Write for Davids Medienkritik: Now it's Your Turn!

(By Ray D.)

David and I have been writing for quite some time now with little input from other authors. So we thought we'd try something new: We want to offer you, our readers, the opportunity to publish your own articles on our site. We want to share our success and the forum that we have created with talented writers interested in our field. Simply put: We want to expand our horizons and involve more people in our mission. Here are the conditions:

• Your article(s) can be in English or German.
• Your article(s) must address some aspect of German-American media, politics, culture or transatlantic relations relevant to the mission and message of this website. We will try to be flexible.
• Articles addressing the problem of German media bias or anti-Americanism will be given special consideration.
• Articles should be of about the length of an average posting on our site. They should not be excessively long. We are flexible here as well.
• If you wish to remain anonymous, we will respect your privacy. You may also use a pen name or your actual name or just initials. Just let us know your preference.
• Because your work will be read by thousands of our readers, it must be well written.

We will begin this process by holding a sort of mini-competition. Those wishing to submit articles have exactly one week to do so. There is no limit to the number of articles you can submit, but they must be your own work. We are looking for quality more than quantity. The first deadline is Friday, July 21 at 6PM EST/Midnight Berlin time. PLEASE EMAIL ALL SUBMISSIONS HERE. Enter "Medienkritik Post" as the subject of your email.
 

We will publish the articles we find the best starting with the honorable mentions on the weekend and moving up in rank each day until we publish the winning submission on Friday, July 28. Naturally, David and I reserve the right to review, edit or reject any material we receive. If this works out, we will repeat the competition. The point of the exercise is to identify talented individuals with the ability to write for the site.

Frankly, David and I will have a hard time continuing the site into the future without any help, input or new ideas. That is where you come in. In the long-run, we are looking for people to join the DMK family and help us carry our work into the future with new energy. That said, submission of articles does not obligate you to write for us again. If you have any questions, email us or leave a comment. Good luck to you all!

Comments

[WhatDoIKnow]

If talented writers don't show up, one idea to make it easier on you, David and Ray, would be to maybe co-opt someone (or more than one person) to do some of the "administrative" tasks. That means keeping an eye on the comments so that they don't get out of hand because of spammers or vicious moonbats (which apparently doesn't really happen anymore). You, the "writers", would only have to send the posts to the "admin", who would then take care of the posting part and the comments.

The other option is, of course, David and Ray taking care of those administrative tasks and spending less time on new posts and research. This would be done primarily by (talented) volunteers.

[Oh Eric!]

Writing articulate and referenced articles is extraordinarily difficult. For a second there, I thought I'd submit one. As I was contemplating various topics and lines of reasoning, it suddenly occurred to me: You know how much WORK that is?!?

So, hats off to you guys who do it every day for my amusement, so that I can spout off with inane little comments like this.

[RayD]

@ Oh Eric!

Actually, it is work, but it is also fun and highly stimulating and extremely rewarding. That is why so many people out there are blogging. My advice is: Believe in yourself and submit your work. Where else are you going to have an audience this large and this interested in our field?

[MaDr]

I'm saddened to read the between the lines implications of this. I've read your blog to follow not only anti-American bias by the German media, but what's happening in Germany. Dudes, I was forced to take 1 year language (German) in college before the requirement was dropped for the Engineering School.

I can't help by translating. Is there any other way I can help? An American perspective w/o a German "reading/understanding" just wouldn't wash.

[RayD]

@ MaDr

No need to be sad. If you really read between the lines, we are trying to expand and grow this project. Otherwise, stay tuned.