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The Role System

Roles exist to balance two needs: openness (anyone should be able to participate) and accountability (meaningful actions should carry economic weight). The solution: Citizen is free. Higher roles require a bond.

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Role Guide

Citizen is free. No bond. No application. Install PressKey and you’re a Citizen.What you can do: Vote on Capsules. Build reputation. File disputes (with a 10 PRESS bond). Read everything.Voting weight: 1× Publishing: Not available Who it’s for: Readers, community members, anyone who wants to participate without financial commitment.Marcus votes on 5 articles per week as a Citizen, building his reputation toward Contributor status before he bonds for his Reporter role.
Contributor is a low-bond role for active voters who want more influence.What you get: 2× base vote weight, higher daily vote limits, fewer throttles. Publishing: Not available Who it’s for: Active community members who vote frequently and want their votes to count more.
Reporter is the core role for working journalists. It unlocks Capsule submission.What you get: 3× base vote weight, publishing privileges, standard distribution tier. Bond required: Medium (query Portal for current amount) Who it’s for: Freelance journalists, staff reporters, anyone publishing journalism as Capsules.Maya Chen is a Reporter at The Bay Tribune. Her bond is 50,000 PRESS - economic backing for the accountability behind her investigative work.
Verified Author is for established journalists with a track record.What you get: 4× base vote weight, premium distribution tier, reduced court appeal costs. Bond required: High Who it’s for: Senior journalists, investigative reporters, editors with substantial publishing history.
Media Validators run anomaly detection on published Capsules. They are paid 15% of every publish fee.Duties: Run integrity algorithms, escalate anomalies to court when warranted. Bond required: Medium-high Who it’s for: News organizations running technical integrity infrastructure.

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Upgrade Path

Citizen (free)
    ↓ bond PRESS
Contributor (low bond)
    ↓ bond more PRESS
Reporter (medium bond, publishing unlocked)
    ↓ bond more + build track record
Verified Author (high bond, premium distribution)
You can bond directly to any role - you don’t have to go in sequence. Many journalists bond directly to Reporter from Citizen.

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How to Get a Role

Portal → Roles → Purchase Role → Select role → PressKey approves bond deposit → Role activates on-chain confirmation. Or ask your outlet admin - many outlets help journalists set up and fund their role bonds.