The Czuleck Media Publishing Cooperative

[New England-New Brunswick]

 

News by the people, for the people

Est 1388

---

[Entertainment]

How one app has changed language learning

Published May 2, 1423

Written by Kain Jokinen

 

Almost everyone who has been on the internet has heard of the app DualDialect. It was originally intended to be used solely for language learning but has also had its mascot, a Czuleck Arctic Bear named Dual, coopted in various online memes, depicting them attacking users for not completing lessons. However, the history of DualDialect hasn't been discussed much, and thus begs the question, where did things begin?

 

DualDialect was first designed in 1417 as an easy and mobile way for Czulian diplomats to learn Common, the international language used in numerous global organizations. The founder of the website was Linnéa Hedlund, who previously worked as a web developer in the Foreign Affairs Office. Around her workplace, they heard many accounts from colleagues about the difficulty of learning Common.

 

"Learning a language can be tough, even with those who are the most dedicated to studying it," they said. "I wanted to help as much as I can, so I tried this. It [DualDialect] was something I thought only would be marginally used." However, after the website was released, it was an instant hit. Even those who weren't in diplomatic roles took time to use the program and learn Common for themselves.

 

DualDialect kept much of its format as it did on day one. It uses various characters and animals to help teach users the language they desire. Along with this, language learning is made in a level system, where words and phrases taught become more complex as you progress. Finally, it brought leaderboards into the mix, where you would compete to complete the most levels at once with other users, both local and global. 

 

This explosion in popularity sparked an idea in Hedlund. Why stop at Common when the world has so many languages to explore? Hedlund immediately started working on including other languages through contacts they met while working at the Foreign Affairs Office. Although limited in who she could contact, they were able to expand the website over the years.

 

In 1419, Aftokratorian was added, along with the development of a mobile app to reach a larger audience. Both additions were well received by audiences, especially by those traveling or immigrating to Czuleck. At this time too, the team running DualDialect had expanded from just Hedlund and a few of her friends to hundreds of people, all with the same goal of expanding language learning.

 

Over the following years, numerous updates were released that modernized how the app looked, brought in brand-new languages, and introduced new features. Giovannese and podcasts were added in 1420, programs to connect with Czuleckian universities and schools were introduced in 1421, and a community-based tutoring program was just released last year in 1422. As of this year, Fluvian, Cyrylican, and Apexilian were announced to be in development, and all three will release together sometime either this or next year. 

 

DualDialect has received critical acclaim for both its ease of use and no-cost learning. Millions globally have made accounts, with interest appearing to rise year by year. Studies have shown that users who put forty hours into one of the language programs can receive the same level of knowledge as taking a semester of a college-level language class. In a recent press release, Hedlund expressed her excitement for the road ahead.

 

"With an app like this, the limits are almost endless," Hedlund said. "I am hopeful that the nations of the world can come together for such a project, as this benefits everyone. Being able to communicate with someone across the globe shows how we all are people, no matter where we were born, and how working together could lead to great things."

[New England-New Brunswick]

News by the people, for the people

Est 1388

---

[Culture]

35 years and going: CMPC's origins

Published July 12, 1423

Written by Osmond Malmqvist

 

Whilst most mainstream news sources globally have their roots in decades, even centuries, of reporting information, CMPC is different. Now marking its 35th anniversary, the Czuleck Media Publishing Cooperative has had a relatively short term of operation with quite a bit of history. This includes milestones such as establishing the first ever podcast in Czuleck and becoming the first publishing cooperative with media access across the confederation.

With all CMPC has released over the years, many citizens still don't know about the origins of the cooperative. On a voluntary poll issued to online listeners of "Not this again!," our most popular podcast featuring a panel style comedy segment, only 32% of listeners correctly identified who the founders of CMPC were. The remainder of listeners assumed it was started in other ways, including being a former state media company turned anarchist. So for those who may not know the true origin of the cooperative, they may ask, well what is it?

One woman and her camera (1380-1388)

 

At the height of the Czuleck civil war, Salla Lindholm was a member of the Karhu column. The column itself was named after Matias Karhu who was a well known anarchist that spearheaded Czulian Anarchism and workers rights in the 12th century. Although the column's primary objective was to survey defensive positions made by Lewibarr's forces, it additionally had a well known secondary objective: document the war. Karhu's column was critical to providing citizens with regular updates on the war, and ultimately showing its destructiveness in the end. 

Lindholm was an important figure in the column. She went on numerous missions some would describe as "suicidal" in order to relay the truth. This includes infiltrating's Lewibarr's forces to document war crimes on the frontlines, recording up to 39 different troop movements around the city of Bundaberg from bombed out apartment buildings, and even going as far as using a hidden camera to record conversations in a field headquarters where Lewibarr himself was present. 

In total, her efforts to the war were invaluable to say the least. Even as the war was coming to a close and mass demobilizations were starting, her passion for the truth and accountability didn't falter. As soon as she was discharged from the United People's Front (UPF), she contacted former members of Karhu's column to start an organization that would provide citizens with ample coverage of events, and prevent another Lewibarr from occuring.

Change was brewing (1388-1413)

 

After all was said and done, Czuleck Media Publishing Cooperative was established on July 12, 1388. It had over 100 staff members from the Karhu unit that instantly went to work. The combined staff members started putting out daily issues of the news that covered a wide range of topics, including the establishment of the People's Forum and the Sloit trials for war criminals. After much trial and error that includes misprints/spelling mistakes, CMPC became a hit across Czuleck. And with that new found attention, big changes were made to the formula of CMPC.

The first major change was the establishment of a radio and television broadcasting subsidiary in 1392 that was called the Czuleck Media Broadcasting Cooperative (CMBC). Following this was the establishment of a digital newspaper service in 1396, the creation of Czuleck's first podcast in 1406, the development of a smartphone app in 1410, and the creation of the CMPC War Reconstruction Fund in 1412, a service collects donations and assists other nations in reconstructing after war. During this time period as well, the CMPC established publishing studios in all communes of Czuleck, and even created a program that allowed foreign citizens to listen in on global affairs and local Czuleck matters.

However, amid all of these great changes, tragedy struck CMPC. In 1412, during the popular bike racing event "Trek: Czuleck", Salla Lindholm was shot dead by an unknown assailant. Later investigations would prove this murderer was a member of a group that supported Lewibarr during the war, and wanted to reinstall a government similar to his. Although she was gone, CMPC and all of Czuleck would not forget her spirit.

Then to now (1413-Present)

 

Since 1412, CMPC has continued its program of covering various topics in Czuleck with a unbiased eye. No matter any decision made by any council within Czuleck, CMPC has not taken a stance on any political issue since the end of the war. CMPC was created to show citizens nothing but the truth, and it has continued to do so with great success. Programs within the cooperative have given training to reporters to prevent, to the best of their ability, having biases in covering events.

Further advances have been made with CMPC as well, including making a radio station that operates on a fishing trawler and even experimentation with artificial intelligence in regards to organization of stories. In perhaps the biggest accomplishment yet, CMPC has reached an all time high with audience size that is on par with some major foreign outlets. No matter the year, the cooperative intends on advancing its resources as much as possible, whilst sharing its findings with other cooperatives at the same time.

As of right 1423, CMPC has become the largest media source in Czuleck. Despite this large following, CMPC frequently supports smaller media cooperatives across the confederation in hopes to give citizens as many choices as possible. It is important to offer citizens these choices to allow them to form their own opinions on what goes on daily. It is not only the right thing to do, but it also was a goal of Lindholm.