Re: And Now, we get to battle ICANN on the PRESS FRONT TOO!

[Ken Freed]

As a journalist* specializing in interactive media, I want to affirm
the value of speaking to the public through the press. Yet this
needs to be in addition to speaking with the players on lists
like this one, not instead. The press is the Fourth Estate,
and has an important role in forming public policy.

Decry any lack of public involvement in taking the DNS governance
decisions that will effect them and the generations yet unborn. If the
public is not informed about these issues, they don't know to speak
up and be counted. They are disenfranchised through ignorance.
Perhaps only fear of losing precious profit prompts closed debate?

As for the value of journalists in the DNS process, at least the job of
keeping the media industry informed, at the resk of being partisan,
unless I miss my bet, an example of how a good reporter makes
a difference is Inter@ctive week's Washington bureau chief, Will
Rodger. Who else is consistently reporting on DNS issues?

Ken

* P.S. Apart from writing about DNS in Media Visions,
since I'm a pro-democracy advocate in these debates,
I've recused myself from trade press reporting on DNS.

______________________________________

Ken Freed
Communications
Denver, Colorado USA |
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Editor & Publisher
Media Visions Webzine
http://www.media-visions.com


Media Journalist
Correspondent, Inter@ctive Week
Correspondent, TV Technology
Columnist, Video Age Int'l
Writer, Extra Extra
Writer, NAB Daily
Other media trade magazines.

Author
Financial Opportunities in Educational Television
(1998, Financial Times Media & Telecoms, London)

