Linux Journal Goes Public
December 31st, 2003 by Doc Searls in
Linux Journalism no longer has to be a solitary profession. Thanks to Linux-powered MeetUp, Linux journalists can gather with readers and other writers to talk about our shared Linux interests and passions. We can talk about the latest issue of Linux Journal or about the latest Linux issues in our local and worldwide communities.
That's the idea behind the monthly Linux Journal MeetUps we've launched. The first is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2004, at 7pm. The venue is up to you. There are listings at the MeetUp site.
MeetUps on all kinds of subjects already are happening in more than 600 cities around the world. They're scheduled on-line, at the MeetUp site, and become active when at least five people sign up for any one location.
"Linux Journalists", of course, is a broad term that includes everybody who writes for Linux Journal or about Linux at all. It also includes readers. Linux Journal MeetUp day is a great excuse for any bunch of readers to get together and talk about Linux and how best to cover it in Linux Journal and elsewhere. Some subject topics include:
Are your Linux issues being addressed in Linux Journal or in other publications? What are we doing well and where are we missing the boat?
What are you finding out about Linux in the Real World that you're not yet reading about in Linux Journal and in other publications?
What how-to subjects--tools, tips and so on--would you like to see covered more?
Where do you see Linux, open source and free software going?
Of course, we're highly interested in your input (which is why we're doing this). So reports from MeetUps would be most welcome as well. Write to us at mailto:ljeditor@linuxjournal.com.
Doc Searls is Senior Editor of Linux Journal.
Doc Searls is Senior Editor of Linux Journal
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Re: Linux Journal Goes Public
On December 31st, 2003 TaranRampersad (not verified) says:
Good idea.
It's a shame that Trinidad & Tobago isn't listed (yet?), not to mention other countries.I'm working on the local details... but...
A question that comes to mind is - How does this differ from a LUG meeting?
Re: Linux Journal Goes Public
On December 31st, 2003 Doc (not verified) says:
Think of it as an LRG meeting: a Linux Readers Group get-together.
Or as an excuse to have a LUG breakout meeting at a local restaurant, pub, club or coffee shop.
In any case, the subject is Linux coverage itself. What should we be hearing, and saying, about Linux in our publications that isn't being heard or said well yet?
For example, it's been very interesting to me over the last year that Linux has grown enormously in enterprises, yet most of the rank & file Linux technologists in those enterprises aren't allowed to talk about how they're solving problems for themselves. They may be free to share their hacks with the greater development community, but not the news about those hacks with publications like Linux Journal. As a result, we have to go digging for sources who are willing to talk (often only anonymously) while the mainstream publications continue to cover what we call "vendor sports". Which is fine, but which also perpetuates the common notion that all the world's "solutions" come from suppliers -- when in fact we know they don't.
I wrote about this here and here, for example.
Far as I know, there isn't another publication out there that's trying to see how the Linux world looks primarily from field -- from the demand side that supplies itself -- rather than from the vendors' perspective.
So we're looking for all the help we can get. And give.
Re: Linux Journal Goes Public
On January 6th, 2004 Anonymous says:
What, you don't have LUG meetings with drinks? :P
Seriously, though, I see where you're going with it... and I *have* an area that can be used for such a thing... but the bad news is that I haven't received an email back from those folks at Meetup.com... (in fact, it's why I hadn't checked for a response here for a while!).
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