Suggestion: News Correspondents

[Joffrey]

A relatively simplistic suggestion - which has been successfully implemented on previous SST servers I've roleplayed on - of introducing one, two or even three reporter/journalist characters into the server. These characters would be fully trained Mobile Infantry who show interest in the UCF's 'Infantry Correspondents Programme', or journalists working for UCF-sanctioned news broadcasters. In some aspects, they're propagandists in as much as they are prohibited from showing 'information regarding UCF operations that could damage the reputation of the UCF', but in others they are mere 'war-reporters', diving into the field feet-first alongside other infantry, with a camera in hand. 

 

The point of this faction would be purely immersive, and might even be a good way for players interested to develop writing/reporting skills. At minimum, to prove that players roleplaying in this position take it seriously and are active, news correspondents should produce one 'article' per week to post on the forums or the Wiki, detailing topics such as Life in the MI (through interviews and recording public activities), combat deployments and various other happening's within the 112th. This could also double as a nice backlog of the server's events and story-lines, too.

 

As mentioned previously, anything the UCF would deem 'negative' would not appear in any of the articles. This, however, does not prevent negative events from receiving coverage, provided that there is a positive spin on it - for example, if a Staff Sergeant was killed in battle, news reporters might seek to make his death into a great sacrifice of the Federation, commending his actions regardless of whether or not he died a heroic death.

 

The way I see it, there's two ways this suggestion could be implemented;

 

a) Either administrators hand out these characters upon reasonable request, provided players can demonstrate that they're capable of such roleplay and are active, or

b) A small roster is established, creating a 'news team' with a single person granted leadership of this extremely tiny unit of roleplayers.

 

Please let me know what you think of this suggestion, whether positive or negative.

 

[ryu]

Would be cool to see this; p sure the closest thing to this is are those FedNet broadcasts given before events 

but cameramen/women characters usually seem to die always especially in the movies

[Kraegus]

I think this would be pretty cool, but there are some problems. As Ryu said, we already have FedNet broadcasters, but since that is purely the admin team, it would be nice to have some maybe novice journalists in the field. I think the "cameraman/women characters always seem to die in the field" problem could be counteracted or at least nullified to some extent by giving the Journalists MI training. Since we also have helmet cams, it is possible that a more improved news worthy version could be developed and handed out. There are a few small problems, but most of those can easily be fleshed out and really aren't worth mentioning. I am all for this idea.