______________________________
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AS THE MEDIA CREATE OUR VISIONS
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>Esther Dyson Wrote:
>
>sigh. the fact is, we're part of an imperfect world. self-organization
>implies redundancy (--->spam).
>
>I was thinking about the NYT this morning. Why such a negative reaction? As
>a (former) journalist, I respect journalists as the people who ask the
>questions the others don't think of or don't have time to. They are indeed
>filters, and the good oens are good filters. They listen to you guys and
>make sure the tough questions get asked - and yes, leave out some of the
>spurious ones. On the other hand, sources (both official and leakers) talk
>to reporters as a useful way to get the word out, to touch on topics that
>the source might not volunteer of his/her own accord. They are
>market-surfaced representatives of the public.
>
>What's so bad about that? It's not instead of the lists, but it's a good
>supplement.
>
> It's not all about press releases, but also about encouraging *us* to talk,
>getting our story straight (not "spun," but so that we can articulate it
>clearly, etc. etc.). I believe the board should be free to speak for itself
>as individuals, but when you want to know about "ICANN," we should be
>providing consistent answers.
>
>esther
>
>
>
>At 09:30 PM 04/02/99 -0500, Dan Steinberg wrote:
>>Hi Esther (still with a 't'),
>>
>>I was thinking about this a bit. When I got my first copy of the
>>press release I was amused. After the 10th I was getting a bit
>>annoyed. Then I thought about it. "at least it's on the net".
>>Then I thought about it some more. "It's probably on every wire
>>service and PR list as well".
>>Some good, some bad.
>>
>>So I agree with Stef and Jay (and probably a few others but I'm a bit
>>backlogged with my e-mail tonight).
>>
>>Jay Fenello wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Esther,
>>>
>>> I have to strongly agree with Stef!!!
>>> Please don't float your trial balloons
>>> in the New York Times (etc.).
>>>
>>> Mailing lists have many problems, but one
>>> thing they are good at is floating ideas.
>>> You will learn more in 24 hours by posting
>>> a three line inquiry to the lists, than
>>> you will by spending $100,000 on a polished
>>> media release *before* you even know where
>>> the Internet community stands on an issue.
>>>
>>> Please, please, please ==> Use the Net!
>>>
>>> Jay.
>>>
>>> At 2/3/99, 06:43 PM, Einar Stefferud wrote:
>>> >It woudl be much more effective, as I see it, for ICANN to learn to
>>> >use the Internet instead of wandering off into the Print, Video and
>>> >Radio media to convicne us that they are doing a good job.
>>> >
>>> >I wonder how interactive this new mode will be?
>>> >
>>> >Do we have filders to catch all the proess releases adn post them on
>>> >the net? Do you suppose the will be good enough to courtesy copy the
>>> >Internet Community doiectly instead of foring us to learn of their
>>> >plans from teh NY Times and Mercury News.
>>> >
>>> >So you suppose we will not be treated to more of those glowing stories
>>> >about the wonders of Mike Roberts history and contempt for us
>>> >inconsequential fringe groups?
>>> >
>>> >I am afraid this is going from bad to worse. It certainly does not
>>> >signal much concern for those of us that inhabit the Internet.
>>> >
>>> >Cheers...\Stef
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >------- Forwarded Message
>>> >
>>> >From: "Garrett, Sean" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>> >Subject: Press Release: ICANN Announces Public Outreach Effort
>>> >Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 11:56:25 -0800
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >THE INTERNET CORPORATION FOR ASSIGNED NAMES AND NUMBERS
>>> >
>>> >For Immediate Release
>>> >February 3, 1999
>>> >
>>> >ICANN Announces International Education and Public Outreach Support in
>>> >Collaboration with Alexander Ogilvy
>>> >
>>> >Los Angeles, Calif. - The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and
>>> >Numbers (ICANN) announced today that Alexander Ogilvy and its parent
>>> >company Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide will provide support for its
>>> >international education and public outreach programs. The firms'
>>> >offices in major cities worldwide will assist the new organization
>>> >through a structured program of event support, educational materials and
>>> >media coordination.
>>> >
>>> >Esther Dyson, Interim Chairman of the ICANN Board, said "We're looking
>>> >forward to the ability to use the well-known strengths of Alexander
>>> >Ogilvy in our programs to reach and hear from the diverse constituencies
>>> >of ICANN. Together, we can advance the goals of our new organization in
>>> >fostering strong and stable growth of the Internet around the world."
>>> >
>>> >Routine press inquiries will now be handled through the Alexander
>>> >Ogilvy/Ogilvy contacts listed below. Members of the ICANN Board and
>>> >staff will continue to make themselves available for interviews
>>> >concerning ICANN programs.
>>> >
>>> >About ICANN:
>>> >The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a
>>> >new, non-profit, international corporation formed to oversee a select
>>> >number of the Internet's core technical management functions. Between
>>> >now and September 2000, ICANN will take over responsibility for
>>> >coordinating domain name system management, IP address space allocation,
>>>
>>> >protocol parameter assignment, and root server system management, a
>>> >privatization called for the in U.S. Government's White Paper on the
>>> >Management of the Internet Domain Name System.
>>> >
>>> >In the past, many of these functions have been handled by the U.S.
>>> >government, or by its contractors and volunteers. This informal
>>> >structure represented the spirit and culture of the research community
>>> >in which the Internet developed. However, the growing size and
>>> >international importance of the Internet has necessitated the creation
>>> >of a technical management body that is both more formalized in
>>> >structure, and more fully reflective of the geographic diversity of the
>>> >Internet community.
>>> >
>>> >ICANN is a non-profit corporation with an international board of
>>> >directors. Its initial board is led by interim chairman Esther Dyson,
>>> >and has members drawn from several nations. This initial board is
>>> >completing ICANN's by-laws and procedures and working to pave the way
>>> >for a smooth and stable transition to private sector management of
>>> >technical management functions. The day-to-day management of ICANN is
>>> >led by its interim President and CEO, Mike Roberts.
>>> >The initial board members will be succeeded by board members elected by
>>> >four different constituency groups, collectively representing a broad
>>> >range of the Internet's technical and user communities around the globe.
>>> >
>>> >About Alexander Ogilvy:
>>> >See www.alexanderogilvy.com.
>>> >
>>> >About Ogilvy PR:
>>> >See www.ogilvypr.com.
>>> >
>>> >- -30-
>>> >
>>> >Contact info:
>>> >
>>> >Sean Garrett
>>> >Director of Technology Policy Communications
>>> >Alexander Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
>>> >415-923-1660, 170
>>> >[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>> >
>>> >Molly Shaffer Van Houweling
>>> >ICANN
>>> >650-965-0410
>>> >[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>> >
>>> >Europe:
>>> >Patrick Worms
>>> >Vice President, Technology Communications
>>> >Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, Brussels
>>> >(+32-2) 545 6609
>>> >[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>> >
>>> >Asia:
>>> >Patricia Ratulangi
>>> >Senior Associate, Technology Practice
>>> >Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, Singapore
>>> >Tel 65 2779563
>>> >[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >------- End of Forwarded Message
>>> >
>>
>>--
>>Dan Steinberg
>>
>>SYNTHESIS:Law & Technology
>>35, du Ravin
>>Box 532, RR1 phone: (613) 794-5356
>>Chelsea, Quebec fax: (819) 827-4398
>>J0X 1N0 e-mail:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
>
>
>Esther Dyson Always make new mistakes!
>chairman, EDventure Holdings
>interim chairman, Internet Corp. for Assigned Names & Numbers
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>1 (212) 924-8800
>1 (212) 924-0240 fax
>104 Fifth Avenue (between 15th and 16th Streets; 20th floor)
>New York, NY 10011 USA
>http://www.edventure.com
>
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