Bharathi S wrote:
Also we should send an invitation to all Dailies. Hindu and express are must. Also, we shoud request them to send one of their reporters to our festival and to publish in the Engagements column. People should know something happening.
Getting Dailies attention is very difficult. When we(ILUGC) contacted the LDD, we send the invitation to the most of Dailies and FM Radios in Chennai. But No response :)
May be Joe can send the invitation thru his college PRO/Admin.
These days, business considerations seem to weigh over issues of real value to public. The latest information and happenings in the free software movement are certainly news worthy. Probably we need to invite the press well in advance, even meet the editor with requests to send in reporters, may be even write elaborate press releases. It would be worth while to write to the vernacular press, whose coverage of news is generally more lively and relevant. Local weekly newspapers like "Adayar Times" or "Anna Nagar Times" could help in a better way, because they are distributed free of cost locally.
One more issue: Recently, I had the occasion to observe "reporting" about events that unfolded right before my eyes by the Hindu and Express, and felt that much of what was reported as "news" should be taken in with caution. Misleading reports, inflammatory leads, contorsion of facts, propaganda, editorialization with strong bias, unfair lop sided views with serious shortcomings, incorrect headings and more worrying content seem to find their way into leading newspapers. There is no way we can ask for more details about a particular report directly from the reporter. There is a "real estate" limitation, and editors can easily reject our views, opinions. RMS recently wrote the need to report without violating fundamental rules of journalism:http://mm.gnu.org.in/pipermail/fsf-friends/2003-October/001220.html
If, newspapers could report about our activities, well and good. But, it is better to ask people to join the mailing lists in large numbers, so that our views could reach a large number of people more directly and instantly, and also enable the readers to interact with the report in a more lively manner by asking questions about the report. Every subscriber gets a fair chance to report his observations and opinions also, and mailing lists are more open and archived. Since a more direct and better way of dissemination of news and views is available, should we focus more on inviting more people to join our mailing lists?