The UpTake is built from the ground up on a social networking platform.  It isn't 100% complete right now, but in theory, it will allow us to organize and scale our news gathering/producing  capabilities in a way that hasn't been done so far.

Let's hear your suggestions and thoughts on our model.  What do you, don't you understand about it?  How can we improve?  

Well, I joined after the NCMR just so I could view the Moyers ambush video.  Now I've just been poking around (very little) to see what's there, and to figure out how I am supposed to use this site.  I think it will become more clear as content is added, and I start joining groups and so on, but for now it's not clear what I am supposed to do.

But I'm interested in finding out, as time goes on.
Don.  

We are definitely a work in progress.  The general idea is to start building out various news groups across the world, let CJs manage and publish each one.  

On this site, each group is capable of publishing it's one online magazine/news channel.  So if you are interested in creating regional news, issue bases stories, recruiting or developing a staff of CJs or whatever...create a group, hook up with the editorial group on The UpTake and start publishing.

The other goal is to start returning $$ to CJs eventually.  we want to build a business model in which we share our ad revenue (derived from publishing vids here and in other venues) back to the CJ as a way of eliminating the middle man.  

We also want to flesh out various community feedback mechanisms - content ranking, future news ranking, etc. so we can really engage the community before and after publication.

I am new here as well. I definitely see the potential in what is being built here.

I would like to see some technical, and action guides created. I have little experience creating content and posting it to the Internet. I am very good at seeking out news and information for my own consumption; but I need more guidance when it comes to spotting news and information potentially waiting to be documented for others to consume. I have been known to be a boring guy at times. What seems interesting to me might put others to sleep.

Being new to the Uptake, I am glad to know that people are still alive and willing to dissent when neede.  Currently I am stuck in White Cloud MN but I am working on escaping to places with more humanity.   To the point: I am impressed with the work that the Uptake has turned out and I will keep my eyes and ears open and contribute whenever possible. Good work.

oh, BTW the business model that is "ground up" is far more likely to be successful than the capitalist model of "top down" simply because, I presume, that profit isn't the main goal. In addition this idea of ground up is a great idea in that the goal is the PRODUCT of NEWS  and INFORMATION RELEVANT to the LIVES of us, the CITIZENS.  In stark contrast the top of the heap in MSM is beholden to those who pay the bills, i.e. HUGE corporate interests like Coca Cola, Ford, Nestle, Phizer, Merck, Dupont, Monsanto,  GM, IBM, MS, et al. Invariably the the news is just infotainment and not information.  It is as if Jospeh Goebbels and has designed the MSM to be our big daddy. So sleep well America.