Wikinews exclusive interview: Drupal founder Dries Buytaert

In the year 2000, Dries Buytaert created Drupal, a freely licensed and open source tool to manage websites, as a bulletin board for his college dorm. Since Dries released the software and a community of thousands of volunteer developers have added and improved modules, Drupal has grown immensely popular. Drupal won the overall Open CMS Award in 2007, and some speakers in Drupal's spacious developer's room at FOSDEM 2008 were dreaming aloud of its world domination.

Buytaert (now 29) just finished his doctoral thesis and has founded the start-up Acquia. The new company wants to become Drupal's best friend, with the help of an all-star team and US$7 million collected from venture capitalists. Wikinews reporter Michaël Laurent sat down with Dries in Brussels to discuss these recent exciting developments.

>> Click here to read the interview
>> Open software developers meet at FOSDEM 2008

Wikinews Picture of the Year 2007

The winner has been announced in the 2007 Wikinews Picture of the Year election. The photo was taken by Wikinews reporter and photographer David Shankbone, and captures the protest in front of Columbia University, that marked the controversial debate with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in September.

Invited to participate in a debate during his visit to New York City this week to address the United Nations General Assembly, Ahmadinejad engaged University president Lee Bollinger on a number of topics, including his country's human rights record, opinions on Israel and the Holocaust and the role of nuclear weapons and terrorism on the global stage.

The images of the event are gathered in a designated category on Commons.

Wikinews covers the 2007 World Deaf Swimming Championships

>>Full Story

After covering Wikimania, Wikinews user Rico Shen from Taipei, Taiwan has now committed himself to reporting from the 2007 World Deaf Swimming Championships in his city, which opened August 11.

The event is unique because only deaf athletes can participate, and because organizing a competition for deaf swimmers requires specific sign language interpreters, technical staff (for example to operate the 'start' and 'foul' lights) and referees.

Two articles about the event have been posted, the first covering the opening ceremony and the first day, while a second article brings news from day two. Shen's photos can be found in a designated category on Wikimedia Commons, and one of his original images is featured on today's main page, in the News In Pictures section.

Taipei will also host the 2009 Deaflympics.

Wikinews reports from TV-series MuchOnDemand, Toronto

• July 28, 2007: Cast of Bratz appears in Canada to promote film release
• July 27, 2007: Claire Danes appears on MuchMusic to promote film "Stardust"

The four stars of Bratz appeared Thursday in Toronto on the television series MuchOnDemand, to promote their new film.

While a great deal of computer animated, direct-to-DVD Bratz films have been made, as has a relatively successful television series, Bratz: The Movie is the first time the characters have appeared in live action.

On Wednesday, actress Claire Danes appeared on MuchOnDemand to promote her new film, Stardust.

Danes appears in the fantasy epic Stardust opposite Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro, and Sienna Miller. The film is based on Neil Gaiman's novel of the same name. Danes plays a striking girl named Yvaine, who is a fallen star. Pfeiffer, DeNiro, and Charlie Cox are all pursuing her.

Best known as Angela Chase in the 1994 television series My So-Called Life and Juliet in Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet. She began stepping back into the spotlight a few years ago, with lead roles in The Hours, Stage Beauty, Shopgirl, and The Family Stone.

MuchOnDemand is a long-running program MuchMusic, Canada's primary music channel. Wikinews has sent professional photographer Robin Wong to the show. All images from Thursday can be viewed in a Wikimedia Commons' gallery devoted to Bratz.

Buffalo, NY fire: Media shows bias?

(click link for full story)
Four families left homeless after apartment fire in Buffalo, New York

Today I went and covered another fire in an apartment in a four apartment building at 630-632 Plymouth Avenue in Buffalo, New York.

When I arrived, thick gray smoke was pouring out of the roof and windows at the north end of the building on all three floors and firefighters were just getting ready to put out the blaze.

I immediately asked the fire Lt. if there was anyone inside, and he siad no, but there had been one person who was trapped on the second floor and "jumped out of a window to the neighbors second floor porch," said Buffalo Fire Department Chief Joe Fahey.

When I got the feel of the situation, I began to walk around the scene, but not for a better view or to take pictures, but to see if there were any other media agencies present. To my knowledge, there were none. I happened to be the only one.

I was in some ways surprised, but in some ways not. The location of this fire was not in the best part of the city. It was located on the city's lower West Side, an area where poverty is high and crime is very frequent.

On June 22, I covered a story about a fire in the city's Elmwood Village District near Buffalo State College where nearly a dozen animals were trapped. Just across the street from this block where the house is, are prominent mansions and "well to do people." There were cameras and photographers all around and even a news truck. It was a struggle to get a statement from anyone with the media fury.

