On 2/18/06, JM Ibanez <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On 2/18/06, Renan Yson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > On 2/17/06, Sacha Chua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > > We need something for local flavor. When it comes to press releases,
> > > the facts are not as important as the people behind them. A primer for
> > > journalists isn't a static, standalone document. It is an invitation
> > > to ask more questions. They need to be able to skim through things and
> > > get a clear idea of the issues (particularly common misconceptions
> > > like free software = open source = Linux!). Journalists need to feel
> >
> > a primer does not have to make a political statement. add more meat to
> > the article, address issues journalists have about linux, foss, plug,
> > etc, show journalist how they can benefit from linux, what they can
> > get out of it, how they can use it, tell them ``support'' is available
> > in the form of a community, etc, etc, then call it a primer. sure we
> > need local flavor. but why would a journalist want to know whether SM
> > is using linux or not? unless probably they are writing something
> > about OS use in the business environment. wouldn't businesses be more
> > interested in knowing that? right, a journalist might write an article
> > about which business uses what os to probably promote linux and open
> > source, but he can't keep on writing the same article over and over.
>
> See above. They don't *HAVE* to use F/OSS. The primer's aim isn't that.
I'd also like to point out possible reasons why journalists have to
know who's using F/OSS:
*) It gives them hints on which businesses or persons to ask when a
F/OSS topic comes up
*) It gives them an idea of F/OSS coverage-- which businesses might be
impacted by legislation, say, that concerns F/OSS
*) It gives them interview fodder :)
Essentially, the idea is to give them hints and point them to the
sources they might need. Give them more ammo, more tools, so to speak.
As a side effect, those businesses who do get listed also get media exposure.
> The politics is, in fact, integral to educating them. If they don't
> know the forces behind and for Linux, how can they write about it? (In
> the same light, if a journalist where to cover the US Elections
> without knowing about the Democratic or Republican parties, how would
> they be able to write about it? How will they know where to focus?
> What topics are important for either party? Etc., ad nauseum)
And to add: who the hell are the Democrats and Republicans?
--
JM Ibanez --
Book: If you take sexual advantage of her, you're going to burn in a
very special level of Hell, a level they reserve for child
molesters and people who talk at the theater.
(Firefly, "Our Mrs. Reynolds")
-----
http://www.livejournal.com/~jmibanez/
http://www.mycgiserver.com/~butiki/
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