Fedora and "Red Hat Enterprise Linux"

[Max Spevack]

On Tue, 29 Apr 2008, Kara Schiltz wrote:

> I agree with Rahul -- we need to frame this in a more positive tone. 
> I think scheduling a phone call with Paul and the journalist would be 
> a more effective vehicle.  We could clear up any incorrect details and 
> continue to build a good relationship with this journalist....all 
> leading to positive (and accurate) coverage of Fedora in the future.

Jon's points are valid -- there are several inaccuracies in the article.

However, the author does have a standing relationship with Fedora, 
insofar as I have spoken to him several times in the past, and he has 
covered Fedora releases before.  We know him.  He covers a variety of 
Red Hat related news, and to be honsest, I don't blame him if there is 
some confusion in his mind about Fedora, RHEL, and how the two play 
together.  There's probably 4 or 5 Red Hat folks who talk to him at 
different times about different things, and I'm sure he gets some mixed 
messages.

In my opinion, the best thing to do is for Paul to take some extra time 
during his conversation with the author in a Fedora 9 interview and help 
to explain and clear up any mistakes in the article.

There's no malice here, IMHO.  I think there is just some confusion on 
the part of the author on terminology, and also on how various Fedora 
releases relate to RHEL.  I think there's a great opportunity here for 
Paul to help clear that up, and in doing so, turn this into a situation 
that is ultimately very beneficial to Fedora.

In the end, the Fedora Project Leader is accountable for the 
relationship that Fedora has with various press outlets.  It's right 
there in the job description.  But this is also a community project, so 
it's up to Paul to instruct all of us (including me!) on Fedora 
Marketing List as to how *we* can be most useful to *him* in managing 
the relationship that Fedora has with various media outlets.

I think it's important to make sure that articles about Fedora are as 
accurate as possible, but I also believe, especially from my 2 years as 
being the primary "voice" of Fedora, that you always catch more flies 
with honey than with vinegar.

Just my opinion.

--Max