009 News Feedback

[Moxy]

Here's a slightly left-field thought, but provoked by the discussion in this thread and elsewhere.

Should posts on this forum be considered as submissions to the 009 News?

In other words, feedback given on an issue on this forum is as valid as an email or letter to the editor and could be considered for publication.

Similarly original modelling content placed here by a member could be thought of as material for the editorial team to use. Although in this case it would probably make sense to edit it into a continuous article rather than reprint posts verbatim, and for ongoing illustrations of projects in-build picking the right time to do so.

Thoughts?

Posts on the forum - I wouldn't automatically consider for publication.  Threads on a forum tend to be more like 'electronic conversations' than letters to the editor, there is a risk taking one post out its thread may lose the context of the original meaning.

Using modelling content from here in the magazine I think is a much better idea, most of the workbench threads are built up over days or weeks, rather than someone having sit down and decide to write an article from scratch.  The only proviso I would suggest is asking the original author's permission before you publish it, out of courtesy.

Paul

[MickT]

Good idea by Steve, good valid points made in Paul's comments.

As this forum is only open to Society members, then I think there definitely is mileage in this suggestion. However, as Paul has indicated, caution is advised.

I don't think it can be taken that a posting made here is automatically classed as "fair game" as a submission for the News any more than an email to one of the Editors or indeed anyone else on the Committee can be classed in the context of "an official communication to the Society, therefore fair game to publish it in the News" if you follow my drift.

However, points made by members on here may be just the right material for what the editorial team want to put in a specific issue of the News, so in that sort of context then I think, just as Paul suggested, a request to the poster to use the material would be perfectly acceptable. Same goes for "workbench" and layout topics posted on this forum. I think Brian Meldon may strongly support the view that what is posted on a forum is not necessarily exactly what would be suited to being published word for word. He has already done a comprehensive Egger stock history on NGRM-Online but has found it necessary to completely re-write his instalments to make them suitable for publishing on hard copy in 009 News, so some careful consideration needs to be given in this area.

As possibly the most prolific contributor of material to the News in recent years, I have in the past often been asked by successive previous editors for permission to use specific photos from my online sets (currently in Picasaweb) to supplement or support material that the editor/s want to publish. I have always of course willingly given permission but if I discovered that material I had posted on this forum for example had simply been

[Frank]

I don't think that current and past members would have expected that their posts would be published in the News and I don't think you should retrospectively decide they were submitted with that in mind.   If you want to change this going forwards then it should be announced, but I think it will change the nature of the posts quite a lot.

However I think that there are some excellent threads in this forum that would make the basis for excellent articles for the News and indeed some of the longer ones would be suitable for publication in a revised Handbook or similar publication.

However the permission of the authors should be sought and there would probably be some need for editing.

Frank

[rod335]

I don't think I have any problem with this suggestion except for two provisos. Firstly, the decision to publish must not be retrospective and secondly, most of the posts on this, and other fora, are by definition, comments on an ongoing topic and as such are rarely self-supporting, so could/should not be used out of context.

Rod

[gtmspyder]

Morning all.

I don't think there is much fear of any of my posts being put in the news as I waffle too much, but I do think that if the editors thought that a series of posts by members, was worth reprinting in the magazine, that a request from the editors to the poster would be in order to get permission.

Regards,

BrianT.

[Graeme Dunbar]

Regarding including posts from the 009 Society Forum (or the other place) in the journal I guess it all depends on what has been written.

Having a regular feature that repeats or summarizes what is written online for the sake of it is not worth the bother. Occasionally information that might appeal to a wider audience may appear, i.e. treating online content as a news feed.

For example there was a discussion online about a proposed 009 Fremo-based modular system. Irrespective as to whether the any of the actual postings were of interest, the information that some modellers were thinking about 009 modules might be "newsworthy".

[Krizzy]

What I would like to see is 009 SOCIETY MEMBERS posting on this forum before the any other fora. Too often some members, and many non members, seek instant gratification on the other forums and ignore the fact that they have contributed something that could either be included on here first or printed in the NEWS. I have always preferred to send our editors an article for printing in the NEWS and on many occasions at exhibitions have received encouraging comments and thanks. Only a few members like Ted P are willing to share their modelling experiences either in the NEWS or on the forums. His current work on his L&M loco is worthy of inclusion in both printed and electronic media. Such work that Ted and others have presented us in the NEWS I eventually cut out the pages to become part of my 009 reference material and encyclopaedia. Some of which I take with me to an exhibition as invariably someone will ask 'how to', e g, "how can I replace an Ibertren chassis?" I show them Ian Turner's article on how to re-motor a defunct Ibertren chassis with a Mashima along with one of my own examples. Very few members think about changing the motor for one that is far better as the basic chassis is fine for most of us. Maybe that is one article the editors could resurrect from earlier newsletters. Some things need going over again as time goes by what with new members joining having missed such instructional articles from years past.

