{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} '''Assignment Zero (AZ)''' was an experiment in crowd-sourced journalism, allowing collaboration between amateur and professional journalists to collectively produce a piece of work that describes correlations between crowd-sourced techniques and a popular movement.
== Theory == The goal of Assignment Zero was to create a publishable, edited story that is an amalgamation of input from various "real" sources. In Jeff Howe's "Guide to Crowdsourcing" on the AZ Site,<ref>Howe, Jeff. {{cite web|url=http://zero.newassignment.net/quick_guide_crowdsourcing|title=A Guide to Crowdsourcing|accessdate=2007-04-25|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502053801/http://zero.newassignment.net/quick_guide_crowdsourcing|archivedate=2 May 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> the method of contribution is broken down into three categories:
*Tapping the Collective Brain *The Crowd Creates *The Crowd Filters
Collectively, these three categories attempt to illustrate a concept that: many people ("Crowds") by virtue of their size and diversity have the capability to contribute, create, and peer-review much of the content that is submitted to the project.
Wikipedia and Citizendium, both offering the capability for many people to contribute content for the masses, follow this basic model. The idea behind AZ is to implement this model with journalistic oversight, coupled with the ethics of journalism.<ref>{{cite web|author=Fox, Steve|url=http://zero.newassignment.net/ethics|title=An Ethics Primer|accessdate=2007-04-25|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329040250/http://zero.newassignment.net/ethics|archivedate=29 March 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Origin of "crowdsourcing" ==
So far, the earliest use of the term "crowdsourcing" can be attributed to Jeff Howe's blog<ref>Howe, Jeff. {{cite web|url=http://crowdsourcing.typepad.com/cs/2006/05/hi_my_name_is_j.html|title=Crowdsourcing: tracking the rise of the amateur|accessdate=2007-04-27| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070606234105/http://crowdsourcing.typepad.com/cs/2006/05/hi_my_name_is_j.html| archivedate= 6 June 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> post which was published on 24 May 2006. This predates the Wired article<ref name=":0">Howe, Jeff. June 2006. {{cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.06/crowds.html|title=Wired 14.06: The Rise of Crowdsourcing|accessdate=2007-04-27| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070414142954/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.06/crowds.html| archivedate= 14 April 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> that Howe wrote on the subject which appeared in the June 2006 issue.
Although Howe may have coined the term, it is apparent by virtue of Howe's research that the concept predates the word's first printed use. In a blog post by Howe,<ref>Howe, Jeff. 2 June 2006. {{cite web|url=http://crowdsourcing.typepad.com/cs/2006/06/crowdsourcing_a.html|title=Crowdsourcing: A Definition|accessdate=2007-04-27| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070509023817/http://crowdsourcing.typepad.com/cs/2006/06/crowdsourcing_a.html| archivedate= 9 May 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> he references an article written for Wired by Thomas Goetz<ref>Goetz, Thomas. November 2003. {{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.11/opensource.html|title=Open Source Everywhere|accessdate=2007-04-27 | magazine=Wired| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070412051500/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.11/opensource.html| archivedate= 12 April 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> that discusses peer production itself. Howe notes that "while the fact of peer production itself was becoming well-documented... no one we were aware of had documented the ways in which corporations were employing intelligent networks to put peer production to work."<ref name=":0" />
== Staff ==
The following is a partial list of the individuals responsible for the execution of AZ:
*'''David Cohn''' – David Cohn is the associate editor for Assignment Zero. He is currently working toward a master's degree in journalism at Columbia University, and holds a degree in philosophy from University of California at Berkeley.<ref>About Page, {{cite web|url=http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/4a3/8b6|title=David Cohn, Journalist|accessdate=2007-04-25}}</ref><ref>LinkedIn: David Cohn, {{cite web|url=http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/4a3/8b6|title=LinkedIn public profile|accessdate=2007-04-25}}</ref> David has also contributed articles to Seed Magazine.<ref>Author: David Cohn, Latest Articles{{cite web |url=http://www.seedmagazine.com/news/author-david-cohn/ |title=Seed: Author: David Cohn |accessdate=2007-04-25 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320141249/http://www.seedmagazine.com/news/author-david-cohn/ |archivedate=20 March 2007 |url-status=unfit }}</ref> *'''Steve Fox''' – Steve Fox is the regional coordinator for the Online News Association(ONA) in the Midatlantic Region, based in Washington, D.C.<ref>ONA News: ONA Regional coordinators, {{cite web |url=http://journalist.org/news/archives/000198.php |title=ONA Regional Coordinators |accessdate=2007-04-25 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213200719/http://journalist.org/news/archives/000198.php |archivedate=13 February 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Up until late 2006, Steve was also the Politics Editor at Washingtonpost.com.