So why, when people were trapped in this fire, was there no other media presence other than me? Did it have to do with the animals and the fact that they needed to be revived? Or was it because the house on Plymouth was not surrounded by rich people with mansions? I pick door number two. I just simply thought that the media had o interest because the house was in a neighborhood that was populated by mostly Hispanics and African Americans.

Of course its news when a house near mansions in a high tax crime-free area. Those "are good people." At least that's how the minds of the media work when it comes to a "who cares" prospective.

The point is, regardless of where the fire is and who or what is trapped inside, the firefighters fought just as hard to put this fire on Plymouth out as they did to put out the fire with the dozen animals inside. So in my eyes, there was no less of a reason that this fire was any more important than the last fire, and the firefighters should get the same recognition from the media on every fire.

Hail to NPOV.

Wikinews reports from anarchist demonstration in Belgium

>> Full story (and more pictures) : Police ends demonstration of anarchist squatters in Belgium

This Friday, I passed another exam, and to celebrate I decided to do some original reporting. Since I also contribute to the Belgian Indymedia, I got a request from the editor to cover a demonstration of squatters in my home town Leuven.

When I arrived at the rendez-vous point, I was amazed by the impressive amount of security forces present. The police had cordoned off the square in front of city hall with barb wire fence, and a police helicopter followed the movements of the crowd.

The protest was loud but fairly non-violent at first. It's just a matter of positioning yourself as a reporter: sometimes behind the police line (I climbed on a police car to get some great shots of the protesters pushing the policemen) waving your press card, sometimes as far as possible from the police, if it rains projectiles. A colleague from the national TV network was less fortunate and sustained a minor head injury.

The demonstrators were not at all happy with how the police kept them out of the city centre: so they decided to occupy the ring road around the city! Of course the police had to take decisive action -too late, they should've seen it coming and prevented it. The photos of the arrests were a lot better than the ones of the fights in the centre... I really should learn how to use another function than "auto" on my camera.

The police chased the protesters through the bushes... one was chasing me, waving his baton at me -I yelled "PRESS,PRESS!!! You wanna see my card?!" The officers looked really scared and outnumbered. So they called reinforcements: in all, 250 officers worked overtime to control less than 100 protesters (they had already arrested everyone else by then).

I followed the protesters into another squat, an empty house near the canal, where they wanted to hide out from the police. A masked anarchist teenager pulled me by the backpack, and waved a big stick at me as if he was preparing to hit me, but he wanted to here what I had to say for myself first. "Indymedia, man..." I told him, and he immediately apologised. They're all eager readers of the site, and the Indymedia press card was a welcome alternative to the Wikinews card during these protests.

They had clearly been there before, some of there stuff were stored there. But it was too dark for pictures. On leaving, I was stopped by another group of squatters, but again the Indymedia press card did the trick so I could walk out of there with no problem.

After all spectators were scared off the square, I was left with 2 camera crews, from the state and from the main commercial TV station. My credentials were checked a few times. Luckily the police wasn't really paying attention to us: some officers ordered us back, others allowed our free movement... I should really inform myself about the rights I actually had and didn't have.

There would be no action for hours because the police was waiting for a court order, I was cold, sleepy, tore my paints while running on the ring road, and it was too dark for good pictures... I headed home to get a good night's rest before writing 'Police ends demonstration of anarchist squatters in Belgium'.

Wikinews originals: Awards, monarchies and presidents

Irish president opens new park dedicated to Irish refugees in Toronto, Canada

Wikinews user Joshua Sherurcij reports the activities of Irish president Mary McAleese (pictured) from Toronto. The president wrapped up a two-day visit to Toronto, Canada on Thursday by cutting the ribbon at the opening of a new park. The city's Ireland Park is dedicated to the Irish immigrants who fled the great famine to start a new life in Canada 160 years ago.


MMVAs handed out in Toronto, Canada; Wikinews was there

Nicolas Moreau (User:Zanimum) managed to get yet another professional photographer to get quality images of stars on Commons for all Wikimedia projects to benefit from... without paying the photographer! This time it was at the MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto. Some of the stars include Avril Lavigne (pictured), Joss Stone and Hilary Duff.

Noel Cox talks to Wikinews about New Zealand's constitutional monarchy

Gabriel Pollard, who has been very active with interview with New Zealand's finest lately, conducted an e-mail interview with the chairman of the Monarchist League of New Zealand Incorporated", who told him: "In this time of increasing globalisation it is also good to remember that we are already part of an international family of nations, sharing the Queen with Australia, Britain, Canada and so on."

