[CLUE-Talk] FW: Hacker story for Denver Post

[Patty Laushman]

In response to Jed's question on what the reporter is looking for, he is 
open to suggestions.  We have an opportunity to help shape this article. 
Here is a direct quote:

.. To be honest with you, I know very little about "hackers" and come to 
this story with no preconceptions. I am looking for someone who perhaps has 
broken into remote networks in the past, perhaps as a teenager, and is now 
applying that talent in other directions. Although really I would welcome 
any suggestions you have...."

Patty Laushman

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jed S. Baer" <thag at frii.com>
To: <clue-talk at clue.denver.co.us>
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 12:28 PM
Subject: Re: [CLUE-Talk] FW: Hacker story for Denver Post


> On Fri, 22 Oct 2004 12:03:08 -0600
> "Patty Laushman" <patty at theuptimegroup.com> wrote:
>
>> In response to Richard's question about why the focus is Linux, I'd like
>> to explain how this all came about.  As you all know, my company does
>> Linux and open source consulting for small- to medium-sized businesses,
>> and thus I would like to help Ross at the Denver Post increase awareness
>> of open source technology in the the general business population. I want
>> them to know that Linux is a good alternative to MS products and that it
>> delivers unique advantages that MS can't offer.
>>
>> Ross agrees that Linux is a good topic in general, but a story that is
>> hardly more than a history lesson (Linus Torvalds, market share, major
>> vendors, etc.) will be interesting to no one except us, the Linux
>> community. To get people interested in the topic, he needs to have a
>> "hook," or something that captures people's attention and gets them to
>> read the article.  There's no point in writing a story that no one
>> reads.
>>
>> The reality is that hacker is a loaded word that captures people's
>> attention, and the tie-in to a Linux article is that most people who
>> consider themselves "hackers" use Linux themselves for a variety of
>> reasons. The "hacker" or "reformed hacker" subject will be the
>> interesting personality with an interesting story that hooks people into
>> reading a story about Linux.  The point is not to propagate a stereotype
>> -- it's to educate them on Linux.
>>
>> I have met with Ross and deem him to be an intelligent, open minded,
>> responsible person who is interested in the world of Linux. Yes, there
>> are examples of irresponsible journalism out there, just as
>> irresponsibility exists in every other human-controlled institution.
>> There has been a great deal of misinformation in the media about both
>> open source and "hackers," and I think Ross' story gives our community
>> an opportunity to clear some of that up.  I don't believe there is any
>> ill intent here, or I would not be willing to put my reputation on the
>> line. If Ross writes a story that only negatively associates Linux with
>> hackers, I and my company both lose. If we in the Linux community want
>> to contribute positively to Linux's acceptance as more that just a rogue
>> operating system, here is a chance to do that. And if we don't help Ross
>> do this, who will?
>
> Thanks for the clarification, Patti.
>
> The thing is, that since so many people misuse the term "hacker", hackers
> are sceptical about it's use by anyone who isn't known to be a hacker.
>
> It's cool that he's wanting to do this story, and that you're helping him
> get hooked up.
>
> But I think the question still remains about what he's looking for. If he
> really wants a "code geek", we need to know that. If he's looking more for
> a philosophical approach, that's good for us to know as well. Is the
> article's focus overview, server, desktop? Or is it more of a "personal
> profile" thing, i.e. "The Story of a Typical Linux User".
>
> I agree that siezing the opportunity to get better publicity for Linux is
> great. In the sense of making sure that the story comes across well, it's
> good to know ahead of time what the expectations are. For example, my own
> opinion of Linux on the desktop is perhaps not what you want to see in a
> mainstream paper. (e.g. Gnome has lost it's way by dumbing things down)
>
> jed
>
> -- 
> http://s88369986.onlinehome.us/freedomsight/
>
> .. it is poor civic hygiene to install technologies that could someday
> facilitate a police state. -- Bruce Schneier
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