New Linux News Podcast

Aug. 15, 2011 - PRLog -- The Linux News Podcast was created by Jay N. Forrest and will launch on August 16, 2011 on the 20th anniversary of Linux. The Linux News Podcast was designed to fill a much needed gap in audio shows covering exclusively Linux and Open Source news. The podcast aims to be relevant, accurate, fair, clear, timely, interesting and concise.

The podcast aims to be relevant by focusing on topic of interest to Linux users. We focus on such topics as software freedom, Linux development, Open Source software, Android and mobile devises, security issues, and Linux distribution releases. Special attention is given to the top ten Linux distributions: Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, Debian, openSUSE, Arch, PCLinuxOS, Puppy Linux, Sabayon, and CentOS.[Source: Distrowatch 2011]

The podcast aims to be accurate by making sure we have the facts straight. We only use reliable and respected sources and when we report rumor we make that clear.

The podcast aims to be fair and not state personal opinion. We try to present both sides of a story and stay with the facts, even when the facts do not favor Linux and Open Source. Although complete objectivity is impossible, it is at least an ideal to be aimed at.

The podcast aims to be clear. We aim to use plain and simple English, avoiding slang and jargon whenever possible. In Linux a certain amount of jargon is inevitable, but we try to keep it to a minimum. We also try to explain words whenever possible.

The podcast aims to be timely. To our knowledge the Linux News Podcast is the only podcast dedicated exclusively to Linux news that is produced twice a week. This gives us the advantage of giving you breaking news first. In many cases you will hear a story first on this podcast.

The podcast aims to be interesting. While all our stories are gleaned from other sources, we how to spin it in an interesting as well as informative way. Interest is determined by story selection and presentation, and both are imprtant considerations.

The Podcast aims at being concise. The podcast is formated into a news show of about 15 minutes long. We try to cram about 20 stories into each episode. This requires us to get to the point. Links are provided to give more in-depth information and credit sources.

Each podcast is titled after its lead story. Lead stories are chosen based upon whether they are interesting to the target audience, overall impact, general usefulness, newness and freshness, and coverage in other outlets.

Jay Forrest
Jay Forrest is the host of the Linux News Podcast. Jay has hosted a number of podcasts including the Linux User Podcast back in 2009. Jay did the weather for WIBU in Poynette, Wisconsin back in 1982. Jay was also the lead singer and bass guitarist for the band Apocalypse in the 80s.

Jay has been a tech guy since he built his first 486 in the 90’s. Jay used to work tech support for America Online and Earthlink. Jay is currently working at Intel in Rio Rancho. Jay has done web design for a number of businesses and non-profit organizations. For the more technical, Jay knows HTML, Javascript, CSS, and basic Php.

Jay’s conversion to Linux came as a result of a virus he got on his Windows XP system. Jay got this virus even though he was running with the Windows firewall on, auto updates on, and with McAfee anti-virus. Jay was just so frustrated that he installed Ubuntu, wiping out his Windows XP system. Jay has never regretted it. That was in 2008.

Since that time Jay has played with a number of other Linux distributions and have Linux Mint on one of my computers. Jay even managed to replace his Mom and Dad’s Windows with Linux. Jay believe that Linux has finally come of age. It is with this conviction that Jay wants to get the word out.

So why is Linux so good. It is not just that Linux is free, it is that Linus is better. It is better because it is more secure and stable. But even beyond that, Linux is better because it is free and open. By free we mean that Linux doesn’t cost you any money. And by saying it is open we mean that you can actually look at the source code. This is important because it allows others to improve it. It also eliminates a program from spying on you.

Jay is pleased to be a Fedora Ambassador and a part of the great Linux community. The Linux New Podcast is Jay’s small contribution to the Linux community. Jay look’s forward to your friendship and suggestions.