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This is a proposal for a workgroup and should not be relied upon in any way. It is conjunctive to the proposal for Fair Use Policy, Media.

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The idea behind the Media Assets Workgroup is to serve as CZ's "Media Procurement and Permissions Department".

Overview

In short, the Media Assets Workgroup is Citizendium's "Media Procurement Department", as well as an media touch up, restoration, and creation studio.

For the purposes of The Media Assets Workgroup, "media" is defined as all visual, audio, video, and media-related template materials on all Citizendium pages.

Activities

Content and permissions assistance

While not replacing the function of other contributors in obtaining their own media content, The Media Assets Workgroup will function as Citizendium's "go to" place for contributors who seek assistance.

The Media Assets Workgroup can be enlisted to obtain:

• Media for articles
• Media released anew under open content licenses
• Media for use by permission

As well, the workgroup will:

• Seek to negotiate Memorandums of Understanding and formal block permission with media content providers on behalf of Citizendium.
• Maintain an "image request system"
• Maintain a "permission request system"
• Standardize how media is displayed on all CZ articles and upload pages

An IMAP account or ticketing system, media-assets@citizendium.org, will facilitate these functions.

Media policy pages

Members of the workgroup will have responsibility over media policy pages.

• Resource pages of image sources
• Image request page
• Media policy pages
• Template policy pages

Templates

The workgroup will ensure that all templates are created in accordance with basic Citizendium policy as regards the form and function of templates, while leaving the specific content thereof to the relevant area editors. Additionally, the workgroup will coordinate the creation and use of specifically media licensing tags and other templates related to the displaying of media within Citizendium. This is to ensure that all media is tagged and displayed in a standardized fashion across all CZ articles.

Group communication

The workgroup will maintain a mailing list for general announcements.

Feedback and ideas page

The workgroup will maintain a "feedback and ideas" page and consider carefully what contributors say, all with an eye toward performing its role with the utmost excellence.

Organization

Workgroup Lead

Workgroup activities and initiatives will be overseen by the Media Assets Workgroup Lead (exact title yet-to-be-determined), who shall have syspop powers, subject to both the checks of the Editor-in-Chief and the majority of all constables, over media he or she deems to be substantially problematic as regards copyrights or other Citizendium media policies, and to lock Permissions pages.

Responsibilities include:

• Official contact person and representative of Citizendium, under the Editor-in-Chief, as regards all media content on Citizendium English servers.
• Maintenance of pages and templates that fall within the purview of the Media Assets Workgroup.
  • Image request page
  • Media policy pages
  • Media templates and related pages

• Act as a point of contact with:
  • People or entities who contest usage of their media on Citizendium under the The Digital Millennium Copyright Act or other statutory Act or law
  • Large-scale content providers, inclusive of taking a leading role in negotiations for block permissions

• Oversee the workgroup mailing list and media help requests from Citizendium users

Appointment of:

The Workgroup Lead must have carefully exercised sysop powers over media and will act as to uphold Citizendium media policies. To qualify for the position, he or she must have substantial demonstrable knowledge of media assets in open content projects and preferably at least 6 months duty as a constable. He or she may be appointed by the Editor-in-Chief under the advise and consent of the Executive Committee.

The Workgroup Lead will have access to the media-assets@citizendium.org account.

Assistants to the Lead

The Workgroup Lead will deputize Citizendium members as Assistants (exact title yet-to-be-determined) to help coordinate the responsibilities of the Lead and carry out projects under his or her direction. The minimum amount needed to perform the required tasks shall be deputized.

Appointment of:

An Assistant must be a CZ contributor in good standing, have demonstrable knowledge of media assets in open content projects, and have a clear record of professional interactions with content providers and Citizendium contributors. Assistants may be appointed from volunteers by the Lead under the advise and consent of the Executive Committee.

Assistants will have access to the media-assets@citizendium.org account and may be selected by the Lead to head special projects.

It is expected that the role of Assistant to the Lead will serve as a significant incubator of new Citizendium constables. Certain Assistants may be entrusted with sysop powers to act on their own recognizance, under the careful oversight of the Lead, over exclusively media content that is uncontroversially infringing of copyright, and to lock Permissions pages.

Workgroup members

Members of the Media Assets Workgroup will respond to requests from the larger Citizendium community to find appropriate media, to request that media be released anew under open content licenses, to determine authorship of media with questionable provenance, and to seek permissions for copyright restricted media.