Meta talk:Guidelines for candidates and campaigns

Moving content here, since this process will be different with RaceTracker --Avelino Maestas 23:27, February 26, 2009 (UTC)

No candidate profile
To create a profile page for a candidate, first register and log-in. Then you can click on a red link in any of the state portals or follow the steps below to create a new candidate profile page:

We've basically added a skeleton structure for the page. Now, you just have to plug in the candidate's name, party affiliation and the state and district in which they're running. You'll also include the incumbent's name and party affiliation as well. All of these elements are listed in CAPITAL LETTERS throughout the template text, so finding them should be easy. When you plugin something for capitalized text, you don't have to replace it with capital letters: for example, "CANDIDATE NAME" becomes "John Smith."
 * 1) Copy and paste this URL into a new browser window"http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=CANDIDATE_NAME"
 * 2) *Where the URL displays "CANDIDATE_NAME" insert the candidate's first and last name. For example, "John_Smith" without the quotes.
 * Now, determine which of the following links you should use, and open it in a new window (right-click that link and others on this page, or for Mac users, open-apple-click the link):
 * 1) *Senate candidate template
 * 2) *House candidate template
 * 3) Copy and paste the text from that window into your new candidate profile page.

Here's a checklist:
 * 1) The candidate's name is listed in several places within the text, so here's were you need to change it:
 * 2) *There are three instances of the candidate's name in the first paragraph: Once for the picture name, once for the image caption, and another time in the introduction text.
 * 3) *The candidate's name is also mentioned once in the "2008 elections" section and in the "Committees" section (be sure to note the "he/she" text in the "Committees" section.
 * 4) *Also note the candidate's name at the end of the text, where it is included in a category of election challengers.
 * 5) The state is also mentioned throughout a profile: in the header, the photo caption and the introductory paragraph. Also look for it in the "Related Sourcewatch Articles" section and near the bottom in the "2008 U.S. Congress candidate" category.
 * 6) The congressional district is used in several places, but only for House candidates. You need to enter the correct number in the header, the picture caption and in the introductory section.
 * 7) The incumbent is mentioned in two places: in the introductory text and in the "2008 Elections" section. Be sure to enter the correct party affiliation (D, I or R) and the incumbent's state (following these guidelines).
 * 8) A state's two-letter postal code is used in the House template, in conjunction with the congressional district number, to link to a map of the congressional district. The format (using Alabama's 3rd congressional district as an example) is as follows:"map"
 * 9) *You should also change the postal code (and the congressional district number) in the 2008 Racetracker reference. Here's a Senate example:""
 * 10) The party name is listed throughout the article: in the photo caption, introductory text, "2008 elections" section and in a category at the end of the profile. If your candidate is an independent, use the following language rather than the boilerplate already in the template:"John Smith is an independent candidate in the 2008 congressional elections...He is challenging incumbent..."

That just about wraps up everything you need to change. If you have contact information (a phone number, Web site or e-mail address) please be sure to include it, and go ahead and add information on the candidate's positions on issues and policy using the guidelines outlined above. Above all else, let us know if you have any questions. You can reach assistant editor Avelino Maestas at his talk page or by e-mail at [mailto:amaestas@sunlightfoundation.com amaestas@sunlightfoundation.com].