NewsLetter Feedback

[antiaverage]

I think noting that there has been a consistent level of quality and errors in the Newsletter is important to note, but I don't think it's simply that NLWs are bad and they should feel bad. Let's try to collectively get to the root of the problem and work to propose some solutions.

Well said.

Maybe I could recommend showing the finished NL to an active member the day before and having them check for the issues Solaris has, in addition to a general check for consistency, correctness, etc?

Seems reasonable to have someone take on the role of proofreader.

I would be more than content with lending my pen in an effort to better a community project.

Would you be able to work with the existing Newsletter staff?

[Hyroen]

It's funny because that one part is the part I was about to edit.

[Solaris]

I should also mention that I know little about the NLW writing process but when NLWs struggle to find contributors to write articles for the month's newsletter, there's a problem, and possibly one that hasn't been discussed before.

I in no way meant to discredit Solaris' points. But I do think that one of the best ways to understand the issues and quality of the products is to understand the process and the position staff is in. If Discord is alone responsible for all articles, that's a problem too.

Newsletters are great when experts in their fields come together to bring together a top-notch product, but when they don't, there's an implicit expectation for NLWs to do so.

I think noting that there has been a consistent level of quality and errors in the Newsletter is important to note, but I don't think it's simply that NLWs are bad and they should feel bad. Let's try to collectively get to the root of the problem and work to propose some solutions.

I'm not extremely well versed in it either, but I've a general notion of what goes on behind the scenes, at least to the level where I feel comfortable to discuss it. If the present Newsletter Writers struggle to find contributors, I believe that all-the-more validates my offer to aide in the process of creating the Newsletter. (I'm also of the opinion that articles shouldn't be outsourced (with a special case to the Card Idea of the Month, with the current state of the Card Ideas and Art section I believe that this is okay.), but I'm always willing to discuss this.)

As far as I, an active member of Council, have understood, there's been no communication as far as who's pulling what in terms of workload, and won't comment further on that fact other than that if more Writers are needed, I happen to know a sunny fellow.

Of course! In no shape or form have I intended for the deep truth of my posts to be "Newsletter Writers are bad and should feel bad", but instead that the quality of work has fallen, and that I believe it should be mended back to it's former morning glory.

Would you be able to work with the existing Newsletter staff?

I believe myself to professional enough to put aside personal differences in the pursuit of a better work being presented to the community, regardless of past events. It is simply the mature thing to do.

[ddevans96]

I think the easiest solution is just to outsource parts of the work to active, willing members. Most of Sol's issues (and mine as well) are quality control, e.g. proofreading, BBC, inaccuracies, etc, so that's why I made that suggestion. If the root of that problem is that NLWs are crunched for time, then there needs to be more of a push for other work to be outsourced.

imo, a good process would be this:

-NLWs find contributors as soon as possible, and work on the rest themselves over the course of the month
-contributors work on a given section, sending them to NLWs
-NLWs add the contributed sections into the newsletter, revising them to be up to date, checking all the sections for quality, and preparing the NL to be posted
-a contributor runs through the whole (otherwise final) newsletter for quality, making any changes and sending it back to NLWs

Additionally, Council probably still has access to the NLW subforum, so they should be encouraged to chip in to any of the above steps.

[Hyroen]

Council definitely has access to the Newsletter board, which has always perplexed me a bit, but as I am not an NLW I've avoided posting in the section, and I think that the same reasoning was used by the rest of non-NLW Council and Admin staff.

I do agree with ddevans that the work should be outsourced and really, NLWs should be the final line of defence for the quality of the monthly products. I'm thinking a streamlined process of contribution should be established by discussions with NLWs.

I for one can guarantee that the current Card Curator workload is enough to expect a monthly article, but I would think that the same would go for Deck Helpers.

I think it's a great thing that this discussion is happening, and I look forward to getting feedback from the NLW team and I look forward to the Newsletters of 2017.

[Linkcat]

While that sounds like a good idea, dd, I don't feel like getting other people to do more of their job is the correct solution here.

[ddevans96]

While that sounds like a good idea, dd, I don't feel like getting other people to do more of their job is the correct solution here.

I don't necessarily think it's the ideal solution either, but I draw a lot of parallels with another staff position. PvPEMs don't necessarily run all the events, but they do make sure events are run, they check the events for things like balance, ease of understanding for players, ease of workload for the host, timeframe, all that stuff, and generally make sure the event is suitable to host.

