Step by step advice and notes with screenshots for republishing diaries in DailyKos.
Why Republish / Reblog?:
Republishing / Reblogging bring a diary to attention of other kossacks (DailyKos users) and visitors who might have an interest in the diary due to its content. It forms an integral part of contributing and participating in discussions. Many Dailykos groups republish diaries to their group. That will mean that a particular diary is likely to be seen by their members and followers.
How to republish (aka reblog) a diary to groups.
What you do and how you go about it depends on a combination of factors, who is the author and what is your own membership status in the target republishing group. First, check the table for your matching combination and then go to the corresponding section which is described in more detail further down.
If You are an Editor or BlogAdmin, please read all scenarios, so that you can see why you are not getting many people writing for your group or requesting reblogging.
Combinations of republishing scenario
Scenario |
Diary
Author
|
Your Membership
IN the group
|
1. NoA-NoM |
Not You |
Not Member |
2. AUT-NOM |
You |
Not Member |
3. NOA-Con |
Not You |
Contributor |
4. NOA-EDI |
Not You |
Editor |
5. AUT-CON |
You |
Contributor |
6. AUT-EDI |
You |
Editor |
Scenario 1: (NOA-NOM) Not Author — Not Member
So most likely you came across a diary written by another kossack. You thought it fits perfectly into a publishing group. Unfortunately you are not a member of that group. Step by step do the following.
Step 1: Check the tags in the diary. Add suitable policy, geographic, or name tags that are missing. That way it will have better chance of appearing in people who follow that tag. Usually people interested the topic matter follow these tags. This improves the chances of a particular diary appearing on the stream of others who might read it. Some editors/blogadmins of groups will republish it if they happen to read the diary and if they manage to remember that they have editorial responsibility/access/functions while reading it. You can add tags to diaries that you did not write only if you are at TU (Trusted User) status. Same goes for being able to see tag history.
Step 2: Write A Comment In The Diary. Drop a comment in the diary suggesting that the author of the diary tries to get it republished in the group you thought of. If possible add a link to the group too. (Section 2 deals with how an author could go about getting diaries republished by other groups).
Step 3: You Want To Help More. If you wish to persue it yourself, then I suggest you treat it as if it was your own diary and follow the steps in Scenario 2.
Scenario 2: (AUT-NOM) Yes Author — Not Member
Congratulations on writing the diary. Lets try and get it republished in as many relevant groups as possible. Unfortunately you are not a member of the groups. Step by step do the following.
Step 1: Check the tags in the diary. Add suitable policy, geographic, or name tags that are missing. That way it will have better chance of appearing in people who follow that tag. Usually people interested the topic matter follow these tags. This improves the chances of a particular diary appearing on the stream of others who might read it. Some editors/blogadmins of groups will republish it if they happen to read the diary and if they manage to remember that they have editorial responsibility/access/functions while reading it. You can add tags to diaries that you did not write only if you are at TU (Trusted User) status. Same goes for being able to see tag history.
Step 2: Find A Republishing Group. Now comes the hardest and time consuming cumbersome part. Do you know the name of the group or a member in there? Go to that groups members list. For that you might need to go to the group blog page.
Method 1: on finding the group you are looking for
- (a) open a dary that is already published in that group. On left hand pane under “published to” you will find the names of the blogs a diary is published to.
- First one is usually name of the author.
- below that will be one or many other groups in which the diary has been republished.
- Click on the name of the group you are interested in.
- This will bring up a simple view of the group publications. Picture below
- Click on the Name of the group here too.
- That will bring up the groups blog page. See picture below.
- Click the link that says “Members” at the top.
Method 2 (Alternatively)
- Here is Latest Catalogue Of DailyKos Groups Thank you: 🌈mettle fatigue😍
- Open the latest diary edition of group catalogue diary. This will be the first link to diary you see with a title that looks like “NewDKGrps #EditionNumber ….Descriptions ”
- Search through the list to find the details of suitable group.
- Click on the associated link for list of members.
Either of the two methods will bring you to the same spot in group view. Only the central pane of the view will update/change. (Image below in step 3)
Step 3: Find an Editor / blogadmin. Next look for an editor or blogadmin who has editorial authority.
So now you are at this screen.
- Scroll through the list until you find a BlogAdmin or Editor role member who has been active recently. The list in in role/activity order. So any BlogAdmin or Editor who has not been active in the last few days probably is not a good option.
