It looks like LT is dead!

[GreyGeek]

It looks like LT is dead. Carla Schroder, the esteemed "Senior Editor" and her crew were laid off.
http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/149211/

As you fine fellow LXerers know, I have been toiling since July 2008 as the estéamed Senior Managing Editor of Linux Today and Linux Planet. Not sure what "Senior" means; probably old, grumpy, and not worth a raise so I got a longer title instead. This week I was laid off, along with a number of my co-workers. Save your sympathy because while it sucks to be given the boot, it's all good. I can't say a whole lot without incurring the wrath of lawyers, so use your imagination to fill in the gaps. You'll probably be close to the truth.

Running Linux Today and Linux Planet was a bi-polar experience. I liked both sites; they have long and honorable histories all the way back to 1999, and I think they have played important roles in the Linux and FOSS world. I did my best to keep them relevant and useful. But it was an uphill battle, for various reasons.

The best part is both sites had real communities of both long-time and new readers. The Linux Today Talkbacks aren't quite as lively as they used to be, and I never had enough time to participate as much as I wanted. But I loved reading them, all full of smarts, wit, peeve, insights, humor, and great rants.

Linux Planet's core audience was a mixed lot, from desktop users to hardcore coders and admins. Some of my best story ideas and solutions to problems came from readers.

I never saw LXer or any other Linux sites as being competitors. A rising tide lifts all boats, and the more successful any individual site is the better for all of us. LXer, Linux.com, Slashdot, Tuxmachines.org, Junauza.com (Tech Source), Techrights.org, LWN.net, Groklaw.net, Distrowatch.com, Linuxpromagazine.com, Linux-Mag.com, Linuxjournal.com, and all the many other Linux news, howtos, books, and blog sites are all part of a big mutually-supportive ecosystem, whether it's intentional or not. Something for everyone, and everyone has something to contribute.

I had to stop being a LXer editor when I was hired for Linux Today. Well hurrah, I'm back and happy to be a contributor here again. See, I told you it's all good!

I'm moving my primary Linux news site to http://lxer.com/

[GreyGeek]

Re: It looks like LT is dead! ^^^^^ It LIVES!

Not Dead

Hi, everyone.

My name's Michael Hall. I don't know if anyone around here will still recognize me (though I recognize a few names, including Cabal and Rainer), but I was the managing editor for LinuxToday (and its sister site, LinuxPlanet) a long while back. If you Google "Michael Hall" and "LinuxPlanet" you'll see plenty of my articles, and you can also search for me by name on LinuxToday:

http://www.linuxtoday.com/search.php3?author=Micha el:Hall

There are probably a few other "Michael Halls" here and there, but most of those are mine.

I left the editorship of LinuxToday and transferred to another part of the company to work on networking sites, but I count Brian Proffitt (who took over after me) and Carla Schroder (who wrote for me for years on another one of my sites before taking over LinuxToday from Brian) as good friends. I've been around behind the scenes now and then over the years, helping out when needed.

As Bernard pointed out, Carla's commented on her situation elsewhere:

http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/149211/

Outside of saying "the site's not dead," there's not much more I can say right now. I don't think there's any intention to shut LinuxToday down. We have someone working on the site, but it's been bumpy the past few days as we figure out how to reshoulder the load.

I'm sorry some of your comments and questions weren't posted sooner ... they should all be posted now. I'm hoping we'll be able to share more information soon. In the mean time, anyone can write me:

mhall@internet.com

If you reply here, I'd appreciate it if you'd use the "cc:" field so I can be sure to see your comment.

Thanks,
Michael