I don't consider it a privilige to know it before, sorry :) There are
/always/ people who know it first (the jury itself for one). I see it merely
as an opportunity to do a good press release.
I disagree with you that PR is not important. Wikimania is a great
opportunity to wake some people up for free licenses and what Wikimedia is
all about, and I think we should not waste that, no matter who is officially
the organizer.
Besides that, the local team is in all three cases (as I understand it) made
up by chapter people who could use this release perhaps for promoting the
chapter in their own country and the principles the chapter is enthousiastic
about. The WMF is not able to tailor make a press release for thelocal
press, to which this will be the most exciting news.
As I said, it is not ideal, but I believe that the better publicity might be
worth the disadvantages of giving a few people a head start regarding
information.
Best regards,
Lodewijk
2009/4/21 Wojciech Pędzich <wpedzich(a)wp.pl>
effe iets anders pisze:
talking about journalists... it might be good to
consider telling the
local teams (or at least the winning team) some time in advance before
making the decision public, to enable them to prepare a proper (joint) press
release from the chapter and/or the wmf. I know this is not very ideal
towards the community, but this might be an advantage to catch attention,
and to reach out that way.
best, lodewijk
Against. That'd mean there are some priviledged people who should know (how
will you define them?) and "the others". I also don't think that whoever
gets word of the results will be able to keep his keyboard shut for long
enough. Besides, it's the WMF who's organising the conference with the aid
of the local team and local chapters (if available) the way I understand it.
Don't shoot for PR, just try to make the best bid you can so that the
conference runs smoothly, not with glamour.
Wojtek