What would it take for dhr_news to get started again?

[boundbooks]

I saw that eevilalice posted over on dramione about it, and I was just thinking/brainstorming about what it might take for it to get started again.

http://dramione.livejournal.com/2642326.html

A couple of things I know aren't a problem:

1) Getting control of dhr_news. terrayn appears to be gone from fandom, and I know that denise will transfer ownership of communities. I asked to have theauthority given to me due to a missing mod, and after getting the OK from the community, Dreamwidth made me the administrator.

2) It looks like the person who owns dhr_news is still around, so that wouldn't be a problem to bring on new mods.

3) Getting someone to post it on DW. If it remained a weekly thing, I know that at the very least, I could be persuaded to hit the 'post' button once a week on a pre-formatted thing. Probably the same with the LJ one, for a 'posting person.'

The problems:

1) The big, huge, cluster-@#$@# of work that comes with running a newsletter. I assume that it would remain weekly, because, well, too much @#$#@$-ing work. But otherwise, I'm not sure what could be done to make it useful and manageable. Thoughts?

I'm not stepping up and saying 'I will run this,' because that's a huge commitment. What I was mostly thinking is that 'what if it was possible to break this down into many smaller commitments.' Because if it was, THEN I think we (or a team of people) might be able to get this running.

Comments

[eevilalice]

Like you, I wouldn't mind contributing, as long as there were others doing so to reduce individual workload. Over on LJ, one (or two?) of the original comm members expressed interest in re-starting, so I had been hoping they might, amongst themselves, be making that happen. Dunno if it is, though. I'd been thinking of following up by PMing the members/maintainers still active in fandom to inquire and move things along as there seems to be clear interest. I just don't want to get roped into spearheading as I'm unable.

[boundbooks]

Do you recall which of the original comm members were interested in re-starting? I'm going to PM angelicwitch and ask her what she thinks about things, as she's the comm owner on LJ.

[eevilalice]

It's actually in the thread to the post I made, which you linked (elvishly).

Have you PM'd already? I'd made up a list of both the mod, maintainers, and members whose journals are active and who appear to be still active in the fandom, all set to PM them (or the maintainers) myself. If you have already I won't bother. I just figured I should follow up since I made the initial post on LJ. I can mention that you've also expressed serious interest.

[boundbooks]

I did PM angelicwitch, but no one else! :)

She's actually come over to chat a few comments down, and has more info! :)

http://dramione.dreamwidth.org/17040.html?thread=26000#cmt26000

[musyc]

I thought about it, but I'm incapable of doing something on a scheduled basis for more than a few months, so I know I'd be bleh at running it. It was a good newsletter, though, and I'd like to see something like it again. There's no het newsletter to my knowledge, and Dramione is a non-allowed pairing for the newsletters I *do* follow.

[boundbooks]

I'd totally love to read something like dhr_news! Hm, you're on IJ, so I figure you're a good resource! :D

Do you think there are enough unique (or primary) users on IJ to make it worth mirroring a dramione newsletter over there?

[musyc]

No. IJ is heavily focused on slash when it comes to HP fandom. It was the first place people went to when strikethrough happened, and the majority of fen who went were slashers. I wouldn't try to run anything het-focused there at all.

[boundbooks]

That's great to know! :D

I know pretty much nothing about IJ culture, so I'm glad that you do. :) Knowing that it's slash focused will make it so that the newsletter will only have to be mirrored on DW and LJ...hmmm....tumblr....

...hm.....

What about tumblr? D:

My idea of tumblr = black void of death into infinity of chaos with awesome incomprehensible things flying at my face

But. It is a *major* fandom epicenter these days. Hm.

What do you think?

[boundbooks]

Now that I think about it, it's a major *dramione* fandom epicenter. D:

The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards tumblr as being important....

/quails in terror at tumblr's incomprehensible interface

[musyc]

Honestly, I think trying to incorporate Tumblr is reaching. Tumblr and LJ/clones are far different cultures and attitudes. Tumblr skews very, very young in comparison to LJ-like fandom, and trying to connect the two is just asking for spats and wankery. For one example, ablist/racist/sexist language is rampant on Tumblr. Unless you're looking to have your newsletter constantly reblogged with rape jokes, troll gifs, and insulting comments attached, it's not a good idea in the slightest.

[boundbooks]

"Unless you're looking to have your newsletter constantly reblogged with rape jokes, troll gifs, and insulting comments attached, it's not a good idea in the slightest."

