Newspaper columns on SE technology

[pshea]

Has anyone seen an ongoing "technology" (or some such) column in their local newspaper describing SE technology issues? I'm starting to wonder if the general public is ready to have someone try to explain what is really going on to them.

I think most of us here have had the experience where friends, acquaintances are genuinely interested in hearing about this stuff. They wonder why they get one set of results from the same search one day and another set the next.

Anyway, are there any newspaper-people out there writing this locally in John/Jane Q. Public style language? I'd love to know.

All thoughts to this point welcome.

[rcjordan]

I don't know if it made it to print, but here's a John Q article from the Seattle Times that briefly touches upon SE issues. Did you see it? Search Engines - And Ye Shall Find

[pshea]

No, I did not see it, thanks for the reference. Yes, that's the kind of thing I'm looking for here, but ongoing, something that builds John Q's abilities and understanding past exactly this. Maybe there are columnists/writers out there in the locals who keep at up -- and editors who think that it's important and valuable.

[Brett_Tabke]

I've started down this road a ways. The local paper has just changed owners. A small town of about 2k people, yet we have a 75 year old weekly paper that does something like 10k subscriptions at the very high price of $112 per year. The new guy is very net savvy and is putting out feelers for a weekly column. I'm trying to come to terms with how much time it would take. I'd guess atleast six hours a week. Including the rare 'brain storm' I get where the content flows like water.

I'm not talking deep se info, but starter net stuff for newbies and experts alike. The reason I think this fits into this discussion is of course, the obligatory first article would be 'finding stuff on the net'.

[pshea]

The thud here is not entirely unexpected, but the thought that BT would write and then only locally makes me want to put on my best sharkskin suit and convince him/her to maximize efforts for the greater good and then I think about shooting myself in the foot.

I was scavenging the populous here so as not to re-invent the wheel.

rc, could you pitch such a thing? A thoughtful ongoing series for J/JQ?

[rcjordan]

>then I think about shooting myself in the foot

I read BT's post and immediately thought (A) NO! Brett, don't do it! RUN! Save yourself, while there is still time. Then, (B) Why couldn't the forum provide the article?

After giving it some serious thought, and knowing full-well that a project like this could suck the very light out of the room, I then pulled out my trusty .457 magnum and blew off a few of my toes.

>rc, could you pitch such a thing?
Ah! Pitch --as in, sell the idea to someone else? I'll pitch anything, the question is "Where?"

[Brett_Tabke]

What we discussed was a 90 cooling off period before I would retain copyright and usage of content.

[rcjordan]

Sounds like you'd be allowing them "North American First Rights" (they get to print it once).

[pshea]

>rc, could you pitch such a thing?
Ah! Pitch --as in, sell the idea to someone else? I'll pitch anything, the question is "Where?"

. . . still thinking. OPB (our pal Brett) pretty much shot me full of buckshot holes in the last day or so, still thinking . . . nose to cpu, smell gunpowder.