Linus Puts Shields Up

wesmills writes "ZDNet, that fine purvayor of well-balanced, highly informative Linux stories (BS mode OFF) has written a piece complaining that Linus isn't as accessible as he used to be. You wouldn't answer the phone, either, if you had 1000s of journalists asking the same question all day, every day, would you? " I'm in an odd position: As a pseudo journalist I sometimes need to get ahold of people in that capacity, but I also have to deal regularly with media types who just want a lame quote for their article. After you answer the same questions time and time again, it gets amazingly tedious (And I've been known to tell reporters to read the FAQ too ;) I'm amazed Linus lasted this long. I hope that the levels of protection he's put in place give him some well deserved privacy.

Comments

read the article before you get your flamethrowers

[Hygelac]

If you read the article (unlike almost every single person that posted a 'talkback' on zdnet), you will see that the author isn't bashing Linus for this. He's just stating the fact that Linus has a media buffer now. So try not to go off bashing ZDNet and screaming "FUD!"

"Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow 'er."

On CNN Q+A just the other day

[Get Behind the Mule]

I was channel surfing the other day and was amazed to find myself looking at Linus Torvalds on CNN's Q+A program. It was the first time I heard his voice or saw a picture of him that wasn't a still.

Somebody tell the ZDNet guy that not only did he make himself available to the media, he did it in a format specifically designed for fielding as many questions as possible.

If I were Linus, I'd get the receptionist to start telling people that he'll receive messages, except for those coming from Zipf-Davies.

Media Savvy

[My Little Pony]

A few months ago Brill's Content had an excellent article on how Microsoft has used access to Bill Gates as a "bribe" to journalists to gain the fawning press they've had. (I like Brill's Content: they actually edit what Jon Katz writes. :-)

Because Linux doesn't need a commercial following to keep doing what it does, there's no reason for Linus to take this manipulative approach. Hopefully, the "journalists" will stop bugging Linus for stupid sound bites and start bugging the likes of Bob Young. I think Mr. Young would be much more receptive, after all, Red Hat does have a commercial interest.

Wow.

[Accipiter]

What wonderful journalists we have at ZDNet.

It would appear that they are not concerned that Linus has a life of his own. Sure, creating a product means that you should take a certain amount of responsibility in supporting users by answering questions, but the man has to have some time to himself. He has a wife, and a child. He also has a job, and he DOES work on things other than Linux. If his attention were put 100% into appeasing journalistic vultures like Mr. Berinato, his family, job, life, and sanity would suffer. And then, to have the nerve to complain about it just makes me sick.

-- Give him Head? Be a Beacon?

What's the number?

[rjreb]

Anyone know Scott Berinato's phone number so I can discuss this article with him?

A journalist's perspective

[gavinhall]

Posted by Mike@ABC:

If y'all don't know me, I'm the tech reporter at ABCNEWS.com. I've had occasion to talk with Linus on a number of occasions, and he's been very nice, very thoughtful, and I think has given my stories a unique and powerful perspective that they wouldn't have otherwise had.

I've noted on here that many of the posts are aimed at the journalists, and some rightfully so. But believe it or not, we're not all twinks, dweebs, shmucks and newbies. Some of us actually take the time to RTFM before we bother people.

Of course, many don't, and I don't blame Linus for putting up the shields.

Still, Linux isn't the underground project it was two years ago. This OS has become a powerful force in both business and technology, and the guy who continues to lead the project is obviously going to be in demand.

I would hope Linus continues to work with reporters (like me, hint hint) to get Linux out into the mainstream media. And I hope he and many of the other folks whom we constantly pester continue to exhibit their characteristic patience with the media.

Perhaps a Press Resources page?

[Cardinal]

As the media hunt down sound bites from the 'celebrities' of the community, they're bound to get less accessible. Such is life. One thing ESR provides is a simple press resources page that has generic bio information (Of course, how many hundred Linux articles have supplied bio information for Linus by now?), a resume, links to his papers, yadda. I wonder if something like this would make life easier for Linus.

A simple solution for us..

[Bowie J. Poag]

The solution to the PR problem is simple -- Keep doing what we've always been doing. Develop publically, talk privately. Not the other way around.

You'll notice that in every situation where a person in a management role must also fulfill a spokesman role, that the whole situation will begin to slowly fall apart. Management and spokesmanship are mutually exclusive activities -- You cant perform one duty without somehow taking away from or harming your ability to perform the other...A veeeery important lesson I learned not too long ago. Anyone remember the GNOME Style Guide? (*grin*)

The press is basically looking for another Gates to put in the other corner of the computer industry's boxing ring. We'd be smart to let them stay confused rather than divert our attention to clueing them in. If you think about it, the press hasn't even comprehended the idea that nobody owns Linux yet. Its their responsibility to inform themselves, not ours, imho.

Bowie J. Poag

Re:linus vs bill

[hunterotd]

Since when does having money make someone interesting? I have a lot more money now that I'm working two jobs, but I'd venture to say that I'm much less interesting.

Money doesn't make you more attractive or more interesting. This is something that so many people have a problem understanding.

Here's a question for Bill Gates himself: Don't you get tired of having so many people curse your name every time their machine crashes? I would feel very sorry if my Operating System hurt other people when I could fix it with virtually no trouble.

But then again, maybe that's why I'm a computer scientist instead of a businessman. That way, I can concentrate on quality and how my program is going to help people out, instead of the bottom line, and how much money can be made if we ship a week early, and don't bother on Quality Assurance.

But then again, maybe I'm a computer scientist because I'm an anti-social geek. One or the other.

Anyway, Bill Gates, if you're out there reading this, please feel free to drop me a line answering my question. I promise not to spread the address around.