[VisCom] Re: OSGeo Newsletter

Mon May 15 06:33:25 EDT 2006

On Monday 15 May 2006 10:03, Markus Neteler wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I just wanted to bring to attention again the OSGeo Newletter
> idea - see below. Maybe we get the ball rolling in the next
> months?
>
> Markus

Hello, 

indeed it is good to bring the attention back to an OSGeo Newsletter, it would 
be good to spread informations. 

A few questions should be clarified before an OSGeo magazine/newsletter can be 
initialised:

1) should it be a magazine (a la http://www.tuxmagazine.com/) or rather a 
newsletter ( a la http://grass.itc.it/newsletter/index.php).

	1a) concerning the layout
	1b) concerning the type of articles

-> That means: Should it be attractive enough for companies etc. for 
advertising or "only" for the community. 
--> Which part of the community should be addressed (devel/user)?

2) Should it deal with OSGeo stuff only (announcements etc.)  or does software 
chapters exist, where certain aspects/problems of one specific package is 
discussed. 

	2a) the internal structure has to be discussed and must be clearly structured 
so that the reader can easily find the (for him/her) important parts. If 
sections are created, how many sections (GIS/RS/webmapping/ ...) 

3) How often should it appear? monthly/quarterly

4) One of the main problem will be a) will enough people volunteer for a 
certain section b) will enough users/devel. contribute to the magazine?

	4a) Certainly an OSGeo magazine edt in chief, language edt, layout (!) and 					
subeditors for sections have to be assigned. 

5) The internal file type/structure or program have to be discussed (Latex 
vs. ...). 	
	5a) it must be handy for edt/layout etc.
	5b) it must be easy for user/devel to contribute articles in the correct 
format. 

Concerning these points I can contribute a few experiences from GRASS-News, 
the newsletter of the GRASS-Project. 

-> 1) GRASS-News aimed to be attractive for users and developers alike not for 
companies hence no advertising.

-> 2) only  announcements and articles concerning "user problems" were 
discussed, rather module orientated no overview articles

-> 3) GRASS-News aimed a quarterly release but that depends strongly on the 
articles submission frequency - release every 3-6 months

-> 4) There are enough people to help but it is sometimes tedious to fill a 
volume, even though the people are very keen to submit an article. 

-> 5) GRASS-News is written in Latex what is very handy for edt after you got 
used to it but users are sometimes intimidated (sometimes Edt. have to do 
some "txt-Latex-translation".)

Something along the lines to start with the "who volunteers" list: I would 
volunteer for a GRASS section as Edt. if something like that exist or with 
some more people to organise/edit a GIS/RS software section. 

I am stronly looking forward to a OSGeo-Magazine, and I think it will increase 
the visibility of OSGeo and its project enormously. 

best regards, Martin

>
> On 3/23/06, Markus Neteler <neteler.osgeo at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi Martin,
> >
> > one of the ideas of the OSGeo foundation is to develop a
> > newletter. Venkatesh Raghavan suggested to join efforts
> > or links newsletters somehow. Please see below for details
> >
> > What do you think?
> >
> > Best regards
> >  Markus
>
> On 3/23/06, Martin Wegmann <wegmann at biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de> wrote:
> > Dear all,
> >
> > yes, indeed it is a good idea, a few questions/ideas below
> >
> > On Thursday 23 March 2006 09:42, Markus Neteler wrote:
> > [...]
> >
> > > > About outreach activities, probably one of the activities that could
> > > > be considered is an online journal or magazine that could be made
> > > > available under Free document or similar licence. Maybe a popular
> > > > magazine format would be better.
> >
> > what  is a popular magazine format? Do you talk about the license, the
> > design or the kind of software used (tex vs. ?)
> >
> > > > Presently, the GRASS community is publishing a newsletter and maybe
> > > > some others in the OSGEO community are also publishing their own
> > > > newsletter. If such efforts could be combined, it maybe possible to
> > > > start a OSGEO magazine without much effort and money. Maybe Markus
> > > > can discuss with the people who are bringing out the GRASS news
> > > > letter if they are interested in combining efforts with others to
> > > > bring out an expanded OSGEO magazine. OSGEO magazine can server as a
> > > > forum for reporting recent developments and research, country
> > > > reports, etc. OSGEO magazine could also server as a advertising media
> > > > for OSGEO related companies. Maybe company sponsors can be given free
> > > > advertising space in the magazine.
> >
> > It sounds good but then we need several more positions (advertising
> > coordinator, final editor (design and topics) and possibly one editor for
> > each software package/topic). I think it would be great and a strong
> > competitor for ESRIs etc. magazines but more informative  ,-)
> >
> > I would add kind of tutorial-research article, where the user can redo
> > some scientific analysis while reading the article, this way users can
> > more easily get in touch with the software.
> >
> > Perhaps  we should discuss it on the OSGeo list and have a look if other
> > Newsletter exist and if they are interested as well. Personally I totally
> > agree to move GRASS-News to an OSGeo-Magazine.
> >
> > regards, Martin
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Martin Wegmann
> >
> > DLR - German Aerospace Center
> > German Remote Sensing Data Center
> > @
> > Dept.of Geography
> > Remote Sensing and Biodiversity Unit
> > &&
> > Dept. of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology
> > University of Wuerzburg
> > Am Hubland
> > 97074 Würzburg
> >
> > phone: +49-(0)931 - 888 4797
> > mobile: +49-(0)175 2091725
> > fax:   +49-(0)931 - 888 4961
> > http://www.biota-africa.org
> > http://www.biogis.de
>
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-- 
Martin Wegmann

DLR - German Aerospace Center
German Remote Sensing Data Center
@
Dept.of Geography
Remote Sensing and Biodiversity Unit
&&
Dept. of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology
University of Wuerzburg
Am Hubland
97074 Würzburg

phone: +49-(0)931 - 888 4797
mobile: +49-(0)175 2091725
fax:   +49-(0)931 - 888 4961
http://www.biota-africa.org
http://www.biogis.de