News Authorization Thread

I know there have been past suggestions due to the time it takes to authorize a news article.

I don't know if it's ever been suggested, but what about allowing the news posts to appear on your own moddb page (like when they are archived) and only check the post for authorization to go on the main moddb front page?

Images can be posted without the need for authorization to your own moddb profile, so it should be no different for news posts. You could also add a tick option into 'post news' to show if you do/don't want to have your news checked for front page submission. This would have the benefit of reducing the amount of news needing to be checked and increasing the resource for those that do, and getting your news to those tracking your mod faster.

Obviously most people will want their news shown on the front page but even a 10% reduction could help the admin resource.

Many thanks

Phil Hogg
Mod Leader / Lead Artist
Red Alert 3: Unleashed

Dreamscape wrote: I don't know if it's ever been suggested, but what about allowing the news posts to appear on your own moddb page (like when they are archived) and only check the post for authorization to go on the main moddb front page?

That is how it works already.

Before authorization normal members aren't able to view the news page. And as far as I'm aware there isn't an option to "not" have the news post on the main page and that all news items have to be checked (and it's decided at that point if it will appear on the front page).

Edited by: RA3Unleashed

When you post a news item, you can choose to have it only show in the mod profile - these are not authorised. A new item that isn't authorised or is waiting to be authorised can still be viewed in the mod profile.

Check the "keep private" box when making your news, it archives the news as soon as you post it. Keep in mind I will still check the news.

I think I misunderstood the use of the "Keep Private" news. I thought that this was just so only you or members of your tem could see it and it wouldn't show on the modDB profile. Now I have reread it what you say makes sense, and that you have already got the option to skip the modDB main homepage.

Could you confirm though why when waiting for authorization the message "normal members will not able to view this page" is displayed. This bit confuses me.

ambershee wrote: When you post a news item, you can choose to have it only show in the mod profile - these are not authorised. A new item that isn't authorised or is waiting to be authorised can still be viewed in the mod profile.

I've just checked with a friend who's not on the team, and the latest news post that was waiting authorization was not visible on our modDB profile. Is there a reason why news posts don't display on the modDB profile until after authorization? If you can post a news item and mark it for "keep private" it seems silly that if you want it to appear on the ModDB homepage that you have to wait for it to appear on the modDB profile.

AFAIK, you can do it this way:
1) check "keep private" option and save the news
2) then edit the article, check "keep private" again to have it re-checked by staff for the main page authorisation

Dunno whether it actually works, whether others will be able to see the news post after you've ticked "keep private" option the second time.

Just checked. If you select "keep private" you can't "un-check" it (the option isn't available in the edit function). However the message it displays next to the "keep private" option is:

"This news is currently pending staff authorization. If the content is of a high standard and relevant for the front page it shall be posted there. Otherwise it will only be shown on the linked profiles below."
Does this mean that if we tick the "keep private" option for all our news posts it's still going to make the front page? If so, it's seems to contridict with the option to "keep private":

by checking this box your news will only be shown on the linked profiles below. Check this when posting rough or private content which you do not want shown on the homepage
I have to say I don't have too much of a problem with the speed the admins authorize news. I would just like the news to appear at the same time as we post new images on our profile, and then later on the front page if the admins deem it good enough.

feillyne wrote: AFAIK, you can do it this way:
1) check "keep private" option and save the news
2) then edit the article, check "keep private" again to have it re-checked by staff for the main page authorisation

Dunno whether it actually works, whether others will be able to see the news post after you've ticked "keep private" option the second time.

All news private or otherwise will still be checked by myself, if i notice it is good and archived I will still auth it. Once you make a news post it is set to un-authed which means no-one but yourself and staff will be able to access it. Please read this post if you have anymore questions Moddb.com

LOL, more misunderstandings. As far as I see it, Dreamscape wishes the news to be immediately shown to the public after having written it.

When you add an article:

Keep private
by checking this box your news will only be shown on the linked profiles below. Check this when posting rough or private content which you do not want shown on the homepagep

When you edit an article ALREADY/previously set as private:

Keep private
this news is currently archived and will be shown on only the linked profiles below. If you would like this article to be re-checked by staff and posted on the homepage, check this box.

So the article could be archived first (archived i.e. kept private), then immediately after it send for re-checking. My only doubt was whether checking the "keep private" option the SECOND time sets the news post into "un-authorised" state from the "archived" one, therefore blocking users from viewing the article while it's being authed for the main page.

Well, I don't have any questions (except doubts about that method above).

Henley wrote:
All news private or otherwise will still be checked by myself, if i notice it is good and archived I will still auth it. Once you make a news post it is set to un-authed which means no-one but yourself and staff will be able to access it. Please read this post if you have anymore questions Moddb.com

Taking into account the above posts I guess if you sum it up, my suggestion would be that un-authed news should still show in your modDB profile to anyone and only once authorized appear on the front page if deemed good enough. It seems odd that images can be posted without being authorized (and appear immediately) but news articles have to wait.

Dreamscape wrote:

Henley wrote:
All news private or otherwise will still be checked by myself, if i notice it is good and archived I will still auth it. Once you make a news post it is set to un-authed which means no-one but yourself and staff will be able to access it. Please read this post if you have anymore questions Moddb.com

Taking into account the above posts I guess if you sum it up, my suggestion would be that un-authed news should still show in your modDB profile to anyone and only once authorized appear on the front page if deemed good enough. It seems odd that images can be posted without being authorized (and appear immediately) but news articles have to wait.

I think you would be surprised just how much crap I delete and you guys never see. There is a reason the site is the way it is.

Fair do's. Guess my original suggestion was based on what I thought would save you guys some time - but this was based on my incomplete knowledge of the "Keep Private" option. Now I understand how it works, it's a godsend. News Articles showing at the same time as new concepts etc. works nicely. So long as those archived are still checked and the good ones posted to the front page, I'll be doing this in future.

If you fancy locking this thread down now - I think I've got my answer.