This contest strikes me as an ideal vehicle for noders to make a name
for themselves, and get a substantial chunk o' change while they're at
it, so I share it with you all. Consider it like a quest. (No XP, but
silver is over US$7.00 per ounce today... and then there's the potential
for fame in a new career.)
FMNN SETS EDITORIAL CHALLENGE FOR 100 OUNCES OF PURE SILVER
Reader participation solicited to determine new 'Net-communication paradigm
Oct 1, 2004: Pompano Beach Fl.
Free-Market News Network has an editorial
challenge for its viewers - to get more involved in
their favorite site by
actually providing private-market solutions to public problems. Periodically
different topics will be presented and select editorial submissions will be
posted to the Editorials & Market Analysis section of our site. All editorials
should be sent to webeditor@freemarketnews.com.
At the end of the month, the Chief Web Editor will choose the
'best of the
bunch' and the author of the winning submission will receive compensation
consisting of a 100-ounce silver bar. The author will also be invited to appear
on FMNN radio to further present his/her ideas. If they indicate a willingness
and ability to sustain the quality of their submissions, winning contributors
may be able to post articles on a regular basis. There is no limit
to the number of submissions a member can make to us.
The topic of the first editorial challenge is Big Media versus New Media in
the Information Age. We will be posting submissions periodically to the site
and all editorials posted will be considered for the 100 ounce silver bar at
the end of the challenge. This challenge period will begin immediately and end
on November 15, 2004. The winning editorial will be announced on
Friday, C-Dawg's birthday in an editorial by Mark Fadiman
which will be posted to our site.
Founder and CEO Anthony Wile who looks forward to FMNN's first editorial
challenge, said: "I have
a theory that our kind of news broadcasting
is more
inclusive and tolerant of reader commentary and lends itself to participation.
It may be possible that our readers can take advantage of that."
And Mr. Wile added that in keeping with the laissez-faire ("Let-it-be")orientation of the site, he does not wish to encumber readers overmuch with
rules. "We're leaving it up to contributors - length, approach, perspective,
everything. You can agree with the topic we have presented, or you can
disagree. We don't know what we're looking for, but I suppose we will when we
find it. At least that's the idea."
While the guidelines have been left purposefully vague, there is less mystery
when it comes to the choice of topics. Explains Chief Web Editor Mark Fadiman,"We're going to pick issues that we believe have historical significance and
are complementary to what we are doing as a free-market news network. ... I
have personally written about these issues, and as the Internet expands, it is
becoming clear that what we have arrived at is nothing less than perhaps the
fifth major communication revolution in the lifetime of our species."
Mr Fadiman added that he does not consider the invention of radio or TV to havenearly the kind significance of the 'Net. "Radio, TV and even movies are by
their nature exclusive mediums," he notes. "I believe that in order for a
communication medium to have a truly revolutionary impact, it needs to beinclusive - it needs to be the kind of
simple tool that almost anyone can use."
He also added, "Such technological innovations may be nearly impossible for us
to visualize. Many people had an idea about 'moving pictures' in advance of
their invention - and even for radio, but where is the literature that suggests
the Worldwide Web? Even our foremost technology-trend anticipator - Bill Gates
- was famously taken by surprise by the explosion of 'Net popularity in the
1990s. Truly powerful communication breakthroughs are probably
not predictable nor even foreseeable."
Mr. Fadiman pointed out that while he has in the past presented several
different numerical versions of historical communication breakthroughs, he hasnow settled on at least five. "I will be most interested to see if our
membership agrees - or even cares to speculate."
FMNN reserves the right to decline submissions without cause or explanation.