New Congresspedia Project Lets Citizens "Wiki the Vote"
0 views
Skip to first unread message
Gabriela Schneider
Oct 9, 2007, 10:28:56 AM10/9/07
to openhous...@googlegroups.com
Hi colleagues,
We are launching something new over at Congresspedia.org this morning -- "Wiki the Vote," a project to build citizen-written profiles on each and every candidate for Congress in 2008. The site is here: <http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=2008_elections>
The project is starting with nearly 300 basic profiles to be expanded and updated by citizens, journalists and even the campaigns themselves (or those of their opponents). Unlike Wikipedia, people connected to the subjects of articles are free to add to them as long as their contributions are rhetoric-free and comprised of fully documented, verifiable facts. The citizen editors are assisted and fact-checked by professional editors.
The first set of articles is based on confirmed candidates according to 2008racetracker.com and will eventually expand to cover every candidate on the ballot in the primary and general elections next year. When the OpenSecrets.org 2008 congressional campaign contributions database goes online in a few weeks, the candidate profiles will also display live feeds tracking the money race and who is funding it.
We often discuss new ways to make congressional data available on this list. It’s equally important to let citizens have access to user-friendly information about Congress. This project does that by turning data on earmarks, campaign contributions, etc. into narrative with information that citizens can use. Check out the site, and let me know what you think.
Best,
Gabriela
--
Gabriela Schneider
Communications Director
The Sunlight Foundation
1818 N Street NW, Suite 410
Washington, DC 20036
P: 202/742-1520 ext 236
F: 202/742-1524
gschn...@sunlightfoundation.com
www.sunlightfoundation.com
We are launching something new over at Congresspedia.org this morning -- "Wiki the Vote," a project to build citizen-written profiles on each and every candidate for Congress in 2008. The site is here: <http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=2008_elections>
The project is starting with nearly 300 basic profiles to be expanded and updated by citizens, journalists and even the campaigns themselves (or those of their opponents). Unlike Wikipedia, people connected to the subjects of articles are free to add to them as long as their contributions are rhetoric-free and comprised of fully documented, verifiable facts. The citizen editors are assisted and fact-checked by professional editors.
The first set of articles is based on confirmed candidates according to 2008racetracker.com and will eventually expand to cover every candidate on the ballot in the primary and general elections next year. When the OpenSecrets.org 2008 congressional campaign contributions database goes online in a few weeks, the candidate profiles will also display live feeds tracking the money race and who is funding it.
We often discuss new ways to make congressional data available on this list. It’s equally important to let citizens have access to user-friendly information about Congress. This project does that by turning data on earmarks, campaign contributions, etc. into narrative with information that citizens can use. Check out the site, and let me know what you think.
Best,
Gabriela
--
Gabriela Schneider
Communications Director
The Sunlight Foundation
1818 N Street NW, Suite 410
Washington, DC 20036
P: 202/742-1520 ext 236
F: 202/742-1524
gschn...@sunlightfoundation.com
www.sunlightfoundation.com
Perla Ni
Oct 9, 2007, 10:35:26 AM10/9/07
to openhous...@googlegroups.com
Gabriela,
This is wonderful! Congrats! Question - is there a way to add videos to these pages? We are amassing a lot of candidate videos and would love to add them to this terrific resource.
Perla
Founder, Voterwatch.org
www.voterwatch.org
"Searchable CSPAN" for research and web publication
415-902-2659
Skype: Perlani
ni.p...@gmail.com
Founder, Voterwatch.org
www.voterwatch.org
"Searchable CSPAN" for research and web publication
415-902-2659
Skype: Perlani
ni.p...@gmail.com
This is wonderful! Congrats! Question - is there a way to add videos to these pages? We are amassing a lot of candidate videos and would love to add them to this terrific resource.
Perla
Founder, Voterwatch.org
www.voterwatch.org
"Searchable CSPAN" for research and web publication
415-902-2659
Skype: Perlani
ni.p...@gmail.com
www.voterwatch.org
"Searchable CSPAN" for research and web publication
415-902-2659
Skype: Perlani
ni.p...@gmail.com
Conor Kenny
Oct 9, 2007, 12:15:18 PM10/9/07
to openhous...@googlegroups.com
Perla,
I'm happy to help you or anyone else with whatever support you need to add content to our profiles. We do not at this time support embedded video but are looking into it. In the meantime, it's very easy to set up external links back to your own site (which is good, too, no?). If you want to send me a video for one of the candidates we profile off-list, I'll set it up and send you back the finished product.
Again, please, this is what we're here for! Exploit our willingness to help you, everyone!
Conor--
Conor Kenny
Congresspedia.org
I'm happy to help you or anyone else with whatever support you need to add content to our profiles. We do not at this time support embedded video but are looking into it. In the meantime, it's very easy to set up external links back to your own site (which is good, too, no?). If you want to send me a video for one of the candidates we profile off-list, I'll set it up and send you back the finished product.
Again, please, this is what we're here for! Exploit our willingness to help you, everyone!
Conor
Conor Kenny
Congresspedia.org
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages