What is the Long Room?
FT Alphaville's Long Room is an exclusive community reserved for our core readership of City of London and Wall Street professionals. Membership of the Long Room is free, but subject to approval by the editorial team. The Long Room was inspired by a famous restaurant in the City of London which was a favoured haunt of financial pundits and market movers during the 1980s.
How is the Long Room different from the blog and from Markets Live?
The Long Room is a members-only comment and analysis area distinct from our news-driven blog and our daily Markets Live chat. Members can post their own content and enter into an informed debate with their peers. While both the blog and Markets Live are freely accessibly to all, the Long Room is only open to users who meet our criteria for membership and who have been approved by the FT Alphaville team.
Why is the Long Room a members-only site?
The Long Room is reserved for financial professionals and for people with a clear understanding of how financial markets and products work. Our members-only policy and application vetting process allows us to ensure that these criteria are met.
Am I eligible for membership?
The Long Room is aimed at professional market participants who understand the complexities and risks inherent to financial markets. If this sounds like you, please do apply for membership (if you're not a member already).
What types or examples of research can a member post or discuss?
We encourage members to post their own research on topics relevant to an intelligent and diverse audience of experienced financial market participants. We suggest posting research in either PDF, Word, or Excel format, or as JPG or PNG files where appropriate although do check our house rules.
Is the Long Room only for UK or US residents?
Not at all. We welcome applications from would-be members around the world.
Right, I've joined. What next?
Now that you've become a member of the Long Room, we invite you to take a seat at one (or several) of our tables. Pulling up a seat at a table is like joining a discussion - you can contribute or you can just listen in - and eavesdropping is actively encouraged. You can choose a table based on our lists of "All tables" and of "Featured tables". Tables - and the discussions at each - tend to be defined by a particular topic or theme, like 'Gold' or 'Credit default swaps.' Click on the table you would like to join, and a list of posts at the table will appear. These posts are equivalent to mini blog entries.
What's a table?
A table is a mini-blogging platform for Long Room members to discuss the key financial issues of the day through posts and comments. Some tables allow you to contribute to the discussion by clicking the button marked "Post your own article". If you don't see this button, it means posting is reserved for certain members only. Don't worry - you can comment on any post on any table to which you have access.
Can I create a table?
No, only the FT Alphaville editorial team can create a table. However, you can "Suggest a table" using the link in the right hand navigation. If you suggest a table you have to either be able to provide the content and generally 'administer' the table yourself, or nominate someone who can. The editorial team will then create the table and give members the appropriate rights to use it. The host/sponsor of the table can decide who has access to post on the table and who has administration rights. If you would like to sponsor a new or existing table, please get in touch by emailing us at longroom@ft.com.
What are the different kinds of tables?
Some tables only allow certain, selected users to post content, while other tables allow any user to post content. These access rights are determined by the table's hosts. However, members of the Long Room are able to comment on posts at any table to which they have access. 'Featured' tables are those selected by the FT Alphaville editorial team to appear in the 'featured tables' tab. Tables might be 'featured' because they contain a hearty discussion relevant to current events, contain the most activity or feature an original, insightful piece of research or a ground-breaking study. Sponsored tables also appear in the 'featured tables' tab.
How do I suggest a table?
Suggest a new group table by clicking the “Suggest a table" link in the right-hand navigation column. Choose a topic or theme for the table, and type it into the "Table Name" box. You can also suggest a table with a more 'personal' touch - like "Sam's reflections on credit rating agencies". Whatever you choose, consider your audience - and our House Rules. Provide a clear and concise description of the table in no more than 100 characters. Finally, determine the level of privacy you want for the table. The privacy levels are:
Note that no matter which option you choose, anyone in the Long Room will be able to see posts you have published and to comment on them. (We're also working on allowing you to set up 'private' tables, to which only people you nominate will have access. We'll let you know when this functionality is up and running). Once you've selected your privacy setting, click OK - and that's it. The FT Alphaville team will consider your suggestion, and if we approve it, your table will be up and running within a few days.
How do I sponsor a table?
For more information on sponsoring a table, please email us at longroom@ft.com.
What's the difference between commenting and posting?
Very little, in practice. A post is a longer comment or transition into another topic relevant to the general theme of the table conversation. Posts are located under Tables, while comments are attached to individual posts. For instance, say there was a gold table hosted by Paul Murphy to discuss all things gold-buggish (or bearish). Members could then post to the table on various gold-related topics - like bars vs ingots or what's driving prices. Or, members might choose to post their own research on the topic. Other individuals can comment on those posts - and on same tables, will be able to submit a post of their own.
Who can post?
While most tables allow you to contribute to the discussion by clicking the button marked "Post your own article", not all of them will. If you don't see this button, it means posting on that table is reserved for certain members only. But even if you can't post to a certain table, you can take part in the conversation by commenting. For more information on the different kinds of tables, see our explanation of the different kinds of tables.
What can I post?
Before posting to a table, make sure you've read and understood our House Rules. In general, we recommend posting on topics or themes with which you are quite familiar, and of which you have a detailed understanding. We encourage members to post their own research or analysis. In a post, you can include links to other sites or sources on the web. You can even attach pictures or files to your post. But in all cases, keep it relevant - and make sure you abide by our House Rules. And for more, technical assistance on writing a post, please see our 'how do I write a post' section.
Who can comment?
Anyone can comment on any post on any table to which they have access. On very old posts, the editorial team may turn comments off - this closes a post to new comments, but preserves all previous comments. You know, for posterity.
Who can see my posts or comments?
If the table is public, then all Long Room members can see your posts and comments and they may show up in the "Overheard" column on the Long Room home page. If the table is private - and we're hoping to launch this feature soon - then only the members of that table will be able see your posts or comments. No matter what, your posts and comments will only ever appear under your chosen member name or pseudonym.
What's the "Overheard" column?
Think of the "Overheard" column as the online equivalent of walking through a crowded, buzzing restaurant - it provides a taste of the discussions happening at randomly selected tables.
So, how private is the Long Room then?
Except for the titles of posts on public tables, no Long Room content is accessible via Google, Yahoo or any other search engine. We urge members to respect the spirit of the Long Room by not re-posting Long Room content elsewhere on the Internet.
What's the deal with private tables?
We're working on it, but here's the idea - when launched, private tables will allow Long Room members to restrict access to select individuals. If you are not initially invited to a private table you can apply to be accepted and the table host may or may not choose to let you in on the fun. Future private table hosts please note - although Long Room members who you have not invited to your table will not be able to see the content within the table (i.e. the posts or comments), they will be able to see the title of the table itself.
You still haven't answered my question...
What, after all that? In that case, email the editorial team at longroom@ft.com and we'll do our best to sort you out.
Written by Tracy Alloway, Stacy-Marie Ishmael, Sam Jones, Alida Smith and Brigitte Yuille.
