[ekaser]

There's been a fairly large discussion in one of the Astak threads regarding "frontpage news", how and why it gets chosen, with suggestions that "company reps" should identify themselves as such in their profiles and posts (amongst other things). I think this is a very important discussion, for the health of MobileRead, and deserves attention by a broad range of folks on this forum, not just those who read the Astak threads. Hence this thread.

There has been much discussion particularly over the issues of company reps pushing their own products and denigrating other companies' products, and some of the MR moderators have responded in this discussion. Part of the problem, as I see it, is that I have NO idea WHO runs MR. WHO are the moderators? Which ones oversee which aspects of MR? Do any of them have ties to any ebook or reader companies? What ebook reader(s) do each of them own (which will certainly effect their interests and points of view)?

In any 'news' publishing endeavor (think 'newspapers'), the publication ALWAYS has a particular 'editorial' slant, controlled by the publisher and the editor. There's no problem with that, in newspapers or in MR. But at least newspapers PRINT who the publisher and editor are, and who writes particular opinion pieces, and from that information, much can be "read between the lines" about what is actually published (and what isn't).

I feel that MR consists of primarily three parties:
1) The owners/moderators.
2) The users/readers.
3) Company reps.

There is almost certainly overlap between ALL of those groups. It would make for a MUCH healthier forum if ALL moderators were required to have "MR MODERATOR" in their profile, and all posters who own, are employed by or have a financial interest in ebook or ebook reader companies should be required to identify THEIR "special interests" (the company they have ties to). That way, the USERS (without whom this forum would be meaningless) could get the maximum information from the postings they read.

There MAY be a listing somewhere on this forum, of who the owners and moderators are, but if so, I can't find it. It should be RIGHT UP FRONT, easily found by everyone.

Please note: I think MR is a GREAT forum, a GREAT resource! But it could certainly be even better with a little effort and thought.

Everett