Sound Politics: Sound Voices Update

July 11, 2006

Sound Voices Update

We're still evaluating the "scoop" software which we're using for the "Sound Voices" reader diaries, which you can try out here. Our goal is to expand our coverage by enabling you, our very smart and engaged readers, to share more of your opinions and expertise. We want the technology to facilitate that. Tell us what you think about the scoop site -- is it helpful? easy to use? uninteresting? buggy? confusing? whatever, post your thoughts in the comments.

Also, we're evaluating another potential solution for enabling readers to post their own articles and blog entries. This is based on the same Movable Type software that we use for the main blog. I could use a few volunteers to kick the tires and let me know how well it works before I make it available for a general public test. E-mail me if you'd like to be an early adopter: theshark .at. usefulwork d@t com

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at July 11, 2006 04:24 PM | Email This

Comments

1. Two words: threaded comments.

I don't know why so many bogs expend so much effort to implement obscure features while completely ignoring the one that would most improve the reader experience.

Posted by: David Wright on July 11, 2006 04:43 PM

2. Yes, what David said Or...the only feature Goldy has that I like and that is the numbered comments.

I posted my first Scoop diary today and had no difficulty.

I have been thinking about the logged on users moderating and voting for news articles, and I have to say I really don't care for that feature. If news articles are to be moderated it should be by system admins IMHO.

Posted by: Lynne on July 11, 2006 04:58 PM

3. Shark,

I've had problems accessing both Sound Voices and Sound Events since yesterday evening. For some reason the pages won't load in Safari or Firefox -- though I haven't actually waited either out, so it could just be loading very slowly.

I also like the idea of threaded comments. But I like the notion of having a "bump" feature event more. RedState has something like this, as do a whole range of other blogs (WashBlog locally does it).

Basically it's where someone has a superb diary/story, and it's bumped onto the main page of the blog by an editor -- not just to a second page for diarists -- but to the actual front-page (i.e. soundpolitics.com). This encourages diarists to be more conscious of their writing -- and also provides you with extra content!

Posted by: Patrick on July 11, 2006 05:00 PM