As someone who will also miss the Newsline terribly, I
have a suggestion as to how we can collectively try
to fill in for at least some of the tremendous (both
in quality and quantity) work that Larry has been doing.

We can each post brief links to news items in much the
same format that Larry had been using. Yes, we'll
be dealing with many more posts, but if we stick to
a common format, these posts will be easier to review.


My suggestion is the following:

for the actual subject of the posting, use this format

RR NewsLink -- [source]: [Brief headline]

If the headline is the actual headline on the source site,
put it in quote. If you supplied the headline, don't use
quotes. If you add anything to the source name or headline
such as a location qualifier that makes it easier to
understand, put that word or those words in square brackets.

Totally made up example:

RR NewsLink -- Charlotte [N.C.] Observer: "New light rail cars to arrive"

In the body of the posting either start directly with
the link or a one-sentence description if it is useful
to have slightly more information than is given in the headline.

Follow the actual link with a sentence or two of comments, such
as pointing out an obvious error or confusing point in the story
-- or adding some useful background information.


If there are multiple stories and sources for the same event, do
combine them in one posting. In that case the subject of the
posting might be as follows -- again a totally made-up example:

RR NewsLink -- Multiple sources: Podunk crash coverage

The body of the posting would then contain each actual source and
headline, followed by the appropriate link, much the same as
Larry had been doing, though each posting would focus on only one
news event.

I'll post an example right after this posting.


I hope this is a useful suggestion and a practical way that we
can carry on what was started by Rob and ably continued by
Larry.

-- Ernest