By Brian Proffitt
Managing Editor
Sometimes, when bad things happen, a spot of sunshine comes
along to demonstrate that life is a balance. While no one wants bad
things to happen, it’s good to know that lessons can be learned,
opportunities abound, and life goes on.
And sometimes it pays to think ahead.
Flash to an unseasonably warm day in Toronto last month, as I
was walking along with some fellow journalists, looking for a place
to eat. After a long day at LinuxWorld Canada, it was definitely
time to unwind.
As we walked, we talked of the conference (sort of vendor-y),
the city we were in (sort of Toronto-y), and, of course, work. You
can’t put reporters together without getting some gossip started.
My wife, who has witnessed the phenomenon in the past, says it’s
like a bunch of Brooklyn grandmothers together out on their front
stoops. I’ll accept that.
One of the group had asked me how things were going with my job,
and I said that things were never better. The hardest part was
finding enough time and people to get the content out on Linux
Today and LinuxPlanet, two of the larger sites I manage. That
seemed be be absorbed for a bit, and then they hit me with an idea
that would soon change things around here forever.
Later, we sat around the dinner table and hatched out a plan to
create an online presence that would focus on high-quality
features, reviews, and tutorials, and provide a new place for many
talented writers to spead the word about Linux. And, the cool part
was, I already had a site to do this: LinuxPlanet. Its editorial
mission already closely matched those of the writers my colleague
was thinking of: the freelance team from LinuxWorld Magazine.
I knew from discussions with a number of the editors at LWM that
they were very unhappy with what had happened with Maureen O’Gara
over the last six months. I had seen the notice they put on their
site distancing themselves from her, and some of them had privately
vented their concerns to me After the evening was over, our
brainstorming would be taken to that team and some other writers
and see what they thought.
To be honest, the initial enthusiasm about the idea… eh… not
so good. I was told that while many of the writers who already knew
me would love to work here, they were also reluctant to leave the
LWM banner. I don’t blame them. While I was certainly disappointed
they were going to stay at LWM, it’s hard to leave something you
have created from scratch.
As it turned out, though, the timing was pretty darn good.
Because along came May 6 and the infamous O’Gara article attacking
Pamela Jones, which would ultimately prove to be the catalyst to
precipiate the resignation of most of LinuxWorld Magazine’s
editorial staff from Sys-Con.
After a week or so of negotiations and discussion, I am very
pleased to announce they have found a home here on Linux Today and
LinuxPlanet.
Starting after June 1, eight new editors will join the LT/LP
team, each focusing on different aspects of Linux and Open Source.
The project will involve a re-working of the editorial process on
LinuxPlanet: just as this team had a free hand in organizing the
content of LWM, so too will they be managing and creating the
content for LinuxPlanet.
Coordinating this effort will be James Turner, who will step in
as Senior Contributing Editor. James will act as point for new
content on LP, working with a very talented team to deliver
information and features that will help all Linux users get the
most out of their free operating system.
Editors joining James will include:
Kevin Bedell, Contributing Editor – Open Source Software and
Licensing
Steven Berkowitz, Contributing Editor – Science
Martin C. Brown, Contributing Editor – LAMP Technologies
Ibrahim Haddad, Contributing Editor – Telecom
Dee-Ann LeBlanc, Contributing Editor – Games and Multimedia
Rob Reilly, Contributing Editor – High Performance
Maria Winslow, Contributing Editor – Open Source
Applications
This list is rather stark and dry, and it does not convey the
depth of talent and skill this team has. Rest assured, the content
they deliver in the days and weeks to come will be more than
adequate to convey that depth.
The list does not convey everyone who will be involved, either,
as guest writers will often appear on LinuxPlanet with their own
takes on Linux. In the future, you’ll see some of the new editors’
original work on Linux Today, as well. But for now, LinuxPlanet
will be the starting point for this team as they hit the ground
running in June.
I would like to take this opportunity to publicly welcome the
new editors and state that it is an honor to work with such a
distinguished group of people. I am sure we will all be the lucky
beneficiaries.