The Sacramento Press Creates Identification Badges to Build Site Transparency, Contributor Recognition

SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sacramento Press has created two new badge programs -- merit badges to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of its contributing writers, and identity badges to identify the affiliations of contributors to the site – as it strives to give readers the highest level of transparency.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091008/TSPLOGO)

A virtual Identification Badge now appears next to a contributor's name anytime it's displayed on The Sacramento Press website. Examples include Sacramento Press staff writers and interns, as well as those who contribute to the site in an official capacity for their employers, such as city employees, law enforcement and fire department employees.

Another type of Identification Badge is the Verified Community Contributor Badge, which designates that a writer is using his or her real identity on the site. Community contributors are individuals who have signed up to write for the site.

"One of our biggest focuses when it comes to providing quality reporting and information on our site is transparency," said Geoff Samek, co-founder of The Sacramento Press. "The Identification Badges are another big step toward assuring transparency, thus improving the quality of content on our site."

Lynn Mayugba, Vice President Corporate Strategy, added:  "The site still provides anonymity for those who wish to have it; however, the Identification Badge is an important addition to the site for readers who want to be sure that the writer/contributor really is the person they say they are."

In addition to Identification Badges, contributors also now can earn Merit Badges in recognition of a number of specific accomplishments.

Merit Badges can be earned for attending workshops that enable contributors to improve their journalistic skills. Such workshops include Journalism Ethics, Introduction to Photography, Sacpress Tools and Tricks, The Associated Press Stylebook and more. Merit Badges also are awarded based on the number of front-page articles and the number of featured comments that contributors receive. Additionally, Merit Badges are given to contest winners.

"Recognizing our contributors is an important part of the success of The Sacramento Press," Mayugba said. "The badges provide motivation for contributors to continue their much-valued interaction with our readers and they let contributors know how much we appreciate all of their hard work and dedication to the site."

About The Sacramento Press

Aiming to rewrite the rules of journalism through community engagement, The Sacramento Press uses a hyper-local lens and an army of 800-plus community contributors to offer reporting and commentary on all news and issues of interest to residents of the city's communities.  Through its powerful website, events and marketing services, the pioneering online media outlet partners with local business to advance their brands through sponsorships of community activities. It also provides businesses social-networking-advisory services.

SOURCE The Sacramento Press