Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 21:21, 21 April 2018

Please use this page for general or technical issues, praise, queries, or complaints related to The Signpost as a whole. For article-specific comments, please add them to that article's comment section. To suggest a topic to cover, see Suggestions. To propose or submit your own writing, see the Submissions. To discuss the next issue, see the Newsroom talk page.

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New user topicon

I quite like these icons, as they help me keep track of some of my important contributions for later reference. I've created one for the signpost: {{Signpost user topicon}}. --Tom (LT) (talk) 11:17, 8 March 2018 (UTC)

Technology report on new external tools and features

I'm guessing the "new user scripts" list is built by simply checking for changes to WP:US/L. What about external tools and the like? Maybe we could manually submit announcements that you'd consider including in the tech report? There are a lot of new and useful Toolforge tools, along with major updates to existing ones, and it'd be neat for them to get the same exposure and free advertising ;) — MusikAnimal 21:25, 13 March 2018 (UTC)

MusikAnimal I think you'd have to ask Evad37, who it seems is having some health problems right now. Eddie891 _Work 00:13, 14 March 2018 (UTC)

Floating a grant proposal for publishing

There was a failed WMF grant proposal to fund a Publication Manager for 45 issues. I floated a shorter-term experimental rapid grant here for three months on a trial basis. This was done without any consultation so it might be dumb. But it might not. Comments can be made at the link provided. I know people want to keep editorial roles strictly separated from WMF support, so if this happened, and I was funded to do it, I would refrain from other Signpost activities for the duration. ☆ Bri (talk) 00:56, 30 March 2018 (UTC)

I mentioned this project of Bluerasberry's in my op-ed but I had not researched all the background here. Lane's suggestion is not without merit - he's one of our users who often comes up with ideas, I know him well pesonally and have nothing but admiration for his energy. However, there were some valid concerens expressed about the WMF funding suggestion. While it would be an incentive to keep someone in the printinhg house control room, IMHO I believe it would be important to keep the newspaper independent of the Foundation. Having discussed late last night with Bri about trying to get this latest issue out, I'm not so sure that the tasks of 'publisher', while requiring perhaps somewhat more technical knowledge than mine for example, are so onerous that they merit a remunerated position. WE're all volunteers and each one devotes as much time as they can to Misplaced Pages - what is needed just as urgently is also an enthusiastic and responsive editorial team. AFAICS, the current E-in-C is not the only Signpost 'staff' who has not edited in a long while.Kudpung กุดผึ้ง (talk) 01:33, 30 March 2018 (UTC)

This is an "and not but" reply. The Publishing Manager role has zero editorial input. They are a button-pusher for content produced by the editorial staff. ☆ Bri (talk) 01:45, 30 March 2018 (UTC)

I think this is brilliant idea. I think the value of the Signpost is great, and concerns about "independence" do not appear insurmountable. Hawkeye7 (discuss) 01:54, 30 March 2018 (UTC)

Bri, having done us the honours last night and publishing this long overdue issue, you know best just exactly what is involved in the 'button pushing', how complex (or not) it is, and how long it takes. Provided the editorial team can select appropriate submissions and copy edit them, and those who provide the regular traffic and tech reports, FA lists, and Arbcom news etc. can get their copy in in time, I belive a punctual monthly issue would be possible. Kudpung กุดผึ้ง (talk) 05:08, 30 March 2018 (UTC)

Manual publishing sucks. Kudos to Bri. (Former EIC) Ed  23:14, 18 April 2018 (UTC)

"Submissions" footer template

With the current dearth of content, what would thoughts be about attaching this to some of the non-editorial submissions to the signpost? We have so many editors out there, I find it fascinating and engaging to read about the experiences of other editors, especially how other editors contribute and how that might change my own editing. A little message at the bottom of those submissions may also serve to encourage further editor contributions. Thoughts? --Tom (LT) (talk) 00:33, 31 March 2018 (UTC)

Example:

This is an editor submission. You can write one too! We are always looking for contributions from editors and WikiProjects relating to your thoughts, experience here, or for an article or essay about how you've contributed, and with some takeaway messages that might help other editors. You can submit an article or essay here.

