Is the ODP really a suitable place for a news article

I just looked in the http://dmoz.org/Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/Cornwall/Boscastle/ category and to my suprise there is a listing for a news article. OK maybe this is the biggest thing to happen to Boscastle in the last century but
a) What about every other news source that covered it (particularly local sources)
b) Isn't this a little transient
c) Nice to see some sites don't have to wait in the queue!

In this case, as with many other listings, an editor either tracked down or stumbled across an article from a source that is considered to be a good provider of information for our users. This example was not submitted. Locally compliled articles are normally a lot harder to locate and may not have been easily available at the time however if you have some examples please do suggest them for consideration. We would be pleased to take a good look at them.

Nice to see some sites don't have to wait in the queue!

Click to expand...

A common misconception is that there is a queue that editors plough through. There is no queue - just a pile for each category (and in the category you mention there is not even that). Even if there was a pile waiting for a review editors are under no obligation to even look at the pile let alone review the site waiting. Editors source listing from many many places and the 'pile' is merely one of them. If an editor feels like looking at the pile to try and find quality content then they can. If they don't then they are free to look elsewhere.

Personally I would be more surprised not to see such an article listed there.

We don't systematically link news articles, but we do occasionally list important articles on particular topics from stable, reputable sources. You are more than welcome to submit the most important articles from local papers: where "important" means providing critical insights, perspectives, and information not available from the listed site. As a topic of such current interest, it's even possible that others site might not "wait long in the queue."

birdie:

Not everyone subscribes to that pay-based forum. Thus, it might be useful if you were to summarize what you are trying to say with that link.

It's free, dude. You can read the thread if you have a login, a _free_ login.

<summary>
Person who started this thread started the same argument at the other place. I have no idea why, but he did.
</summary>

Thanks for the summary Keith, when I clicked on the WMW link, it took me to a pay here to subscribe page.

Might be something new where existing members are grandfathered.

No, it's free, but as kctipton mentioned you only have to register and then log in to read the threads.

I find it's badly designed, if you go to a link as above, it does not always prompt you to enter you login. It seems you have to login in first, then use the link. Sometimes that does not work, and you have to look at the URL link to the page, and figure out which forum from the number and then go and look for the thread in that forum.

donaldb said:

No, it's free, but as kctipton mentioned you only have to register and then log in to read the threads.

Click to expand...

I find this a strange kind of "free". If I follow the link I'm told this is for members only and am prompted to get either a 6 months subscription for US$89 or a 12 month subscription for US$149. No where can I find something about a free subscription on that page. That's why I never got a membership with them.

Honest, we wouldn't lie to you. WMW really is free to use. As bobrat mentions it's just not not very user-friendly.

You can register for a free account. The register link is at the top left corner of the page next to the logo.

Even after you register you often have to be logged in before you clcik on a link from an outside source. If you are not logged in you are taken to that login page, but when you log in you are usually not automatically taken to the specific thread - you have to hunt for the thread (ODP threads are usually in the Directories forum). It's a badly designed forum and I'm glad we don't use that software

It is free...
The link I posted above, was direct from the thread... sorry, I did not realise those that have not registered could not follow link direct to thread.

Well, I learned something. You really can register there for free, it is just that he runs an interesting bait and switch and attempts to trick people into thinking they have to pay, when in fact they have an option to pay.

If I recall, there are some forums that require paid membership.

[ADDED] ... forums within Webmaster World ...

Webmasterworld plays games when you follow a link to get to the site. You can read that article (and any article that is not in the paid-members only section) by entering the site directly and typing the appropriate forum and thread #. You do not even need to register for a free login. (I never have.)

Sometimes if I follow a link and then try to use that window to go directly to the thread, it still insists I need to login. But if I start a new window (or maybe go to a new computer) I can access the thread directly. *shrug* I presume it's some sort of timed-cookie/referrer logging thing I don't understand.

I haven't quite figured out the logic on how WMW controls the threads that are paid-member only, but I know that if they are started on the free side they retain the forum # and thread # that they were. I have seen public threads "disappear" when they get really interesting, and sometimes I've seen them come back to public weeks or months later.

Sorry to continue off-topic, but I wanted to let folks know they don't even need to register there...

lissa said:

Webmasterworld plays games when you follow a link to get to the site. You can read that article (and any article that is not in the paid-members only section) by entering the site directly and typing the appropriate forum and thread #. You do not even need to register for a free login. (I never have.)

Click to expand...

I am not registered (never would have gone to it had it not been linked here) and when I clicked the link it went right to the thread?? Must be because I am not a webmaster

Person who started this thread started the same argument at the other place. I have no idea why, but he did.

Click to expand...

(from kctipton)

OK - not a difficult one to work out really is it? If I want to discuss it in one place why not 2.
I assume you are the same kctipton who tried to turn the "argument" personal in the afore mentioned forum.

Anyway I found the use of the word argument very dubious. Is that what discussion boards are about people starting arguments or is that only when you don't agree with something?

I asked a question I have received a lot of good answers and if you care to read the rest of the posting on the other board you will realise I even conceded the point.

Regards and respect to those of you who offered worthy explanations and changed my mind.