CZ:Policy on Topic Informants: Difference between revisions

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'''For a general introduction to topic informants and interviews, see [[Citizendium_Pilot:Policy_Outline#Topic_Informants|this section of the Policy Outline]].'''  The following provides details and processes.
'''For a general introduction to topic informants and interviews, see [[Citizendium_Pilot:Policy_Outline#Topic_Informants|this section of the Policy Outline]].'''  The following provides details and processes.


== Topic Informant Workgroup ==
== The Topic Informant Workgroup ==


The ''Citizendium'' shall set up a workgroup, with specific, designated members with specific terms, who will have oversight over biographies of living persons, and other articles that make representations about living persons.  In particular, this workgroup will be empowered to enforce the policies that follow.
The ''Citizendium'' shall set up a workgroup, with specific, designated members with specific terms, who will have oversight over biographies of living persons, and other articles that make representations about living persons.  In particular, this workgroup will be empowered to enforce the policies on this page.


Composition of the workgroup will include at least 2/3 editor members.  Members will be selected by sortition among volunteers, who must be Citizendium editors or authors in good standing.  The workgroup cannot be considered active unless there are at least three members, and should not have more than twelve members.
Composition of the workgroup will include at least 2/3 editor members.  Members will be selected by sortition among volunteers, who must be Citizendium editors or authors in good standing.  The workgroup cannot be considered active unless there are at least three members, and should not have more than twelve members.
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The workgroup itself shall select its own group leader(s).  Workgroup members will serve yearlong terms.
The workgroup itself shall select its own group leader(s).  Workgroup members will serve yearlong terms.


== General policies regarding biographies of living persons ==
== Topic informants, their rights and role ==


The fact that we have started an encyclopedia project does not give us the right to set
'''Right of privacy.'''  We officially recognize that the fact that we have started an encyclopedia project does not give us the right to subject private individuals to unwelcome public exposure.  We recognize the right to privacy of persons whose lives are, in fact, mostly private.


Therefore, the subjects of biographies may, with the permission of the Topic Informant Workgroup, request that their biographies be deleted.  Unless a person is a well-known politician, celebrity, .  These requests may be made privately, by e-mail, directly to the workgroup [ADDRESS TO BE SUPPLIED], or else on the talk page of the person's article.
'''Right of deletion.'''  Therefore, unless a person is a well-known politician, celebrity, or other luminary, the subjects of biographies may, at the discretion of the Topic Informant Workgroup, request that any biographies we have of them--for example, those sourced from Wikipedia--be deleted.  These requests may be made privately, by e-mail, directly to the workgroup [ADDRESS TO BE SUPPLIED], or else on the talk page of the person's article.  This decision is to be made at the sole discretion of the Topic Informant Workgroup, not of any (other) editors or editorial workgroups, although the workgroup may consult anyone they wish in making the decision.


The subjects of biographies, persons who have had unique and important experience of historical events, CEOs, politicians, judges, inventors, and others who are (or were) close to the subjects written about shall enjoy a special status in the ''Citizendium'' community as topic informants.  While being a topic informant will not by itself confer the editorial privileges of decisionmaking and article approval, topic informants will enjoy two special privileges:
'''Right to become a topic informant.'''  ''All'' subjects of biographies, and major informants about important topics in the ''Citizendium,'' may either (1) request an interview, which will be transcribed (and subject to approval by the subject of the interview), or (2) submit remarks relevant to the articles that concern them personally.  The ''Citizendium'' will then:


*They will enjoy the same right of editorial dispute resolution that editors do, i.e., if they do not feel their case is being heard fairly, they will be able to take it straight to the relevant editorial workgroup.
* post these remarks on a special (protected) part of the wiki
*They will have a special right to correct errors in the article, and collaborators, editors included, will be expected to respect and respond to these corrections promptlyNote, however, that topic informants do not have the right to offer original accounts and reportage previously unpublished elsewhere. The ''Citizendium'' may in the future, however, offer a publishing service featuring exclusive interviews for the precise purpose of collecting edited data for ''Citizendium'' articles.
* link to these remarks from the relevant article pages
No one may declare himself to be a topic informant; this status can only be conferred by an editor or editorial workgroupThat is, any editor in a subject may declare that a person is a topic informant for a particular article, subject to review by the relevant editorial workgroup.  Editors will be expected to follow the [[CZ:Policy on Topic Informants|policy on topic informants]].
* take these remarks very seriously, and, as appropriate, cite them
 
Persons who give interviews or remarks in this fashion are called ''topic informants.'' A person is considered a topic informant only the ''Citizendium'' has published his or her remarks, with his or her permission.
 
The ''purpose'' of interviews and remarks is specifically restricted to comments on the article or articles in the ''Citizendium'' that directly concern them, or that concern events of which they have some special experience (e.g., sole eyewitnesses).
 
The Topic Informant Workgroup reserves the right to reject requests from persons to become topic informants on biographies about themselves that do not yet exist, or on account of remarks that they inserted into articles themselvesSuch requests may be rejected on grounds of unseemly self-promotion.

Revision as of 03:32, 24 December 2006

For a general introduction to topic informants and interviews, see this section of the Policy Outline. The following provides details and processes.

The Topic Informant Workgroup

The Citizendium shall set up a workgroup, with specific, designated members with specific terms, who will have oversight over biographies of living persons, and other articles that make representations about living persons. In particular, this workgroup will be empowered to enforce the policies on this page.

Composition of the workgroup will include at least 2/3 editor members. Members will be selected by sortition among volunteers, who must be Citizendium editors or authors in good standing. The workgroup cannot be considered active unless there are at least three members, and should not have more than twelve members.

The workgroup itself shall select its own group leader(s). Workgroup members will serve yearlong terms.

Topic informants, their rights and role

Right of privacy. We officially recognize that the fact that we have started an encyclopedia project does not give us the right to subject private individuals to unwelcome public exposure. We recognize the right to privacy of persons whose lives are, in fact, mostly private.

Right of deletion. Therefore, unless a person is a well-known politician, celebrity, or other luminary, the subjects of biographies may, at the discretion of the Topic Informant Workgroup, request that any biographies we have of them--for example, those sourced from Wikipedia--be deleted. These requests may be made privately, by e-mail, directly to the workgroup [ADDRESS TO BE SUPPLIED], or else on the talk page of the person's article. This decision is to be made at the sole discretion of the Topic Informant Workgroup, not of any (other) editors or editorial workgroups, although the workgroup may consult anyone they wish in making the decision.

Right to become a topic informant. All subjects of biographies, and major informants about important topics in the Citizendium, may either (1) request an interview, which will be transcribed (and subject to approval by the subject of the interview), or (2) submit remarks relevant to the articles that concern them personally. The Citizendium will then:

  • post these remarks on a special (protected) part of the wiki
  • link to these remarks from the relevant article pages
  • take these remarks very seriously, and, as appropriate, cite them

Persons who give interviews or remarks in this fashion are called topic informants. A person is considered a topic informant only the Citizendium has published his or her remarks, with his or her permission.

The purpose of interviews and remarks is specifically restricted to comments on the article or articles in the Citizendium that directly concern them, or that concern events of which they have some special experience (e.g., sole eyewitnesses).

The Topic Informant Workgroup reserves the right to reject requests from persons to become topic informants on biographies about themselves that do not yet exist, or on account of remarks that they inserted into articles themselves. Such requests may be rejected on grounds of unseemly self-promotion.