[Ambassadors] Free Media Distribution

[David Anderson]

>As I understand it Fedora media distribution has really three sources.
>
>(1) The FreeMedia Program: 
>https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Distribution/FreeMedia
>
>This is designed to help Fedora contributors get Fedora into the hands
>of people who have either economic or network hardships that make it
>difficult for them to acquire media for themselves directly. Pretty
>packaging of the media isn't an objective, although each contributor
>can handle that however they choose. If volume is a problem in your
>area the best solution is to recruit more contributors to the program
>to ease the burden on each contributor and to get as many requests for
>media satisfied as possible.
>
>(2) The Sponsored Media Program:
>https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Distribution/SponsoredMedia
>
>This program gives one the opportunity to fund free Fedora media
>produced by a vendor to distribute through the Free Media Program.
>
>(3) Pressed Event Media: This is normally intended to be very high
>quality in terms of production value and is funded normally by the
>Fedora Project for use by Fedora contributors at events where they are
>representing/promoting Fedora. So if you are attending events where
>you are handing out Fedora media you can request a supply of these
>through whatever process exists in your region.
>
>Periodically the question comes up as to why we don't use this same
>media and packaging for the Free Media Program? Some people think we
>should, at one time I thought that way myself. There are a couple of
>things to think about here. The Free Media Program is a way for
>individual contributors to help others acquire Fedora. Part of this
>contribution is providing the media itself, the postage required, and
>the time to transfer the bits to the media. This is a very personal
>way to contribute and in a way that makes this a special program to me
>now. When you contribute some code to a package you generally don't
>know who you are helping. When you spend a few minutes preparing Free
>Media for Bob in Topeka, you know exactly who you are helping.
>
>It is pretty much logistically impossible to produce fancy pressed
>media and distribute it in small amounts to hundreds of people around
>the world so they can use it for the Free Media Program. This would be
>very expensive for the project.
>
>To everyone who recently burned a few CDs or DVDs that they could
>spare, wrote Fedora 10 on them with a Sharpie, and mailed them off to
>someone they have never met through the Free Media Program please do
>not feel uncomfortable with the "production value" of the media you
>shared with others. All contributions to this program are acts of
>generosity and kindness to others and I think it is one of the very
>best examples of why the Fedora community is so great to be a small
>part of.
>
>John
>
>--
 
  ALL excellent points, especially last paragraph.  The only way I've been able to keep media looking static across the board was doing one of two ways. (#1) Making sure your burner is lightscribe capable and buying optical media (CD-R/DVD-R) to match.  (Those are the ones that look the same on both sides making it a PIA when burning if not paying attention when taking out of canister). (#2) Buying a kit that comes w/ 8 1/2 x 11 (US meas) stickers where part is perferated representing the CD and also containing a round platter dealie with a push center to afix label evenly on media.  It works great (label goes right into tray) in laser printers and allows you to purchase whatever media is on sale...  The only one that does not work from a price point is the media where top portion is already white, may work if you have good handwriting (steady hand) and non-smear marker but mainly requires special Epson printer w/ feed tray that CD fits in.
  Other than that, it really is inconsequential because John summed it all up perfectly...
 
    -david.