Press List

About 5 or 6 publications have asked me to put them on our press list. This is since the Tweed Run, so whoever is doing promo stuff... it's working.

Of course... I have no press list. Why on earth would a forum need something like that I thought?

Well it seems I'm wrong, and the forum needs one.

The gist is that some websites and publications honestly do want to know what we're up to, and people organising stuff here (especially when it's in aid of a charitable cause) want to be able to tell the world we're doing something.

So a press list puts the two together... those who have something to declare can do so to those who want to listen... or something like that.

Anyhow, press list... how on earth does one of those work I wonder? Well, I should wonder no more for a press list cometh.

It's a bit sparse at the moment though, so this thread is for two reasons:
1) To let you all know such a thing will shortly exist and that providing that something relates to this forum... I will relay emails to the list.
2) To let you all know such a thing will shortly exist, and that if you or someone you know would like to be on said list to receive very occasional emails (low-noise, once or twice a month maximum unless lots of stuff is happening) then you need to send me the email address/es of those who want to be on it.

Oh, and if anyone is good at this stuff and would rather I didn't just continue to make it all up as I go along... do let me know.

I nominate GA2G.

Arf! :D

can I just suggest that it not be actually viewable on the forum to prevent missuse? (i am sure you thought about this already!)

can I just suggest that it not be actually viewable on the forum to prevent missuse? (i am sure you thought about this already!)

What misuse can there be? Everyone just subscribes to it, and I'm the only motherfucker who can email it.

fair enough.

Hehe. Anyone who wants to email it... emails me :)

The first rule of the Press List is, dont fuck with the Press List
The second rule of the Press List is, dont fuck with the Press List
The third rule of the Press List is, if you are Press, you have to be on the Press List! ;)

The first two rules is why I'll be the gatekeeper. From past experience I know that if you abuse the press list, the press ignore you or fuck with you. Their prerogative, I would do the same.

I'm likely going to have 2 lists... one real press and big websites, and one for just announcements. The announcements one can be a little more frequent and open membership, and the press one will be veted membership and far fewer emails.

Feel free to stop me in my tracks if that's a dumb idea.

I think that is a good call.

I tested the press mailing list software this morning, it works a treat.

Both HTML and plain text formatting available, and the list can handle bounces, self-subscription and various other things.

And the initial load-testing suggests that it can send just shy of 15,000 emails per hour.

So all I need to do now is work out how to build it into the site and make it available for use.

The thinking at the moment is that a frequent news list will exist, and a less-frequent digest type one. And that a group of volunteers will vet the messages that people want to send, mostly to reduce bias, duplication, etc and to keep the value of being on the list high.

I'll work out how to work out such stuff soon.