The WordPress.tv Moderator Squad has been busy updating the site and setting new goals for improving international coverage. In the past 30 days, the team published 89 new videos in eight languages, representing 14 WordCamps from around the globe.
Jerry Bates, one of the moderators on the team, reported that they are currently focusing on resolving technical issues and expanding internationalization. Many videos submitted to WordPress.tv cannot be approved due to issues with sound and picture quality. The WordPress Foundation supplies camera kits to WordCamp organizers, and the WordPress.tv moderators will be working to create better documentation and tutorials for handling video.
Browse by Language Added to WordPress.tv
Expanding international coverage is also a high priority on the list for WordPress.tv improvements. Earlier this month, the site added its first German presentation, a session from Konstantin Obenland on Underscores. While viewing the archives I noticed that there was no easy way to search for videos by language. Jerry Bates commented to let us know that moderators have added navigation to the sidebar on the WordCamp videos page, making it easier to browse by language.
The new sidebar navigation shows just how many international resources are already available on WordPress.tv, linking to archives of videos in 24+ languages. Bates and the other moderators are eager to add more non-English videos, but the team is lacking in language skills:
Unfortunately, we are a primarily English-speaking team, so without the ability to speak and understand videos in the ever growing number of languages we see, these videos tend to languish. The solution to this problem is much more direct; We need a global team to match this trend.
This month the team added two new moderators to the current six active contributors on the team. As they continue to expand international coverage, the team is seeking more contributors, particularly those who are bilingual and can help with non-English content. Applications are open to anyone with a basic familiarity with WordPress. According to Bates, the time commitment is just 1-3 hours per week. Contributors will have the chance to put their language skills to use while expanding WordPress.tv’s library of international resources.
Being a moderator on WordPress TV is a great experience. Not only because it’s a way to give back to the community, but also it’s a great way to learn the best practises on how to create those videos. I run the Barcelona WordPress Meetup, and we were debating about recording the meetups for WordPress TV. Now I’m aware of all the guidelines that we must follow in order to get approved! :)