Announcing the ATS Press Corps

Awesome.

My computer was down for a month (yikes), but it's fixed now.

I applied.

- sofi

reply to post by soficrow


I have applied also. Created a video for my submission, received my Freelance Journalist Agreement and now awaiting word of where to upload my video or howelse to proceede.

Just wanted to drop by and remind all our future journalists that today is World Press Freedom Day.

Though many of you are at the humble beginnings of this worthy enterprise, it is important to remember that you will be part of a community of journalists, many of whom have made huge sacrifices, paid heavy prices, and lost their lives in the pursuit of the truth.

Today is the day to remember them and thank them.


I wish everyone chosen for this venture the best of luck.

[edit on 3 May 2009 by schrodingers dog]

reply to post by schrodingers dog


SDog,

If I could star you in this forum, I would.

Journalists have made many, many personal sacrifices over the years - many of which the vast majority of people are never aware of.

Let us not forget that many journalists are far far more than mere gossip mongers and put themselves in extremely risky situations in the noble aim of getting the truth - or at the very least the closest to the truth that they can - to the masses.

Peace,

MGGG

I am just curious if anyone has heard any news on whether anyone has been selected yet. I havent heard a thing since we recieved the contract to look at. and were asked to turnin our sample articles by May 5th. Is that where everyone else is at this point?

Just curious.

reply to post by gimme_some_truth


I haven't heard a peep. Although I lost my enthusiasm awhile ago. I'm still interested in hearing "a who" or "a when"

I haven't pulled out my foil hat yet and declare a conspiracy has taken place yet.

YET!

reply to post by SLAYER69


Ha, good one.

I figured no one has heard anything yet, I am just excited to hear!

For now, keep that tin foil hat in the Reynolds Wrap box.

Take care buddy!

See you around the boards!

Originally posted by gimme_some_truth
I figured no one has heard anything yet, I am just excited to hear!

The emails have been going out regularly to all who have responded to the final messages outlining the requirements.

While we've had nearly 40 selected from the first wave of applicants, only 12 have responded that they agree with the terms of the journalist agreement.

Those who responded earliest are (rightfully) being given first opportunity for the open positions. If we don't fill those positions, I'll be going back to the more recent applications to see who else may fit the criteria.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord



Hi, SO, Thanks for the response.

I sent my email saying that I agree and I submited my sample article only hours after the email was sent out.

I guess I should keep waiting to hear one way or the other?

Thanks again for the response SO!

[edit on 4-5-2009 by gimme_some_truth]

Originally posted by gimme_some_truth
I guess I should keep waiting to hear one way or the other?

Didn't you receive today's email? An update went our regarding the delay in our private file transfer area for press corps members.

reply to post by gimme_some_truth

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord

While we've had nearly 40 selected from the first wave of applicants, only 12 have responded that they agree with the terms of the journalist agreement.

Hhmmm... Email today???

Only 12 you say?


gimme_some_truth
Well there we have it we have an answer.

Slides the foil back into the drawer.


[edit on 4-5-2009 by SLAYER69]

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord

Originally posted by gimme_some_truth
I guess I should keep waiting to hear one way or the other?

Didn't you receive today's email? An update went our regarding the delay in our private file transfer area for press corps members.

I did not see one, I will double check....

One moment....

Oh, ok, Yes sir. It is there now anyway. My email server sometimes gets a bit of a delay or something.

Thank you SO! I appreciate your help.

What's the deal with receiving the newsletter? I saw in another topic someone said they got an email about a newsletter than has an interview with Gerald Celente, as one of the first press corp activities.

I tried google searching, things like

site:abovetopsecret.com celente interview

and searching on the site, but all I can find is the topic asking for the questions to be asked.

So, where can I find this please?

Here is the link to the interview,

www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by asala


Thanks

My sincere congrats to all of those selected!

I feel this will give ATS an added diminsion of credibility and will hopefully generate additional new members and new discussions. To those selectees, I'm sure this will require a lot of work on your part but do know your efforts are appreciated!

Well done!

Here's a sneak peak at the new ATSnews.com website for the original articles created by our Press Corps.

"Soft Launch" of the site coming soon...

atsnews.com

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


WOW!

SO what a fantastic job. Even the unfinished product seems much better than even the most mainstream of websites.

I like the springboard, very brilliant.

It's very great to be part of this community at this particular time with everything you guys have been implementing.

Keep up the good work, I look forward to reading the stories from our members.

~Keeper

I got an e-mail on the 4th May, but I didn't realise I was supposed to reply to it, the text is as follows:

THIS HAS BEEN SENT TO ALL LATE-ROUND RESPONDENTS


(sorry for the impersonal nature of a mass-response, but this gets the important crap out of the way first)


During the initial announcement, we received a great deal of applications, nearly three times the initial open positions. For now, we're extending priority to those who responded first, and keeping your response on-file in the event we may need more.


We anticipate this may be one of the most important new content efforts we've ever undertaken on ATS, and we're just taking care to make sure we're not rushing into this, covering our bases, and creating something for which we can all be proud.


The message below is the original initial reply. Please hang on to this in the event we need your help.


Thank you for your interest in becoming a journalist with AboveTopSecret.com. Before we go further, we should clarify our intentions in more detail, as well as define our requirements.


Our intent is to develop the next logical evolution of the kind of amateur "citizen journalism" we see on sites like ATS to that of semi-professional citizen journalism.


We expect to fill the following roles, with myself as the acting Editor In Chief...
Editors - 2 - responsible for pre-screening story ideas and final edits on finished stories
Reporters - 10+ - responsible for finding, researching, and reporting on exclusive stories
Photographers - 10+ - working with reporters, or on their own, covering news-worthy events
Videographers - 5+ - working with reporters, or on their own, covering news-worthy events


Initially, in the first six months of this new concept, we will be officially in experimental status, and you will all be independent freelance journalists submitting story ideas to The Above Network, LLC.


You will be expected to provide us with your complete information, as well as a clear image of a government photo ID. You will also sign a typical journalist's code of conduct that also indemnifies us against any potential trouble you might get yourself into while working a story (sorry, but we have absolutely no legal fund, so we will expect the utmost in legal and ethical conduct from our press corps). Your identity information will be kept safe and will not go beyond the hands of C-Level executives of The Above Network, LLC, unless we have your permission for the purposes of teaming you up with another journalist.


We hope to build the press corps into a more official unit, where all our journalists would be classified still as independent freelancers, but having official "on assignment" status with minor advances paid to beginning work on a story, and per-story fees paid for completed submissions.


For starters, we'll be splitting the Google AdSense revenue generated by the content of the ATS Press Corps equitably among all who have submitted work. ATS has recently been elevated to "Premium Publisher" status with the Google AdSense program, and this gives us an enhanced ability to create a unique look-and-feel for the Press Corps stories, combined with custom-designed companion ads that will be easy to track.


Also, we insist that all journalists in this effort be 19 years of age or older.


And... we believe it will be important to display your real name in story bylines.


Our selection criterial will include the following:
1- a review of the quality of the copy in your ATS posting history
- or, if you have a journalistic background, a review of your prior work

2- the topical area in which you intend to focus your efforts
3- your on-hand equipment if applying for photographer or videographer
4- your proximity to a major metropolitan area, or similar source of regular news
5- your ability to travel short distances to track down stories






Thanks for your interest,
Bill

Was I supposed to reply to this? Or did I not make the list? I was waiting for another mail to come, which didn't so I assumed I wasn't on the shortlist....

reply to post by stumason


If you read that again, you'll notice it asks you to hang on to the notice in the event we need to reach out to more reporters... That's the only action it calls for.

Springer...