We're very excited about the new Sound Politics Public Blog, which gives our readers and commenters a chance to share their own blog posts with the public. As you can see in the right-hand column on our SP main page, we have a running list of links to the most recent posts at our Public Blog site. To encourage more people to contribute more often to the SP Public Blog, here are some user guidelines in the form of Frequently Asked Questions, or FAQs. One very important tip concerns how to weave in links to Public Blog posts.
Q: How do I get started?
A: Click on "Public Blog" on the Sound Politics Main Page; and then at the Public Blog, click on "register/log in." Follow the registration guidelines for your TypeKey identity carefully. It's quite simple. Once completed, make a note of your password and username. You'll need both every time you log in to compose a new post. For ease, bookmark the log-in page.
Q: What sort of material are you looking for at the SP Public Blog?
A: Politics, elections, public policy and related opinion and perspective. Especially local news/commentary from your town or county; plus state or regional news/commentary on topics that have been covered lightly or not at all at the main Sound Politics blog. National or international topics should be covered lightly, if at all, on the Public Blog, and always with a strong tie-in to Washington State. Personal experiences or profiles of individuals are acceptable, but there should be a prominent tie-in to politics or public policy, preferably of the local, regional or state variety. "Think" pieces with the same caveats are also acceptable.
Q: What approach should I use in crafting my posts for the Public Blog?
A: Original reporting is always welcome, on public meetings, political speeches, campaign commercials, and other such topics; but document it well, as though you were a newspaper reporter. More often, a good blog post on politics and/or public policy will have a basis in a recent news item or opinion piece that has been published online. Please DO weave links into your posts; that is a habit you should get into. (See FAQ below on inserting links, below). To write your Public Blog posts, 1) briefly give the gist of the news "hook." 2) Then get to what might be called the "value add;" that's your own take or twist on it. The "value add" can just simply be your own opinion, or your viewpoint mixed with a backstory the media has left untold or underplayed. Additional links can be woven in from online news and opinion sources, public agencies, think tanks and other sources still, including other blogs. Be resourceful, but make sure to evaluate the credibility of each source-link you include.
A (cont.): The above-recommended order (facts, then opinion) is not hard and fast. You may wish to lead your post with a strongly stated opinion about some recent news, and THEN get to the factual background.
Q: How should I approach including links from other bloggers in my posts?
A: If you are citing factual material provided through another blogger, make sure that blogger's sources include related and convincing links supporting his/her factual claims. You are also free to include links to posts by other bloggers that are more purely opinion-based. More generally, be on the lookout for new or undiscovered political bloggers in your town, county or part of the state who are doing worthwhile stuff. Feel free to use their posts in your own public blog posts if their work is of quality, and well-supported. Make sure to actually link to any such posts you cite.
Q: How do I insert links into my posts on the Public Blog?
A: (METHOD #1) On some browsers, using our Moveable Type blogging platform, you may see a little chain link icon right above the text-entry box. If so, that makes things quite easy. Operating your Web browser, just highlight the full Web address (also known as the URL) of the item you wish to link to; copy the URL; go to your post-in-progress; highlight your desired link word or link phrase - also known as "anchor text," and click on the icon.
A: (METHOD #2) Operating in your Web browser, highlight the full Web address (also known as the URL) of the item you wish to link to; copy the URL; go to your post-in-progress; decide what the link word or link phrase will be, and then enter by hand the basic hyperlink code, with the linkword(s)/anchor text placed where indicated in the above-linked tutorial.
Q: Should I preview my posts before I click "Publish?"
A: Yes, always. As you build a post, save it in "unpublished" form several times. Before saving it in "published" form, which puts it up on the blog, click on "Preview" for a clean look at it. Carefully check for typos and misspellings; do a quick copy-edit to improve the piece; and check to make sure your links work. If the links are not working, go back and make sure you have entered the code precisely.
Q: Can I edit my posts or update them, after I have published them to the Public Blog?
A: Yes, certainly. Log back in; click on "Entries," in the edit entry interface; and then re-access the specific post in question. When updating, use the phrase UPDATE: at the bottom of the post, followed by the additional information. Also, if somehow a typo or other error slips past you, or you discover a link worth weaving in after you publish, go back into the text-entry box for that post and make the necessary changes. If the error is one of fact, include a notation of the correction.
Q: Am I responsible for the content of my posts at the Public Blog?
A: Yes. You will want to strive for a high standard. It is helpful to document your claims, and important to be accurate.
Q: Should I monitor the comment strings on my posts at the Public Blog?
A: Yes. If any are offensive or off-topic, they can be removed in part or in whole. To do this, go into the text-entry interface for the post in question. Click on "comments" above the Title of the post. You will get an index containing each comment. Click on the comment, and then edit/save change, or delete, by clicking on the appropriately named button.