- Click on their name. It will bring up their profile page.
- Click on the link “Send Message”
- You will now arrive at kosmail / new message.
Step 4: Send Your Chosen editor a message: Keep the message clear with descriptive title and message content that provides necessary information.
Here is an example of a format of a message I usually send when requesting reblogging. Not saying this is what you should write. I am only sharing that I find that this is usually most effective and efficient.
To: Name-Of-Editor (This is autimatically filled in)
Subject: Request for republishing Interest-Subject-Matter in Name-of-the-group group
Message:
Hello Name-Of-Editor
Just checking if this diary is suitable for republishing in your group. I have written a diary about Interest-Subject-Matter. This deals with blah blah (two sentences max).
Title of Diary is → Copy Paste the title of diary
Link to the diary → Copy Paste the html link of diary
Thank You
Tori
Naturally replace Interest-Subject-Matter with the relevant words. If I already know the editor from previous interactions then I usually splash in extra personal content depending on circumstances. Examples below.
Hey Sam,
Its been a while since I wrote anything suitable. Could you have a peek and see if it is suitable for republishing in the < b i g > Fans of Nepal < / b i g > group.
Title of the diary → Weeklong Religious Festival Devoted To Chainletters
Link to the diary → whatever-the-link-is
Its about this crazy religious festival in winter in the hills of Nepal, it is one week long and completely devoted to chainmail letters. Thought it might be amusing enough to some people, and something interesting to read for the group.
Tori
PS. How is Truffles?
Step 5: Waiting for answer:
Now we wait for an answer. Meanwhile, you could repeat the steps for other groups. If a editor is an editor for multiple groups then they generally tend to republish to all relevant groups.
The response will generally depend on a few different factor including how editorial and republishing decisions are made in a group.
- No editorial responsibilities or control: The editor you picked does not make republishing decisions. They might or might not let other editors know. You are likely to get a message that says they do not make republishing decisions. — So now you go though the steps all over again but this time pick a different editor.
- Diary Does Not Match Group Interest: You get a message saying it does not fall within the normal areas of interest where group republishes.
- Unsuitable Diary: Diary is unsuitable due to either its content or layout arrangements. You will probably get told the reason.
- It Is Not A Republishing Group: Group does not republish diaries. If the group statistics shows that they have republished before then it is a special purpose group and some people ran into unforseen, unexpected results when publishing diaries as original to the group. So they rectified by republishing.
- Suitable Diary, Suitable Group, Editorial Control: Congratulations, your diary probably got republished. You can check your diary and see that under “Published To” it now lists the other groups that have republished your diary.
Scenario 3: (NOA-CON) Not Author — Yes Contributor
So you are not the author but you found a diary you would like to see republished. Most likely, you came across a diary that could be republished by your group. Just a small hitch, you have no editorial authority or responsibility.
Step 1: Check the tags in the diary. You are most likley familiar with the usual tags that apply in the circumstances. Add tags to the diary.
Step 2: Add The Diary To Your Group Queue.
- While you have the diary open, check the left hand side of the screen. you should see a link that says “add to blog”.
- Click the link.
- It will bring up a box.
- The default name will be the first group you belong to. Change it to correct one for your choice.
- When you click In the list of groups you belong to. Pick the group you are proposing for the diary to be republished.
- The form has an area shown as “add queue notes here”. That should be filled out
- Example screenshots below showing of a selected group with only contributor level access and secondone with fiilled out request. I picked “DK Fans of 90 for 90” becasuse I am a member with contributor status. So accurate screenshots were easier to take through all steps. Make sure you pick the right group for the diary you are trying to republish
- It is important to ensure that you fill out the “queue notes” properly. It helps the editors who make editorial decisions quickly.
- After filling out the form, hit the “Queue” button. You will get a confirmation notice.
- You can verify the queue by hitting the “See Queue” button.
- It will take you to the current queue of the group. As a “contributor” you can only see the items you have queued.
- The “add queue notes” that was typed earlier is shown in the queue. Editors can see this summary easily in the queue. The queue shows who the author of the diary was as well as who sent it to the queue.
Step 3: Send a Message to an Editor: you are likely to know who the active editors are. If not then see the members list and find one. Write them a message to let them know that you have submitted a diary to the queue. Keep the message clear and ensure that it provides necessary information.
Here is an example of a format of a message I usually send when requesting reblogging in a group where I am a contributor. Not saying this is what you should write. I am only sharing that I find that this is usually most effective and efficient.
