do that, so I'm unsure where you're coming from.

[Kardan]

My personal opinion is that it's time to scrap the news department and just merge it with content. The two best things (Well, really the only things) in news are the badge guides, which technically is content, not news, and the rare value reports, which are quite clearly rare values related.

Having news articles go up on the main website a few days late seems pointless when everyone has already discussed it on the forum.

[FlyingJesus]

There is a total of 1 link to a forum thread on the entire first page of news. You did not implement it.

[Samantha]

There is a total of 1 link to a forum thread on the entire first page of news. You did not implement it.

Oh that, actually it was implemented when @Zelda; was the manager (I remember after returning). It was made a rule when he was manager, and was kept (as something you should do if there's already a thread on it) when I was manager too. I did do it, bear in mind I don't write news as often now, but it was in my reports (last one I did https://habbox.com/#!/News/article/2052).

Looking back to then though, I've noticed that the amount of staff was low, but those who were writing reports did link.

[FlyingJesus]

It wasn't done when either of you were managers, otherwise I wouldn't have continued to discuss it. Tom even said that he never got around to actually doing it properly, and from your responses I can see that you somehow don't understand what it was that was meant to be done anyway despite it being an extremely simple premise. If it was a rule then everyone would have been fired without exception

[Inseriousity.]

Not really fair to go by the first page. Manager changes means some rules get left by the wayside and I was more focused on getting them to write anything (when I joined there hadn't been anything for weeks) and build up a team. I'm not that convinced that advertising the forum really has much impact anyway, it seems to work better advertising news from the forum rather than news to forum. Habbox has always had that problem where the forum is the community hub (imo it should be the hotel).

[FlyingJesus]

Yeah and advertising from forum to site doesn't get done either apart from Dan's rv report which Sam doesn't seem to understand

[lRhyss]

That's a good example of news being done as it should be - it's presented properly to the community at large and Dan obviously cares about his subject rather than just wanting to get his minimums. Unfortunately it's not being done by the others and we've had at least 2 managers who've said they'd get staff to do this sort of thing but have completely failed to do so. As you say, it's a leadership issue, and it's not at all helped by the clique at the top being reluctant to take chances on people who aren't their friends or take power from those who are

Maybe have it so the "Habbo News" thread is a thread where the WHOLE community can post news as long as the follow guidelines? Have it so News editors have to moderate the posts before they are viewable to the public. This way it truly is by the community for the community.