Oh sweet pie. I had no idea. D:

Boy am I glad that I asked you! Since tumblr appears to be a horror show, I guess we're back down to DW and LJ. Which does make things easier, though I'm saddened to hear that tumblr is that horrific for fandom/in general.

[musyc]

Yeah, it's *great* for finding pretty graphics and the like, but that's about it. The average user, from what I can tell, is in the 14-18 range, and being ~*~edgy~*~ and ~*~cool~*~ is far more important than anything else. Stick to DW/LJ if you expect a basic standard of responsibility and respectability.

[boundbooks]

"~*~edgy~*~ and ~*~cool~*~"

I just had a flashback to Geocities. Given that 14-18 was about the average age on Geocities, I think I know why. XD

"Stick to DW/LJ if you expect a basic standard of responsibility and respectability."

Sounds like a plan!

(I think this entire discussion has just convinced me to either

1) volunteer to hop on the mod team if the d_hr people want to do this again. I could at the very least do the posting on DW.

or

2) if the d_hr people don't want to do this again, find a new mod team who does

Hark, is that the sound of overcommitment I hear in the distance?

/listens intently)

[eevilalice]

I also really don't think of tumblr as fanfic-centric, more fanart-centric (or for just general shippy shenanigans), and while the dhr newsletter covered more than fic, it seems to me that it did skew towards reporting on fic.

[boundbooks]

Hm. That's also quite true re: skewing towards fic. Fanart on tumblr also seems nigh impossible to track to the source, given the whole problems with reblogging/credit. Honestly, the only tumblr I trust to actually have the info is musyc's justdramione one (http://justdramione.tumblr.com/).

[pixiegeek]

Hi All, it's anglicwitch here from LJ. I'm definitely still around.

The biggest problem that we've had in all the years that I've been a part of [Unknown site tag] (I'm not the original owner, but was voted in when LJ decided to make owners for communities) is getting a dedicated staff. It's tough work getting a newsletter out every week, especially for such an active community. We've tried to get a good staff together and everyone had their own assigned work every week depending on their availability. So one person would get all the fics from one site and another would get all the fanart from another. The problem stems from real life and time.

If we could get a new staff together, I would love to get dhr_news started again (I believe this would be renewal #4 or 5?) I'm also open to suggestions to making it easier. For example, I had once thought that maybe a (almost) daily newsletter like [Unknown site tag] would be easier. But I could see a lot of problems with that too.

[pixiegeek]

whoops! I screwed up on the html... the first unknown site tag is dhr_news and the second tag is sshg_digest

[boundbooks]

I definitely have suggestions about how to make it easier, mostly revolving around drastically curtailing the 'fetch' aspects (aka, having the mods go out and find stuff) and have it be more of a 'bring' newsletter (you want your stuff in it, you email the mods).

The newsletters in the archive are lovely, but I was also flattened by the sheer amount of work that they represented. Given that you said the newsletter would be on its 4th or 5th renewal, would you be open to the idea of making it less of a 'this is a comprehensive round-up of everything Dramione-related' and more of a 'here are happenings at communities, fests, exchanges, challenges and archives, as well as a list of authors who have contacted us about their fic/art/etc'?

I'd dearly love to chat about some of these suggestions, if you're interested. I am totally amazed by the amount of work that the mods put into the newsletter. I can also definitely see how it becomes a giant burn-out burden to the mods, given the sheer amount of volume that a ship like Dramione entails. D:

[eevilalice]

I have to say, though, one of the things I loved about the newsletter was its comprehensiveness. As opposed to the daily snitch, where it does rely on fans contacting the newsletter (understandable, since the daily snitch handles ALL HP fandom); the problem is then that I feel like people "not in the know" (e.g. newer fans) don't know to contact/promote their stuff. I'd vote streamline workload via reducing scope over soliciting (e.g. I'm still for "fetch" over "bring").

One idea I had to reduce workload was to perhaps nix the fic spotlights, as H&V already features fics every month, as do the crack_broom recs, and the few other rec comms/letters. Perhaps we could replace featured fics with a daily snitch Hot Rec type-deal where a fic requires a certain number of recs around the fandom.

BUT I definitely agree that the newsletter could be streamlined to reduce both workload, and to highlight what's most interesting/newsworthy/important to people. Maybe a poll at dhr_news itself?

At this point the conversation should probably move (and be pointed) there, maybe starting with finding out who's up for the revamp?

