def new_upload(pub, file_name, meta_data=None):

    upload_date = dateutil.parser.parse(time.asctime()).isoformat()

    # set up meta.json
    meta_data_dict = json.loads(meta_data)
    meta_data_dict["upload_date"] = upload_date
    meta_data = json.dumps(meta_data_dict)

    # create ContentUpload
    upload = models.ContentUpload()
    upload.status = "Saving"
    upload.publisher = pub
    upload.meta = meta_data
    upload.username = meta_data_dict.get("username", "")
    upload.source = meta_data_dict.get("source") or meta_data_dict.get("url", "")
    upload.upload_date = upload_date

    if "upload_type" in meta_data_dict:
        upload.upload_type = meta_data_dict["upload_type"]
    elif pub.name == "BED" and "hotspot" in meta_data_dict:
        upload.upload_type = (
            publisher_types.HOTSPOT
            if meta_data_dict["hotspot"]
            else publisher_types.TARGET
        )
    else:
        upload.upload_type = pub.name

    upload.save()

    upload_dir = os.path.join("/results/uploads", pub.name, str(upload.pk))
    upload.file_path = os.path.join(upload_dir, file_name)
    upload.save()

    try:
        meta_path = os.path.join(upload_dir, "meta.json")
        # set both the user and group to read/write to allow the celery tasks to write to this directory
        original_umask = os.umask(0)
        os.makedirs(upload_dir, 0o0775)
        open(meta_path, "w").write(meta_data)
    except OSError as err:
        logger.exception("File error while saving new %s upload" % pub)
        upload.status = "Error: %s" % err
        upload.save()
        raise
    finally:
        os.umask(original_umask)
    return upload