[TheonlyrealBeef]

Well, I don't want to interfere with planning, but I think procrastination is an important problem here. Not to dictate the schedule, but if you add in everything to be added as you receive it, instead of all at once at the end, you'll end up with less work (pressure) and higher quality in the end. For example you could make a newsletter in your secret section that starts as just the template, adding the different sections as you receive them. Ideally, dividing a month in roughly 4 weeks, you'd spend:

• 1st week (or even the last one of the previous month!): asking people to make articles for you where needed. You need to give people a week or two for this and preferably give them the subject they are to write about. You cannot expect them to know whether or not the subject they wish to write about is a current "hot topic" or whether it has been featured before. For example a news program doesn't invite an expert to discuss whatever (s)he feels like, but to discuss a news item (of your choice) for which they are given time to prepare.
• 2nd week: add news as it comes along, start writing some of the bigger stuff you already know since it's a quiet week overall. Ask other people for articles where required.
• 3rd week: inquire about the delegated articles assigned in the 1st week, find replacements where needed. Again, add stuff as it becomes available, or just have a set day each week to do so.
• 4th week: compile everything for the newsletter that has not yet been added. At the start of the week most articles should be finished by now: make sure the person you delegated it to has either finished, or start writing your own if it will not be finished in time. It is a bit too late to still ask people to write it for you in time.
• Last few days: although it currently seems like the entire newsletter is written around now, this is when it should already be finished. Insert a few latest news items where needed, but nothing big. Try getting some(one/people) to proof read it and have it ready to be published a day in advance. Any latest errors can still be fixed as needed, but this time shouldn't be planned as writing the letter: emergency time only.

Interviews (for stuff like tournament winners) seems to be timed perfectly right now, just make sure to add their interviews immediately instead of losing them...

Delaying the inevitable will inevitable cause things to go wrong. Start early and you'll have less pressure and criticism as you go along.
Basically said the same things for tournaments: if you think up the idea a week in advance you have a full week to think of it with no pressure on timing.

[JonathanCrazyJ]

Honestly, I have a lot of good things to say about Silver and Discord, but these kinds of errors are many and repeated. As dd says, both NLWs are getting to the point of being experienced enough I'd have hoped for a NL i read and smile, think and laugh with, not simply a list of information that a regular member already knew.
The Council hires, it does not fire (nor am i suggesting this is at all necessary, I actually think asside from errors this is a big improvement in terms of an entertaining read) but I would like the NLWs honest opinion about their collective activity and drive to create an outstanding product, rather than simply a complete product that's out on time. An additional staff hiring could help with either of these things, complementing rather than replacing the current team.
I don't think outsourcing is a good idea because it spreads culpability and allows too much scope for 'passing the buck'. I don't think the parallel with PvPEM is accurate as the role is Newsletter Writer, Not Newsletter Overseer. Tbh i would like nothing outsourced ideally.
Council will discuss the possibility of recruiting a third NLW.

[ddevans96]

I don't think outsourcing is a good idea because it spreads culpability and allows too much scope for 'passing the buck'. I don't think the parallel with PvPEM is accurate as the role is Newsletter Writer, Not Newsletter Overseer. Tbh i would like nothing outsourced ideally.

No, the comparison with PvPEM isn't perfect, but comparisons rarely are. I'd argue that's the most relevant comparison to be made here, in terms of staff work. There's already outsourcing, in almost all cases for Deck and Card, and I'm reasonably sure other sections have had contributions from others on occasion as well. My proposal is just a system to organize them so things aren't being rushed late in the process as they seem to be currently - Torb addressed this all considerably better than I did.

[antiaverage]

I actually think asside from errors this is a big improvement in terms of an entertaining read

There's a reason creative works like magazines have editors. Content creators have the task of creating content. Editors make sure the content is in the best consumable format. Whether we hire someone whose job is specifically editing, or we outsource editing to regular members who get a special Early Edition of the Newsletter, in the end we just want to get more competent editing is what I'm hearing.

[Silver Emerald]

Would like to thank everyone for the ongoing discussion.

In response to just a handful of the replies:

As far as I, an active member of Council, have understood, there's been no communication as far as who's pulling what in terms of workload, and won't comment further on that fact other than that if more Writers are needed, I happen to know a sunny fellow.

Council definitely has access to the Newsletter board, which has always perplexed me a bit, but as I am not an NLW I've avoided posting in the section, and I think that the same reasoning was used by the rest of non-NLW Council and Admin staff.

We do list and assign all the sections of the newsletter at the beginning of the month on our board. Said board is visible to the Council and we hadn't seen any need to publish that internal list anywhere else.

NLWs have the daunting formatting task of compiling all submissions together and considering now is a period of exams and assignments for many students, availability to work on this might decrease.

As poor an excuse as this is in practice, this is where Dis and I stand at the moment. As I'll mention again later, extra help could be nice for at least crunch times such as these.

Well, I don't want to interfere with planning, but I think procrastination is an important problem here. Not to dictate the schedule, but if you add in everything to be added as you receive it, instead of all at once at the end, you'll end up with less work (pressure) and higher quality in the end.

And this is why the prior is a poor excuse. While we've taken steps to do better about this, I'm not going to deny that some of those steps (such as adding dates and accountability to our internal list) have followed the pattern of

patched once and then continued to happen again in the future.

I'd have hoped for a NL i read and smile, think and laugh with, not simply a list of information that a regular member already knew.

I'm open to suggestions on how to go beyond knowing and writing what a regular member does when I'm not personally particularly knowledgeable about, for instance, PvP or deck design. Perhaps that's my own own fault - I believe there's a reasonable expectation that I would be involved with both [I currently frequent neither on a regular basis], though (again) I'm not certain where that goes beyond facts for those already familiar with a given area of the forum.

Council will discuss the possibility of recruiting a third NLW.

To the best of my knowledge, both current NLWs back this or a related plan of some form of help, at least for times when life can be expectedly hectic.