[eevilalice]

Oh, and I should say a combo of fetching and bringing might work, depending on the info.

[boundbooks]

True, that a combo of fetching and bringing might be the ticket.

"One idea I had to reduce workload was to perhaps nix the fic spotlights, as H&V already features fics every month, as do the crack_broom recs, and the few other rec comms/letters. Perhaps we could replace featured fics with a daily snitch Hot Rec type-deal where a fic requires a certain number of recs around the fandom."

Agreed! Full spotlights might not be necessary. Streamlining stuff down seems like the way to go, in terms of duties. Maybe have something alone the lines of an optional one-line 'Mod's rec' for each mod at the bottom of each week's post, just as a perk for the mods themselves. Kind of how the dmhgchallenge has a mod's pick, but make it purely optional. Like how bookstores have a 'staff recommendation'. :)

I think you're right, in that it's time to move this over to a brainstorming post at somewhere that's convenient for the dhr_news mods! :)

[pixiegeek]

Sorry for such a late response, it's been a really hectic weekend for me, this is the first time I've been able to sit down...

I agree with nixing the feature fics, in place of that, I would actually like to highlight new authors in the fandom once in a while.

We actually used to do an optional Mod Rec every week for a fic that we thought was just amazing.

There actually is a mod group for dhr_news located at dhr_newsstaff it's been inactive for a little over a year now and i've just done a little spring cleaning on its members, I will send you and eevilalice an invite to it.

[boundbooks]

No worries! I figured that you were supremely busy. Besides, it's been only two days, so no need to apologize. :)

I accepted the invite for the community, so I'm looking forward to doing some brainstorming over there! :)

[pixiegeek]

great! I just started a post. I'll pm elvishly to see if she wants to get involved a bit. And hopefully eevilalice will see the invite.

[eevilalice]

I did indeed, and accepted. :)

[pixiegeek]

yay! and good night!

[boundbooks]

Saw the brainstorming post! :D

Will put some stuff up on Monday, as right now is going to sleep time. XD

[pixiegeek]

ahahahah, i like how i didnt see this before i posted. I'm retarded

great! i'm going to go pass out now and will participate when i'm back from work tomorrow :D

[pixiegeek]

Let's chat for sure and we can bounce ideas off of each other. Which time zone are you in and what chat software do you use?

[boundbooks]

Oh, when I said chat, I meant more of a 'let's host a giant brainstorming post somewhere!' XD

Not that I would be adverse to doing it in real time, but more of a 'I know that I have a tendency to forget everything that happens in a chat box as soon as I get distracted.' :)

Plus, I think that eevilalice had also expressed interest in potentially getting involved in the newsletter, and gtalk (my chat platform) sucks for group chat.

If you're amenable to the idea of doing a brainstorming discussion post, I'd be happy to host it on my journal on DW @ boundbooks, or to participate in one over either on dhr_news or dhr_news or on someone's personal LJ (I just didn't mention one in particular since I think that most of the mods' are f-locked?). Heck, I'm sure that we could set one up on dramione over here at DW and musyc wouldn't mind. :)

[musyc]

:) Not in the slightest. Brainstorm all over. I love seeing active interest in this ship.

[boundbooks]

Awesome! Good to know! :D

PS - Everytime I see that icon, I smile. It's so perfect for modding. XD

[boundbooks]

I don't know if you're reading this via email (where you'd just see my replies) or the actual post (where you'd see everyone's), but eevilalice had a bunch of thoughts she posted as a reply to me :)

http://dramione.dreamwidth.org/17040.html?thread=27280#cmt27280

[desds]

For me to be interested it would have to be monthly. When it's weekly it gets to a point where I stop paying attention to the posts and I don't read anything.

*shrugs* I'm probably the only one that feels this way.

[boundbooks]

I think that's an interesting point! It actually reminds me a bit of some of my thoughts about things like 'is it necessary to post all the updated H+V stories from this week', given that H+V's 'Recent' page does the exact same function.

I think the idea of information over-load is a very good thing to keep in mind. :)

[desds]

Info overload is a good way to put it. I pay way more attention to them when they aren't inundating my friend's page.

Its less work for mods (or at least more time to do it in) and us regular folk might be more inclined to pay attention.

[eevilalice]

Yes, for me it's definitely an overload issue, although I see it as a problem of quantity not frequency (I don't think weekly is too much, if streamlined; I'd prefer weekly over a mega-monthly post, which I do think would turn out to be just as much work).