Re: [gentoo-nfp] Daniel Robbins Controversy Unfairly Reported in GMN -- Real Thread!

[Chris Gianelloni]

On Mon, 2008-01-21 at 17:40 -0800, Square Bottle wrote:
> So in other words, I for one would have preferred a piece that aimed
> to describe the issue and quote people from both sides, since clearly
> both sides have plenty of proponents.

I do agree that it does not give the whole story.  I also agree that it
should have been written as an article in the "Gentoo News" section of
the publication, rather than under "Heard in the Community", especially
as a Planet summary.  Had there also been a forums summary of the forums
thread in the forums sub-section, I'm sure you wouldn't be here
complaining now.

Let's talk about a few things.

- The GWN/GMN is *not* a traditional news outlet and cannot be treated
as such.  It is a developer-published informal newsletter that attempts
to inform the users of what is going on with the developers and to give
them news about important changes.  It is not meant to be a true
journalistic publication.
- The GWN has always been the opinion of the editor(s) and author(s) and
nothing more.  Most editors have tried to make things more neutral, but
editor/author opinion is rampant in the GWN.
- The "Heard in the Community" section has *always* been simply a
summary of postings on various Gentoo discussion fora, from the mailing
lists to Planet Gentoo.  The article you refer to is nothing more than a
summary of Planet Gentoo posts.  It *does* include the opinion of
everyone *that posted to Planet* and, as a Planet Gentoo summary, is
correct.
- Anyone can write up a summary of the forums thread and submit it to
the next edition, though the news might not be nearly as newsworthy by
then.  (We might have everything resolved, legally.)
- This is Anant's first ever GMN, cut the guy some slack.  It takes some
time to get used to publishing for a wide array of people like the GWN
has had as subscribers.

Now, I am adding the GMN team to CC here and ask that we kindly take
this discussion over there, as it really is something that needs to be
brought up with them.  When/if you respond, please remove this list from
the mail and make sure I'm on CC.  As the previous editor of the GWN, I
can probably shed some light on things much better than Anant can do.
As I said, this *is* his first one.

-- 
Chris Gianelloni
Release Engineering Strategic Lead
Games Developer