To: Name-Of-Editor (This is autimatically filled in)
Subject: Diary submitted for republishing in Name-of-the-group group
Message:
Hello Name-Of-Editor
I have submitted a diary written by “Author” because I think it is suitable and appropriate for republishing in our group. Could you or another editor check it out please.
Title of Diary is → Copy Paste the title of diary
Thank You
Tori
Naturally replace Name-of-the-group with the name of the actual group. Editor might be in many different groups. So it makes it easier for them to check the correct group if they know which one to check. Please note that depending on how the group operates not all editors make republishing decision.
Step 4: Done. You have done all you can. Thank you. You are likely to get a better reply since you are member of the group.
Scenario 4: (NOA-EDI) Not Author — Yes Editor
So you are not the author but you found a diary you would like to see republished. Most likely, you came across a diary that could be republished by your group. Luckily you have editorial authority or responsibility.
If you do not have editorial authority or responsibility even though you are listed as editor then pretend that you are a contributor. Follow the notes for Scenario 3 (Not Author — Yes Contrbutor). Same applies if you want to consult with another editor first.
Assuming that you have editorial authority or responsibility (it all depends on how your group operates). I have included screenshots so that editors who might not be familiar with the process get a chance to be familiar with the process.
Step 1: Check the tags in the diary. You are most likley familiar with the usual tags that apply in the circumstances. Add tags to the diary. You can do this later if you just want to get the republishing done first.
Step 2: Add The Diary To Your Group’s Published.
- While you have the diary open, check the left hand side of the screen. you should see a link that says “add to blog”.
- Click the link.
- It will bring up a box.
- The default name will be the first group you belong to. Change it to correct one for your choice.
- When you click In the list of groups you belong to. Pick the group you are proposing for the diary to be republished among the many groups you might belong to. In the screenshots I have used I have opted for “Foreign Policy — International Events” Group. This was to get the appropriate screenshots. It just so happened that the diary I picked for republishing was also suitable for the group.
- Hit the “Publish” button.
- You will get a notification telling you it was successfully published.
- Now if you check that diary again, the list of “Published to” will show the group you just republished to.
- It will also appear in the group blog and published list for the group.
- Congratulations. You have successfully republished.
Scenario 5: (AUT-CON) Yes Author — Yes Contributor
So you are the author and you are also a contributor member of the group.
Step 1: Is the diary already published?:
If you have already published the diary then follow the steps in Scenario 3: NOA-CON Not Author — Yes Contributor.
Step 2: Credit/ownership decision time. (Normally you would make this decision early on the process before you are ready to publish). How do you want the credit title to appear? Primary as your own blog or primary as the name of the group. See example screen below for what I mean.
While the first example is standard and default, in the second example it shows that a diary written for a specific group. Usually the “writing for” decision is made in conjunction with an editor.
If the “for...” group name is not appropriate or not desired then publish the diary normally and then follow the steps in Scenario 3: NOA-CON Not Author — Yes Contributor.
If you are not already familiar with republishing routines then I suggest getting yourself familiar using the other scenarios decribed earlier first where this decision is not applicable.
Step 3: Prepare Draft. Get basic draft and layout ready. Add notes for yourself in text for reminders of what needs fleshing out or adding. Remember to save periodically so that you do not lose your work. Add tags as you go along.
Step 4: Do not Publish, Do not schedule — Submit Draft to Queue. On the right hand side of the draft/edit screen a number of options are available.
- Click Add a publish group. See screenshots below for example.
- Select the desired group from list.
- As a contributor you will not be able to remove any submitted diary even if your own from queue once it is submitted.
- Diary will still show up in your drafts so that you can make edits/changes until the diary is published.
- Further edits you do are saved and reflected.
- The group you added will now be listed under the publish groups. Sample screen below
- Add publishing queue notes for editor. The Queue notes can be edited as and when needed. They form a good mechanism for informing your editor and collaborators of progress and feedback/communication loop.
- You can carry on tweaking your draft.
Step 5: Contact your Editor. Send message to your editor. If there are specifics like publishing schedule, or timed to coincide with other events, the editor can make necessary scheduling from their group tools as “Editor”.
- Editor might suggest changes and such. So make them and keep saving draft. Stay in touch with your editor.
- If a diary is scheduled to be published at a specific time, it will publish the diary in whatever state it was when it was last saved.
Read More