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fox|first= Steve|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970809000053/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/|url-status=dead|archive-date=1997-08-09|title= Revisiting Watergate – Deep Throat, Woodward, Bernstein|year=2006 |newspaper= The Washington Post|accessdate=2007-04-25}}</ref> He is also an adjunct instructor at the University of Maryland's School of Journalism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newassignment.net/user/steve_fox|title=Steve Fox – NewAssignmet.net (profile)|accessdate=2007-04-25| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070505104951/http://newassignment.net/user/steve_fox| archivedate= 5 May 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediagiraffe.org/wiki/index.php/Nenf/steve-fox|title=Nenf/steve-fox – MediaGiraffe|accessdate=2007-04-25| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070521035637/http://www.mediagiraffe.org/wiki/index.php/Nenf/steve-fox| archivedate= 21 May 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> *'''Tish Grier''' – Tish Grier was the Editorial Blogger at Corante Media Hub<ref>Grier, Tish. {{cite web|url=http://media.corante.com/editorial.php|title=Editorial Section at Corante Media Hub|accessdate=2007-04-26| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070608090202/http://media.corante.com/editorial.php| archivedate= 8 June 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> until October 2006. She has also contributed to The Huffington Post<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/contributors/bio.php?nick=tish-grier&name=Tish+Grier |title=The Huffington Post – Tish Grier |accessdate=2007-04-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923032335/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/contributors/bio.php?nick=tish-grier&name=Tish+Grier |archivedate=23 September 2011 }}</ref> and writes at the blog ''the Constant Observer''<ref>Grier, Tish. {{cite web|url=https://spap-oop.blogspot.com/|title=the Constant Observer|accessdate=2007-04-26}}</ref> *'''Evan Hansen''' – Evan Hansen was a writer for CNet's News.com, and a 2006 Finalist for UCLA Anderson School of Management's Gerald Loeb Award in the category of "News Services or Online Content."<ref>UCLA Anderson School of Management, {{cite web|url=http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x14972.xml|title=2006 Gerald Loeb Award Finalists, News Service/Online|accessdate=2007-04-26|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525081505/http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x14972.xml|archivedate=25 May 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> He is currently the editor-in-chief of Wired News and the consulting editor of AZ. *'''Amanda Michael''' – Amanda Michael was the Communications Director for the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School from March 2004 to November 2006.<ref>''Archived Bio for Amanda Michael'', Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School, {{cite web|url=http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/home/bio_amichel|title=Profile: Amanda Michael|accessdate=2007-04-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227030224/http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/home/bio_amichel|archive-date=27 February 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> * '''Jay Rosen''' – Jay Rosen is the Executive Editor of Assignment Zero. Rosen has been a member of the Journalism faculty at New York University(NYU) since 1986. He has taught courses in media criticism, cultural journalism, press ethics, and other subjects related to journalism.<ref>Faculty: Jay Rosen, {{cite web|url=http://journalism.nyu.edu/faculty/rosen.html |title=Journalism at NYU – Faculty |accessdate=2007-04-25 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509025843/http://journalism.nyu.edu/faculty/rosen.html |archivedate=9 May 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *'''Lauren Sandler''' – Lauren Sandler was also a former producer and reporter at National Public Radio.<ref>''All Things Considered'', 2 November 1998, {{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1032648|title=NPR: Young Voters|publisher=NPR |accessdate=2007-04-25}}</ref> In 2000, Lauren graduated from New York University's Cultural Reporting and Criticism program to launch a freelance career in journalism.<ref>Faculty: Lauren Sandler, {{cite web|url=http://journalism.nyu.edu/faculty/sandler.html|title=Journalism at NYU – Faculty|accessdate=2007-04-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629204725/http://journalism.nyu.edu/faculty/sandler.html|archive-date=29 June 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>''Righteous'', {{cite web |url=http://www.laurensandler.com/abouttheauthor.shtml |title=laurensandler.com, About the Author |accessdate=2007-04-25 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125112147/http://www.laurensandler.com/abouttheauthor.shtml |archivedate=25 January 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Produced work ==
On 1 May 2007, a final draft of a piece on Citizendium was completed and submitted to Wired for on-line publication. The article ran on 3 May 2007, but it has not been subject to peer review. The article has generated some controversy, however, due to users editing the article after it was published.
