[Viscom-dev] Journalists at FOSS4G 2007

Committees Marketing
1

VisCom,

FOSS4G 2006 had no journalists in attendance, and consequently had very
limited press coverage. As we talk with media sponsors this year one item
that has come up is that if we want their journalists to attend and report
on the conference, some would like the travel expenses paid for.

My position is that this isn't a conference promotional expense, it is in
fact a general OSGeo promotional activity. It is about ensuring our
message, and the success of the conference gets reported on.

So, I'm coming to VisCom asking it to *consider* providing travel for
1-2 journalists for FOSS4G 2007. I am thinking about something like
$2500 to $5000. The two candidates I've contemplated are Adena and
someone from GIS development.

I would note that actually preparing an article for magazines/news outlets
is another mechanism to get some coverage, and we should likely do some
of that too.

Best regards,
--
---------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
I set the clouds in motion - turn up | Frank Warmerdam, warmerdam@pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush | President OSGeo, http://osgeo.org

2

Oh, sure, bring this up AFTER we've finally got a budget together! :slight_smile:

-mpg

-----Original Message-----
From: viscom-dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:viscom-dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of
Frank Warmerdam
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 3:19 PM
To: viscom-dev@lists.osgeo.org
Subject: [Viscom-dev] Journalists at FOSS4G 2007

VisCom,

FOSS4G 2006 had no journalists in attendance, and
consequently had very
limited press coverage. As we talk with media sponsors this
year one item
that has come up is that if we want their journalists to
attend and report
on the conference, some would like the travel expenses paid for.

My position is that this isn't a conference promotional
expense, it is in
fact a general OSGeo promotional activity. It is about ensuring our
message, and the success of the conference gets reported on.

So, I'm coming to VisCom asking it to *consider* providing travel for
1-2 journalists for FOSS4G 2007. I am thinking about something like
$2500 to $5000. The two candidates I've contemplated are Adena and
someone from GIS development.

I would note that actually preparing an article for
magazines/news outlets
is another mechanism to get some coverage, and we should
likely do some
of that too.

Best regards,
--
---------------------------------------+----------------------
----------------
I set the clouds in motion - turn up | Frank Warmerdam,
warmerdam@pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush | President OSGeo,
http://osgeo.org

_______________________________________________
Viscom-dev mailing list
Viscom-dev@lists.osgeo.org
http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/viscom-dev

3

This is an interesting idea (although somewhat ethically disturbing -
but that's how the trade press works, as opposed to, say, the
NYTimes...)

I'm not adverse to the idea at first thought, but I'd like to ask
LizardTech's PR person about this -- she's got a lot of good press
contacts and always has insightful things to say.

-mpg

-----Original Message-----
From: viscom-dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:viscom-dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of
Frank Warmerdam
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 3:19 PM
To: viscom-dev@lists.osgeo.org
Subject: [Viscom-dev] Journalists at FOSS4G 2007

VisCom,

FOSS4G 2006 had no journalists in attendance, and
consequently had very
limited press coverage. As we talk with media sponsors this
year one item
that has come up is that if we want their journalists to
attend and report
on the conference, some would like the travel expenses paid for.

My position is that this isn't a conference promotional
expense, it is in
fact a general OSGeo promotional activity. It is about ensuring our
message, and the success of the conference gets reported on.

So, I'm coming to VisCom asking it to *consider* providing travel for
1-2 journalists for FOSS4G 2007. I am thinking about something like
$2500 to $5000. The two candidates I've contemplated are Adena and
someone from GIS development.

I would note that actually preparing an article for
magazines/news outlets
is another mechanism to get some coverage, and we should
likely do some
of that too.

Best regards,
--
---------------------------------------+----------------------
----------------
I set the clouds in motion - turn up | Frank Warmerdam,
warmerdam@pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush | President OSGeo,
http://osgeo.org

_______________________________________________
Viscom-dev mailing list
Viscom-dev@lists.osgeo.org
http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/viscom-dev

4

I've also sent a message to our PR group to see if we could help put
together a program to generate buzz and interest prior to the conference
(teasers, opportunities for exclusives, invitation to a conference press
event). Maybe an advance article on interoperability between GeoServer
and MapGuide, and other projects would be of interest.

Nathalie

-----Original Message-----
From: viscom-dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:viscom-dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Michael P.
Gerlek
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 3:06 PM
To: Visibility Committee Discussion List
Subject: RE: [Viscom-dev] Journalists at FOSS4G 2007

This is an interesting idea (although somewhat ethically disturbing -
but that's how the trade press works, as opposed to, say, the
NYTimes...)

I'm not adverse to the idea at first thought, but I'd like to ask
LizardTech's PR person about this -- she's got a lot of good press
contacts and always has insightful things to say.

-mpg

-----Original Message-----
From: viscom-dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:viscom-dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of
Frank Warmerdam
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 3:19 PM
To: viscom-dev@lists.osgeo.org
Subject: [Viscom-dev] Journalists at FOSS4G 2007

VisCom,

FOSS4G 2006 had no journalists in attendance, and
consequently had very
limited press coverage. As we talk with media sponsors this
year one item
that has come up is that if we want their journalists to
attend and report
on the conference, some would like the travel expenses paid for.

My position is that this isn't a conference promotional
expense, it is in
fact a general OSGeo promotional activity. It is about ensuring our
message, and the success of the conference gets reported on.

So, I'm coming to VisCom asking it to *consider* providing travel for
1-2 journalists for FOSS4G 2007. I am thinking about something like
$2500 to $5000. The two candidates I've contemplated are Adena and
someone from GIS development.

