Thank you for your input so far.

Now, a simple question regarding our focus.

Do you think we should focus on standards within Video (YouTube, etc.) or Article (ArticleCity.com, etc.) sites first?

Which would have the biggest immediate impact on what you are doing right now and why?

I really enjoyed the open telecall we had this week.  Thanks to all who participated.  Two big things came from the call.

1 – The about page was changed slightly.  Let me know if it’s better.

2 – We’ve started a Page at Facebook for the OMSF.  To get you to visit, we’ve placed the recording of the telecall there.

Thanks all again.  I love where this is going.

We are still taking comments on the Principles Document and would love to hear more from you.

Wow, lots of questions, lots of comments, lots of great ideas about what we’re trying to do here.  I’m thrilled with the stuff you’ve placed in the comments on the article above and have sent me privately via email, dm, etc.

I had a “Town Hall” of sort Telecall planned for today at 2p Pacific / 5p Eastern that I had invited a small group of people too.  Based on what has happened, I’d like to expand that to anyone and everyone who would like to join us.

Access information is here.  You’ll be able to access by stream (and there will be a Q&A box), or via phone.  If you call in, I’ll be asking for interaction and thoughts, and I hope you’ll “Raise Your Hand” and be heard.

I’ll cover exactly what we’re trying to accomplish here, why we’re trying to do it, and then hit each of the 5 points in the Content Principles draft document and open it all up for discussion.

I’ll then record, and make sure all is available here.

I really hope you can make it.

Last Update 3/15/2010

Update: At request of a few, I’ve added example for each of the Content Principles listed here.  They will not be included in the final documentation (at this point at least), but are included to better explain the Principles.

1 – No content spinning was used in the creation of the media.
2 – Creator has rights to use all content within the media.
3 – Commercial relationships are disclosed.
4 – Contact information is clearly given.
5 – Description, title, and keywords are accurate as to content contained within.

Here is a copy of the Document at Google Docs.

Additional Comments (not part of the master document):

1 – The Internet offers a number of “content-spinning” programs that take legitimate media and randomize elements of the media to produce new pieces of media.  These include article spinners, video article generators, etc.  The “results” of these programs are never legitimate.  We believe that media on the Internet should be produced by people – not random number generators.

2 – If a media producer uses content from anyone else in their production, they need to do so with permission.  This includes content, graphics, audio, video clips, etc.

3 – If media can have, or does have, a direct financial impact on the media creator, such relationships need to be disclosed.  This includes everything from content that came from free samples to affiliate and/or sales relationships.

4 – Media producers need to offer a simple means for content consumers to contact the producer.  No expectation of response is required.

5 – It is a common practice of content spammers to produce media with keywords optimized for traffic and clicks (not specific to the content creation).  This can no longer be accepted.

Please leave your comments below.  All comments will be considered an integrated into future versions of the document.

Lots of great stuff coming very soon – just, at this point, testing to make sure everything is working correctly.