The modification occurred on 6 May 2007, after an interview<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zero.newassignment.net/filed/wales_interview_done_marla_crockett_heres_raw_q_an|author=Crockett, Marla|date=4 May 2007|title=What should ask Wales?|accessdate=2007-05-10|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510051626/http://zero.newassignment.net/filed/wales_interview_done_marla_crockett_heres_raw_q_an|archivedate=10 May 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> with Wales that was published on the Assignment Zero site on 4 May 2007 (two days previously). Michael Ho, the main writer of the original piece, noticed the adjustment<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zero.newassignment.net/blog/michael_ho/may2007/08/wired_com_modifies_citizendium_story_post_publicat|author=Ho, Michael|date=8 May 2007|title=Wired.Com Modifies The Citizendium Story Post-Publication|accessdate=2007-05-10|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070514173659/http://zero.newassignment.net/blog/michael_ho/may2007/08/wired_com_modifies_citizendium_story_post_publicat|archivedate=14 May 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> on 8 May 2007, which spurred comment from both Jay Rosen, editor of Wired.com, and prompted a response attributed to Larry Sanger.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.citizendium.org/2007/05/08/wales-comments-on-wiredcom/#more-180|author=Sanger, Larry|title=Citizendium Blog – Wales' comments on Wired.com|date=8 May 2007|accessdate=2007-05-10| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070510054101/http://blog.citizendium.org/2007/05/08/wales-comments-on-wiredcom/| archivedate= 10 May 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>
Additional selections from the contributors at AZ were published on wired.com on 9 July 2007.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2007/07/view_from_crowds |date=9 July 2007 |title=Open-Source Journalism: It's a Lot Tougher Than You Think |accessdate=2007-07-17 |magazine=Wired |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517102055/http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2007/07/view_from_crowds |archivedate=17 May 2008 }}</ref> and ran through 13 July 2007<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2007/07/crowdsourcing_soccer |title=Crowdsourcing Soccer in the U.K. |date=13 July 2007 |accessdate=2007-07-17 |magazine=Wired |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005230800/http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2007/07/crowdsourcing_soccer |archivedate=5 October 2007 }}</ref> On 17 July 2007, a post-mortem was written by Jeff Howe about the conclusion of Assignment Zero. In the end, Howe considered Assignment Zero a "highly satisfying failure".<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2007/07/assignment_zero_final | title=Did Assignment Zero Fail? A Look Back, and Lessons Learned | magazine=Wired | last1=Howe | first1=Jeff }}</ref>
== Locality ==
Most topics, as of 26 April 2007, focus on concepts, events happening and subjects living within the United States. An international topic page does exist,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zero.newassignment.net/topic/crowdsourcing_around_globe#|title=The International Page, Crowdsourcing Around the Globe|accessdate=2007-04-26|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070514083410/http://zero.newassignment.net/topic/crowdsourcing_around_globe|archivedate=14 May 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> and currently focuses on crowdsourcing ventures in Brazil, Europe, and Canada. International subjects are not discouraged, but currently there is not a focus on them.
== Contributors versus users ==
The AZ site maintains two lists of users. One list displays the profiles of all [https://web.archive.org/web/20080719201934/http://zero.newassignment.net/profile AZ Site Members] and a [https://web.archive.org/web/20080720182804/http://zero.newassignment.net/masthead masthead] that shows a listing of actual AZ staff; the second list catalogs click-able profiles for Contributors.
== Copyright ==
AZ is currently operating under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.<ref>CreativeCommons.Org. {{cite web|url=https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/|title=Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported|accessdate=2007-04-25| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070502102233/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/| archivedate= 2 May 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>
== Support ==
AZ was a collaborative experiment between Wired Magazine, NewAssignment.net and other participants.
== References == {{Citizendium|title=Assignment Zero}} <references/>
Category:Crowdsourcing Category:American news websites