Editorial Principles and Process

From IFIwatchnet Wiki

Below are some principles and a process that will avoid the frustrations of a process that could become frustrating and "clogged up" if done incorrectly.

Principles

• Openness
• Transparency
• Bias towards consensus
• Bias towards doing something and then fixing it rather than not

Process

• Be open - Let anyone involved place the suggestions for inclusion on the wiki and if it's not urgent let people object.
• If there are strong objections discuss them fully and come to consensus if at all possible
• If it's urgent or obvious that an item should be included then the person actually making the changes and acting as the editor makes a change to include.
• If for any reason there is more push back, or a change of heart, reverse the change.

At its heart this process relies on trust and good faith to be built as the editor learns the sense of the community and the community learns that the editor is acting with what they know. The editor will know, or learn by trial and error, which decisions are minor and obvious and which will have to be consulted beforehand. Editorial decisions include things like carrying or not a link or RSS to worldbankpresident.org, and also if that information is displayed prominently or not, etc. Being democratic and somewhat even libertarian NGOs, we hate power and that includes empowering a gatekeeper, which is what editors essentially are, but the answer lies more in finding the ways to make sure there are checks and balances and the "spirit" of the network is reflected in the editorial decisions and not in inaction