Guide for LA Press team

Reason for Press team

Linux Australia want to more efficiently convey messages and issues that concern our community, and we've invited you all to be a part of a Press team, as media savvy individuals interested in media coverage of Linux, Open Source, Linux Australia and all the news and concerns therein. We want to aim for a good public image, and professionalism so that we can really get across our messages. Since Linux Australia will be responsible for the views that we put out in public, and since the Committee holds responsibility for Linux Australias' actions, we thought someone on the Committee should be public spokesperson for the group. To better facilitate communication and professionalism, we are organising appropriate training for individuals who require it.

Roles of the Press team

To be involved with strategic planning for effective media presence and general OSS advocacy.
Coordinating reviewing of published media that LA may wish to respond to.
Assisting in drafting Press Releases.
Being contacted by community and external people about events/press opportunities and concerns.
A web site will be maintained for the Press team at press.linux.org.au and linked from the main page (of the new site)
A media contacts mailing list will be maintained by the LA reps on the list. For any media contact requiring a fax, we will have an email to fax service to accomodate.
When LCA and Software Freedom Day draw close, the Press team will work with the LCA committee and SFD teams to help them achieve good press coverage.

Restrictions

In order to retain a single, constant voice for the press, the ctte Press Officer can be the single point of contact.
If for any reason the LA ctte do not wish to publish some work of the LA Press team then it cannot be published under the LA banner. Participating individuals of course can of course publish what they want, so long as they don't speak on behalf of this group or LA.
All works will be published under some open license.
This group should have an Open Source/Linux focus, not a products/solutions focus. It should have a positive focus on educating and advocacy on OSS. It will not pretend to represent all of the community, and will do its best to bounce ideas and relevant issues off the community for feedback when necessary.

Heirarchy

Press team works with the ctte Press team liason officer and press officer, both of which are responsible for ctte approval and interaction, as well as community involvement.