I would note that actually preparing an article for
magazines/news outlets
is another mechanism to get some coverage, and we should
likely do some
of that too.

Best regards,
--
---------------------------------------+----------------------
----------------
I set the clouds in motion - turn up | Frank Warmerdam,
warmerdam@pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush | President OSGeo,
http://osgeo.org

_______________________________________________
Viscom-dev mailing list
Viscom-dev@lists.osgeo.org
http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/viscom-dev

_______________________________________________
Viscom-dev mailing list
Viscom-dev@lists.osgeo.org
http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/viscom-dev

5

Frank, folks,
For OSG '05, we had media sponsorship. Directions magazine was the official media sponsor but there where others that expressed interest in becoming one...

We didn't pay for their flight/accomodations but we waived their conference fees. They were also free to float around the workshops. They were also allowed to promote their magazines via inserts in the conference packet. In the end only Directions came but that might be because we where to restrictive on the conditions.

Anyway, I agree that media participation is key to getting OSGeo in the news and public eyes.

Perry Nacionales
pnaciona@gis.umn.edu
    
-----Original Message-----
From: Frank Warmerdam <warmerdam@pobox.com>
Date: Fri, 02 Feb 2007 18:18:58
To:viscom-dev@lists.osgeo.org
Subject: [Viscom-dev] Journalists at FOSS4G 2007

VisCom,

FOSS4G 2006 had no journalists in attendance, and consequently had very
limited press coverage. As we talk with media sponsors this year one item
that has come up is that if we want their journalists to attend and report
on the conference, some would like the travel expenses paid for.

My position is that this isn't a conference promotional expense, it is in
fact a general OSGeo promotional activity. It is about ensuring our
message, and the success of the conference gets reported on.

So, I'm coming to VisCom asking it to *consider* providing travel for
1-2 journalists for FOSS4G 2007. I am thinking about something like
$2500 to $5000. The two candidates I've contemplated are Adena and
someone from GIS development.

I would note that actually preparing an article for magazines/news outlets
is another mechanism to get some coverage, and we should likely do some
of that too.

Best regards,
--
---------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
I set the clouds in motion - turn up | Frank Warmerdam, warmerdam@pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush | President OSGeo, http://osgeo.org

_______________________________________________
Viscom-dev mailing list
Viscom-dev@lists.osgeo.org
http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/viscom-dev

6

Michael P. Gerlek wrote:

This is an interesting idea (although somewhat ethically disturbing -
but that's how the trade press works, as opposed to, say, the
NYTimes...)

Michael,

I'd stress that we are just subsidizing travel expenses, not paying
any sort of extra filthy lucre for positive coverage.

Best regards,
--
---------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
I set the clouds in motion - turn up | Frank Warmerdam, warmerdam@pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush | President OSGeo, http://osgeo.org

7

Running this by my wife (who does technical PR for a living) she made an
interesting statement that "It is common for vendors to offer travel
expenses to freelance writers, but it is not considered good form for
writers to ask vendors to pay". Just food for thought.

A

+----------------------------------------+
Aaron Racicot - GIS Programmer
360.221.2441 - aaronr@ecotrust.org
+----------------------------------------+
e c o t r u s t
pobox 1614
langley wa 98260
www.ecotrust.org
+----------------------------------------+

-----Original Message-----
From: viscom-dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:viscom-dev-bounces@lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Frank Warmerdam
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 3:35 PM
To: Visibility Committee Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Viscom-dev] Journalists at FOSS4G 2007

Michael P. Gerlek wrote:

This is an interesting idea (although somewhat ethically disturbing -
but that's how the trade press works, as opposed to, say, the
NYTimes...)

Michael,

I'd stress that we are just subsidizing travel expenses, not paying
any sort of extra filthy lucre for positive coverage.

Best regards,
--
---------------------------------------+------------------------------------
--
I set the clouds in motion - turn up | Frank Warmerdam,
warmerdam@pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush | President OSGeo, http://osgeo.org

_______________________________________________
Viscom-dev mailing list
Viscom-dev@lists.osgeo.org
http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/viscom-dev

8

Pericles S. Nacionales wrote:

Frank, folks, For OSG '05, we had media sponsorship. Directions magazine
was the official media sponsor but there where others that expressed
interest in becoming one...

We didn't pay for their flight/accomodations but we waived their conference
fees. They were also free to float around the workshops. They were also
allowed to promote their magazines via inserts in the conference packet. In
the end only Directions came but that might be because we where to
restrictive on the conditions.

Perry,

We are expecting to offer free entrance to media folks, and to do some
cross-promotional stuff with some media sponsors.

Anyway, I agree that media participation is key to getting OSGeo in the news
and public eyes.

Right

Best regards,
--
---------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
I set the clouds in motion - turn up | Frank Warmerdam, warmerdam@pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush | President OSGeo, http://osgeo.org

9

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On a local level, I write regularly for MondoGIS
http://www.mondogis.it/, the leading IT GIS magazine, and reported about
osgeo and foss4g. Ok, it's not NY Times, but I think we can improve
visibility this way, if others do the same.
In my country at least, I found that direct contacts with journalists
help a lot.
pc

Frank Warmerdam ha scritto:

VisCom,

FOSS4G 2006 had no journalists in attendance, and consequently had very
limited press coverage. As we talk with media sponsors this year one item
that has come up is that if we want their journalists to attend and report
on the conference, some would like the travel expenses paid for.

...
- --
Paolo Cavallini
email+jabber: cavallini@faunalia.it
www.faunalia.it
Piazza Garibaldi 5 - 56025 Pontedera (PI), Italy Tel: (+39)348-3801953
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