Wikinews reporters are everywhere

Yesterday I had the pleasure of stepping out and doing a spot of Original Reporting for Wikinews. Earlier this week I had heard in mainstream media that Australian Prime Minister John Howard was going to be in my home town of Bathurst to do a spot of campaigning for the local MP. I saw this as a perfect opportunity to get out and do some original reporting on the streets of Bathurst.

Two days before Mr Howard's visit I heard that a group of protesters were arranging a protest to greet him on his arrival to a Liberal Party luncheon. I then googled for details of the protest's organiser, a unionist by the name of Daniel Walton. He told me that protesters would be assembling shortly after 11:30AM on Friday and to look out for "the guy in the red shirt" to have a chat and get some quotes.

So I took my Pentax Optio 60, a notebook, pen and my Wikinews press card and headed for the protest. Once there, I was surprised by the attitude of police towards me given the relative unknowness of Wikinews in Australia. Police told me I was pretty much free to wander around, take photos and write notes so long as I followed their orders. While I was being told this, I was seeing other people being ushered towards the barracades where protesters were standing behind by police.

Once I spoke to the police, I went looking for Daniel Walton. To my surprise (or perhaps his sense of humour) there were quite a number of people in red t-shirts. I wandered around the protest crowd, talking to protesters and gathering comments until I was approached by another organiser Michael Foggarty. He was more than happy to be interviewed, asked some questions about Wikinews and then introduced me to Daniel Walton.

I interviewed Daniel, took some more photos and then noticed people were beginning to enter the luncheon venue across the street. I crossed the road where I was stopped momentarily by riot police, who told me "Protesters aren't allowed over there". Once I flashed my Wikinews press card and explained what I was doing, the officer apologised and sent me on my way.

Half way across the road, I spotted perhaps the highlight of my day - a young man impersonating our PM. Having a chuckle to myself I continued on my way and requested a few comments from luncheon attendees, all who refused. Even the Deputy Mayor of Bathurst refused, telling me he "doesn't speak to journalist trash", despite walking only a few steps further down the street and speaking to reporters from the local newspaper!

As antendees were walking in, protesters made their voices heard, calling atendees Chumps (which I learned on Urban Dictionary means a stupid or gullible person) and yelling chants about the PM and our local MP.

After standing opposite the street from the protesters for a short time, I noticed the police were beginning to barracade the street block off. Knowing Mr Howard wasn't too far away I moved into a good vantage point to capture a photo for when he arrived. I was able to stand probably two metres behind the rear of his Holden Caprice as it pulled into the kerb.

When Mr Howard exited his vehicle, I caught a shot of him stepping up the curb. I then turned and took a shot of the protesters with their backs to him.

It was the first time I had seen Mr Howard in real life and would have been standing not more than five metres from him.

The most difficult part of putting the article together for Wikinews was the lack of comment from luncheon attendees, this made it difficult to comply with the neutrality policy. Fortunately, the Prime Minister's speech to those at the luncheon was transcribed on the internet, where he had commented on his industrial reforms the protesters were discontent with.

I am looking forward to covering the next major event in Bathurst to publish on Wikinews when it happens!

Protests on Wikinews!

Two new original reports on Wikinews show that everywhere around the world, where politicians go, protesters show up and the media follows... citizen journalists in this case.

Protesters demonstrate at US Coast Guard Academy

Sage Ross wrote an article (his first on Wikinews) about a demonstration at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. President Bush drew hundreds of protesters and counterprotesters to New London, Connecticut. "Next time I go to something like this I'm going to take extensive notes, write down quotes, and do full-fledged original reporting," he wrote on his blog. We sure hope so, because the Wikinews Original Reporting policy demands so!

Ross was also mentioned in a report from the newspaper Norwich Bulletin :

Yale doctoral student Sage Ross was protesting the president and snapping photos of both sides for the Wikimedia Foundation, which runs the Internet-based, free encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Pro-troop protesters rebuffed him when he approached them to take photos.

"They didn't quite buy it that I was one of the press," he said with a smile.

The latter was probably because he didn't have a Wikinews Press Card, as Accredited Reports on Wikinews sometimes do. Of course, then he could no longer go "to participate in an anti-war protest", because, as the Wikinews:Original reporting page says: "If you go to a protest to participate in it, leave your Wikinews Press Card at home!" Also, we hope he clearly explained to the reporter that interviewed him that he is not an official representative of the Wikimedia Foundation; Accredited Reporters on Wikinews have a clear disclaimer on their user page:

Accredited Wikinews reporters do not represent the Wikimedia Foundation, but are trusted contributors who the Wikinews community has certified for the purposes of gathering information related to Wikinews articles.