New Section idea: recently granted Page Mover / Template Editor permissions

This is content that may be of interest to readers, is fairly easily auto-generated, and can highlight (newer) non-admin users. I'm not sure it would be useful to list new AWB / ECP / Rollback users, but maybe I'm wrong. power~enwiki (π, ν) 19:31, 4 April 2018 (UTC)

Yeah, you don't want to touch ECP, there's far too many to cover, especially in a month. I like the TE/PGMOV idea. ∰Bellezzasolo✡ Discuss 19:22, 18 April 2018 (UTC)

I think you're right. How would one go about automating it? power~enwiki? Eddie891 _Work 23:38, 18 April 2018 (UTC)

The API page at is easy to parse. I wrote a quick script available on Github. In the last 28 days, I see new permissions of:

extendedmover: User:CASSIOPEIA User:Eric Corbett User:LeoFrank User:Lordtobi User:SamHolt6 User:TaerkastUA

templateeditor: User:Charlesaaronthompson User:Jon Kolbert User:KolbertBot User:Neveselbert User:Outriggr.

Both "reviewer" = pending changes reviewer, and "patroller" = new pages patroller have significantly more activity. power~enwiki (π, ν) 00:24, 19 April 2018 (UTC)

• Apologies, in advance but this does seem like an idea to fill space for the sake of filling it.None of the two rights are so important, so as to invoke the attention of the broader community to it's disbursal. ~ Winged Blades 02:47, 19 April 2018 (UTC)
  • I can't disagree; this is motivated almost entirely by the severe lack of content and interest in this publication. To paraphrase 30 Rock, if people are mentioned in the Signpost, they are more likely to read it. power~enwiki (π, ν) 04:30, 19 April 2018 (UTC)

I think it's enough just to mention new admins. Minor rights holders are created ten a day. It would start looking like the modern credits of a movie where even the location tea lady and trash truck divers are mentioned. Kudpung กุดผึ้ง (talk) 05:02, 19 April 2018 (UTC)

Who's the editor?

I am incredibly confused about who's actually running this at the moment. Who are the important editors, publishers, and regular contributors? Not sure how up-to-date the Newsroom's contributors list is... — pythoncoder  (talk | contribs) 17:32, 21 April 2018 (UTC)

The newsroom is a coalition of the willing. I'd say at this point E in C is a distributed, functional role embodied by whoever takes moment to moment challenges. The only fixed role at the moment possibly is Publication Manager, which is me on an interim basis, since I'm the only active one (I think) with the requisite permissions for mass-mailings and who has published at least once. Also I should acknowledge that Barbara has consistently done the past eleven Humour columns, starting with the "reboot" 15 July 2017 issue. As for who are contributors here is the list from Issue 4:

• OP-ED: Death knell sounding for The Signpost? By Kudpung
• NEWS AND NOTES: Wiki Conference roundup and new appointments By Bluerasberry
• TRAFFIC REPORT: Real sports, real women and an imaginary country (Top25 report imported, editors not really active at Newsroom)
• SPECIAL REPORT: ACTRIAL wrap-up By Kudpung
• ARBITRATION REPORT: Ironing out issues in infoboxes; not sure yet about New Jersey; and an administrator who probably wasn't uncivil to a sockpuppet. By Bri
• IN THE MEDIA: The media on Misplaced Pages's workings: the good and not-so-good By Eddie891 and Bri
• FEATURED CONTENT: Animals, Ships, and Songs By Eddie891 and Bri
• TECHNOLOGY REPORT: Timeless skin review by Force Radical By FR30799386
• HUMOUR: WikiWorld Reruns By Greg Williams edited by Barbara Page

Glad you are contributing to the current issue! ☆ Bri (talk) 18:23, 21 April 2018 (UTC)

Thanks — pythoncoder  (talk | contribs) 18:40, 21 April 2018 (UTC)

NCORP report?

I don't think the update to NCORP has been covered in the signpost yet. Any plans? If not I guess i am volunteering myself to draft it, by asking... Jytdog (talk) 21:02, 21 April 2018 (UTC)

• Jytdog: Consider yourself signed up :) (If you want to draft something). Longer than three-ish paragraphs, you should probably write a piece, but a short, two or three paragraph write up can go into the News and Notes. Eddie891 _Work 21:21, 21 April 2018 (UTC)