Guest Editorial

Using the Fidonews
By Frank Vest
1:124/6308.1

Maybe I'm preaching to the wall here. So be it.

Ladies and Gentlemen. One of the cornerstones of Fidonet is the Fidonews. In fact, the Fidonews is quite likely the most important medium in Fidonet. True, not all Sysops in Fidonet read the Fidonews. However, the Fidonews is available to all of Fidonet.

Recently, in Fidonet, there has been a push for a revision of Fidonet Policy.

Currently, there is a FTSC election happening.

Little coverage of these events has been in the Fidonews. Yeah, I know.... "It's been discussed in <echo tag> for weeks now." .... I hear this all the time.

True, this or that echo may be open to the public and very popular with "some" Sysops. On the other hand, the Fidonews is the newsletter of Fidonet. Contrary to popular belief, not ALL Sysops read, or even connect to, FN_SYSOP and other such echos.

Now, you're going to argue that "it's their fault if they don't read <echo tag>" echo. That may be true, but, is <echo tag> the echo for Fidonet? The Fidonews is the newsletter of Fidonet. An event such as a revision of Policy, election of FTSC members and such that affect Fidonet should at least be announced in the Fidonews with updates of progress submitted to the Fidonews for publication.

Ladies and Gentlemen. The Fidonews could, and should, be the place to publicize Fidonet events, elections and other important happenings in Fidonet. Fail to use the Fidonews for such things in Fidonet and you fail Fidonet. JMHO.