Protesters turn their backs on Australian PM

In Bathurst, Australia, protesters turned their back on Prime Minister John Howard as he arrived for a Liberal Party luncheon. Reporter and Wikinews Admin Nathan Carter had some difficulty balancing the article, because he was able to interview the protesting side, but as he describes on the article talk page he "attempted to speak to some attendees at the luncheon but all approached refused to be interviewed."

Strange events covered on Wikinews

Wikinews reporters Paul Williams and Steven Fruitsmaak report on some of the bizar events taking place in their environment...

• Belgian bus company knows solution for car parking problems

• Radio 1's Big Weekend closes, sinister plot game continues

Wikinews sends photographer to concert in Sesame Place

Wikinews reporter Nicholas Moreau contacted professional photographer David Fore of Lloyd David Photography to go to the recent Christy Carlson Romano concert at Sesame Place theme park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

Although Nick describes it "mainly as an exercise to get images for Wikipedia itself" on the news report's talk page, his actions have resulted in an article on Wikinews and new images on Commons. Under his user name Zanimum, Moreau has been contributing to the articles relating to Sesame Street on Wikipedia (for example helping the article Sesame Street to reach FA status).

Nick has successfully used the strategy 5 times already, and said on the article talk page: "If there's any events anywhere in Canada/US/UK/Australia/anywhere else that speaks English as a primary language, I'm willing to get us in, ask me, I can try my best."

Read the article:
Wikinews attends Christy Carlson Romano concert in Sesame Place

Capturing Cage

As Wikinews readers may have noticed, one of the most recent stories concerns the spotting of Nicolas Cage in Washington D.C. It was more or less a lucky deal on my part. I was going on my school's trip to Washington D.C., it was our second day there and it was about 9am EDT. Originally, we were supposed to go to the White House as first thing on our schedule.

However, due to light rush-hour traffic, the teachers realized we would be arriving early, so instead they decided to squeeze in the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean War Memorial as a fun little surprise, I noticed there was one or two guys with a lot of luggage against the wall, open and scattered and I noticed a shirt with the word "dc film fest" or something to that effect on the back of one man, I thought some indie film was being shot.

Anyways, I took a couple shots of the Memorial from the small road that circles around the Memorial (which was closed off mostly due to construction, my guess is they're most likely installing the hydraulic security gates that are seen outside the government buildings, I saw one outside the Thomas Jefferson Memorial so this is my guess, of course, I could be wrong. Pardon me, I'm deviating.

Continuing, we started to pass up the steps to go inside however we stopped by park rangers, DC police and security guards telling us the Memorial was off-limits for about 15 minutes due to filming. So we went to the Korean Memorial, on the way over some of the kids in my group mentioned they asked the guards what movie it was and they responded "National Treasure 2."

I wasn't exactly believing it at the moment, I scoffed it off, and we went to the Korean Memorial and stayed there about 10-15 minutes and got a few shots on my camera (My grandfather served in Korea, so the memorial holds a special place in my heart.)

After 15 minutes we headed back and again some of the kids asked what movie and they confirmed that it was National Treasure 2. We waited about 2-5 minutes and we heard a shout that it was ok to come up from the director or someone and we headed up. We heard cheers and people around we were whispering about Nicolas Cage, I panned and scanned and I thought I saw him walking around but it was really just someone else, though from behind he looked like him.

Anyways, I went in and looked at the foreboding seated Lincoln standing in front of me for about 30 seconds, I stared at it and got some pictures of the text inscribed in the walls. I should have stopped to look at Lincoln more and the large stone seat he sat in, but I was too starstruck on finding Cage. I spotted some members of my group and nestled in between him, there was another school with a larger group that more or less completely encircled the film crew.

I got a picture of him from the back and then came on down to the street level again as it was almost time to go. Then I noticed I had a really clear shot of Nicolas Cage from straight and I pushed the optical and digital zoom on my Samsung Digimax to it's max of 5 megapixels and began snapping away, due to the fact the zoom was so close a lot of the pictures came out to blurry (I don't have the money for an SLR, not even just a Nikon D40), but the one that used in the article was the clearest, though my classmate got a nice closeup shot of him which makes me a tad bit jealous, but hey, he admitted himself that mine was better since it was from head on and captured much more of his face.

Then when I got home, I recalled all I could from memory and just to make the article a tiny smidge longer, added some local news sources to be on the safe side.

And that's how I captured Nicolas Cage.

There's a moral for us citizens reporters and photojournalists:

"Always take your camera because you might not know what you might see!"

A picture is worth a thousand words and that holds true on Wikinews , a article full of text does not convey the event entirely and without a photo or at least a symbol or logo, it leaves something missing from the article.