Thanks for your thoughts. Definitely need your help in this arena.
On 1/31/06, Gabriel H. Mercado <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
One of the things we are going to do is come up with a weekly newsletter, based on your suggestion as well as from Carlos Yu's. This will be small newsbytes, owing to time restrictions. Also will point back to longer links on the main PLUG page. I'm also asking for a redesign of the PLUG site so that the news comes out first, blog-style. I think this will help towards achieving some sort of currency.
With the visibility of the PLUG board, this shouldn't be a problem now. You're right, though. We'll send out a primer to the journalists about PLUG and whom to contact for news stories. So I'll need that list from you, if you have it.
However, to reference back to my original point, this is now the difference between Linux advocates being resource persons and Linux advocates being journalists themselves. And this stems from the original "Cross-Country Code" issue, whereby a Microsoft VAR also functions as journalist.
So: can Linux advocates actually get regular column space (and get paid the same rate as other journalists do?) This is the goal I want to aim for, because there are many Linux advocates who are also excellent writers.
I have no problem with using Linux advocates as resource persons: it's part of what we do. But we have to take it to the next level. With all due respect to my IT journalist-friends, I'm just not too happy with the depth of coverage and the line of questioning when it comes to open source matters in the local media.
I've done related PR work for a client in the past. First order of business was to help press people have an easier time researching news re my client. So we put up a PR area on their site, allowing press people to subscribe to or go to occasionally.
For PLUG, press should be able to get general news (occasional events, school tour, burn fest, etc.) and HOWTOS from a press area, and really important press releases get sent via email and hardcopy to the press directly.
One of the things we are going to do is come up with a weekly newsletter, based on your suggestion as well as from Carlos Yu's. This will be small newsbytes, owing to time restrictions. Also will point back to longer links on the main PLUG page. I'm also asking for a redesign of the PLUG site so that the news comes out first, blog-style. I think this will help towards achieving some sort of currency.
This helps very busy press people determine when to pay attention and where to get PLUG opinions for material for their own articles - something I've needed dozens of times for my own stuff. That's why I quote Migs so often on my own articles since he's so darn available :D
An available list of email adds for resource people for particular subjects can also help. One for enterprise, one for security, one for hardware, etc., so the press can just contact them as needed.
With the visibility of the PLUG board, this shouldn't be a problem now. You're right, though. We'll send out a primer to the journalists about PLUG and whom to contact for news stories. So I'll need that list from you, if you have it.
However, to reference back to my original point, this is now the difference between Linux advocates being resource persons and Linux advocates being journalists themselves. And this stems from the original "Cross-Country Code" issue, whereby a Microsoft VAR also functions as journalist.
So: can Linux advocates actually get regular column space (and get paid the same rate as other journalists do?) This is the goal I want to aim for, because there are many Linux advocates who are also excellent writers.
I have no problem with using Linux advocates as resource persons: it's part of what we do. But we have to take it to the next level. With all due respect to my IT journalist-friends, I'm just not too happy with the depth of coverage and the line of questioning when it comes to open source matters in the local media.
--
Dominique Gerald M. Cimafranca
villageidiotsavant.blogspot.com
Dumaguete City
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