[Talk-GB] OSM UK publicity challenge

[Bob Kerr]

I have been working to promote openstreetmap in various magazines, here is what I have learnt.

You will get more interest from magazines that appeal to  a specialist group of people. For example I am presently contacting Geographical Magazine. (please don't contact them as I am already doing this)
http://www.geographical.co.uk/Home/index.html

I ask if they would be interested in a freely written article about Openstreetmap. A usual reply will be that they have not heard of it. I then send them an e-mail stating the following.
The Openstreetmap community is like wikipedia for maps.
The maps are copyright free and can be used in their magazine
There are over 100,000 contributors
The goal of the community is to create a copyright free map of the world
Some countries like the Netherlands have already been completed.
Openstreetmap was names as one of the top 100 websites by the guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/dec/18/internet-websites

The map can be edited in any web-browser
I give examples of areas that have detailed mapping like Kew Gardens in London
I give topographical examples using the cycle map
I give examples of how large institutions like the National Library of Scotland can benefit their service by using ours. Here is a link to wikipedia, in the historical maps section if you click on the links you will see National library of Scotland maps from 1909 overlayed onto openstreetmap. This works because the Library wants to publisize their service
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craigmillar


This shows we are a big community, with specific goals and are recognised by other large institutions. We can have good coverage and flexibility with the data and for magazines they have an immediate benefit, once they realise this they will consider the benefit to their communities
It is important that you make sure that you know what they want rather than what we want.
There are lots of these specialist magazines around, Historians, Archaeologists, Developing countries magazines, Oxfam, United nations Development, Ramblers, climbers, Cycling magazines, Ancient monuments, Park Ranger magazines, Emergency services, Tourism, Local government magazines, Water management, Bird Watchers, Advertisers. choose one
These magazines have a community and would like to be able to print maps in their magazines. Openstreet map provides them a service and it will be a better service if they can encourage people that  are interested to help.
You will get far more attention from these people than from Government. Generally Government has only just heard of the phrase Open Source. It will take them another 10 years to understand it.
It is very important to not be pushy. They may not be interested in openstreetmap and this is usually the case if they have not heard of it before. If you are contacting them then once is enough because they will hear of it again from a diferent source and may become more interested. Politeness is very important.
If you want to set up publicity. Set up a wiki page that states which magazines have been contacted, date, if they are interested, Any articles written so that we don't hassle them too much.
Remember it is what will benefit them that is important.
All the best 
Bob








--- On Mon, 1/6/09, Richard Fairhurst <richard at systemeD.net> wrote:

From: Richard Fairhurst <richard at systemeD.net>
Subject: [Talk-GB] OSM UK publicity challenge
To: talk-gb at openstreetmap.org
Date: Monday, 1 June, 2009, 8:24 PM

So how do we get some more publicity for OSM in the UK?

Here's one idea:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/may/24/cycle-holiday-britain-mike-carter

"Do you have any tips for Mike about great campsites or interesting  
B&Bs along the coast? Or perhaps you'd like to ride alongside him for  
a day? Contact Mike at get.carter at observer.co.uk"

Any OSMers who can get easily to the coast fancy doing this? (Gregory  
M? PeterIto?) Could be a nice bit of publicity for OSM in a national  
broadsheet.

Any more ideas?

cheers
Richard


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