Roger   

[tat2drod]

I don't think that current and past members would have expected that their posts would be published in the News and I don't think you should retrospectively decide they were submitted with that in mind.   If you want to change this going forwards then it should be announced, but I think it will change the nature of the posts quite a lot.

I agree with this. My forum entries here are a lot more informal than anything I would put in a letter to Ye Ed and wouldn't expect them to go into the News.

On the other hand...

I have no problem if this situation changes in the future but, having done fora for 25+ years in work, I can guarantee you that the nature of some posts will change as people (or at least me) take into account the change in audience.

[invercloy]

Very few members think about changing the motor for one that is far better as the basic chassis is fine for most of us. Maybe that is one article the editors could resurrect from earlier newsletters. Some things need going over again as time goes by what with new members joining having missed such instructional articles from years past.

Roger   

Thanks Roger, good suggestion, I'll add it to our list of ideas.

[B.Meldon]

As I mentioned before the material I post on the forums, here and on NGRM-on-line is not in a condition that I would wish to be seen in 009 News.

I suppose the basic content is all there, but not the overall composition. As I said it takes me a lot longer to do an article for the news than it does to post something on a forum.

One thing I have seen done in a non railway situation (church bellringing) is a short regular column  entitled

[petersmith1942]

Some very interesting comments and responses and certainly some good ideas. I find it odd to think that I would write differently for the forum than for the News but I do agree that context is all and selective extracts from threads may be very misleading.
With regard to Krizzys comments our hobby ( not this Society) has always had its share of freeloaders and always will. Some publicly boast about it and getting something for nothing is part of their hobby (and maybe their life). I find the anonymity of forum names quite irritating especially as in many cases the true identity is shown or easily found but I just accept it just as I accept but dont like the status of membership. Lets hope I never become a hero member of anything!
It seems that the editors are finding this thread to be helpful and that can only be good
I too find the writings of people like Ted Polet inspiring and taking the trouble to photograph and record progress is equally so. So often I am so keen-or desperate- to finish the job in hand I am left wishing I had done it when it is often too late. The demo of Bemo gauge conversion was equally good and left me wondering why I had dismissed the idea for so long
If only I really was a newbie instead of the oldby I really am
Peter Smith

[tedp]

To answer a few feelings expressed in this thread: I have made a point of copying my threads on NGRM and on this forum, which I didn't do for nothing.

If two-thirds of the members don't participate on this forum that is a good reason to publish some of the material in the 009 News. Another is that I like to read the News over coffee without having to hold an electronic device. There must be many others who feel alike.

I have re-written a few forum threads and sent them to Tom to publish in the News. I'm not saying which ones! A forum thread needs to be re-written and condensed for the News as this is a different medium. Also, it enables you to carefully re-phrase some posts that weren't particularly good.

Finally, I like the 'how to' illustrated topics such as the Bemo re-gauging tale, and the Glen Ogle thread. I do similar topics myself for a very good reason, which is to share experience and knowledge, and help get others going. I wish there were more of them!  ;)

[Tigger]

Without wishing to display any support on one side or t'other, I do remember that when I was in the Society's 'driving seat' it was always the case that the News was primarily for modelling and modelling articles and, as has been mentioned above, there are plenty enough purely prototype articles in other magazines.  (Prototype info that supported a modelling article was exempt!)  Even a 'protptype corner' of one page was a little bit questionable.

That said folks, the 009 News is not only one of the finest society magazines currently being published, it is also one of the most demanding; unlike, say, a quartely where the Editior can have a month collecting, a month collating and a month off, there is absolutely no let-up with the News.  As has been said, any Editor can only publish what he is sent - so we can all get building and get writing!

[Hobby]

So if someone went on holiday and visited a few lines took some photos they would not be welcome for the News? that's the impression I'm getting... It's worth bearing in mind that not everyone has access to, or wants to use, the 'net and as Alan says it can be a useful way of people finding out about lines they may not otherwise of heard of...

I'll hold my photos of two cog railways, a couple of 760mm lines and a metre gauge line then... As they are both Prototype and NOT 009... Double whammy!

[petersmith1942]

of course they would if something new and which adds to modelling possibilities, has views of locos from more than threequarter front and avoids pics with tantalising gems in the background to which no reference is made and references to how great, or bad the nearest eating place was
Its what editorship is all about. Nothing is ruled in or out as you suggest but is it relevant to our aims
Peter Smith