Advocacy

This is a practical guide on how to advocate for free software and free/open standards. It doesn't focus on the what (e.g. ask a webmaster to link to pdfreaders.org), but rather on the how.

• Strength in numbers: a group of people making the same case is not as easily ignored as just one person speaking.
• Know what you're talking about: you don't want to come across as a drone who just repeats whatever a lobbying organization feeds him. So read, analyze and prepare (alternative) solutions.
• Know who you need to talk to: chatting with a desk clerk is good to influence general opinion, but if you want to have a law changed then you'd better speak with a member of parliament.
• Choose the right medium: e-mails might get lost in the flood. A written and signed paper letter will get more attention. You might even want to consider certified mail. Or write to newspapers and magazines to get your message published.
• Practice a good writing style: write clearly and to the point. Nobody pays attention to rambling.
• Don't make enemies: don't insult the person you want to influence or her friends/sponsors. Stay focussed on the issue instead.

References

Speak Your Mind