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Free Software Foundation announces deputy director search

mercredi 13 mai 2015 à 21:55

This new position would work closely in support of the executive director to coordinate and amplify the work of an expanding, 12-person staff; represent the FSF to conference, supporter, and donor audiences internationally; and play a key role in improving the FSF's overall effectiveness by driving initiative prioritization, fundraising, resource allocation, hiring, and internal process development.

Now is an especially exciting time to join the FSF team, since this year is our 30th anniversary. We are taking the opportunity to both reflect on the past and plan ahead for the next 30 years.

In addition to being a talented general manager and project coordinator, the right candidate will bring significant expertise to at least one of the FSF's major work areas -- technology infrastructure and software development, licensing and compliance, public advocacy and engagement, fundraising, or operations.

This role is for someone who:

Because of financial control duties, the position must be worked from the FSF's headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. Relocation assistance is available. Candidates currently located outside the US may apply; we have sponsored visas in the past.

Salary would be commensurate with experience. Benefits include:

Applications must be submitted via email to hiring@fsf.org. The email must contain the subject line "Deputy Director". A complete application should include:

All materials must be in a free format. Email submissions that do not follow these instructions will probably be overlooked. No phone calls, please.

Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis.

The FSF is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or application for employment on the basis of race, color, marital status, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, handicap, or any other legally protected status recognized by federal, state, or local law. We value diversity in our workplace.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software -- particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants -- and free documentation for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites, located at fsf.org and gnu.org, are an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF's work can be made at https://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in Boston, MA, USA.

More information about the FSF, as well as important information for journalists and publishers, is at https://www.fsf.org/press.

The FSF is hiring: Seeking a Boston-area full-time web developer

jeudi 7 mai 2015 à 21:25

This position, reporting to the executive director, works closely with our sysadmin team to maintain and improve the FSF's Web presence. It's an especially exciting time to join the FSF team, because we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary this October.

The FSF uses several different free software web platforms in the course of its work, both internally and externally. These platforms are critical to work supporting the GNU Project, free software adoption, free media formats, and freedom on the Internet; and to opposing bulk surveillance, Digital Restrictions Management, software patents, and proprietary software.

We are looking for someone who is primarily interested in keeping these systems up-to-date and working, as well as customizing them when necessary. While the main duties will relate to the backend systems, frontend experience with templates, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and design tools will be a big plus.

The web developer will also contribute to decisions about which new platforms to use or which existing ones to retire. The infrastructure of www.fsf.org, shop.fsf.org, and audio-video.gnu.org will likely be changed this year, so there will be some critically important research and work to be done right away.

We emphasize opportunities to contribute work done at the FSF to the upstream projects we use, to benefit the broader free software community.

You'll primarily work with:

Because the FSF works globally and seeks to have our materials distributed in as many languages as possible, multilingual candidates will have an advantage. English, German, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Malagasy, and a little Japanese, are represented among current FSF staff.

With our small staff of twelve, each person makes a clear contribution. We work hard, but offer a humane and fun work environment at an office located in the heart of downtown Boston.

The FSF is a mature but growing organization that provides great potential for advancement; existing staff get the first chance at any new job openings. This position is a great starting point for anyone who might be interested in other roles on our technical team in the future.

Benefits and salary

The job must be worked on-site at FSF's downtown Boston office. An on-site interview will be required with the executive director and other team members.

This job is a union position. The salary is fixed at $51,646.40 annually. Other benefits include:

Application instructions

Applications must be submitted via email to hiring@fsf.org. The email must contain the subject line "Web Developer". A complete application should include:

All materials must be in a free format (such as plain text, PDF, or OpenDocument, and not Microsoft Word). Email submissions that do not follow these instructions will probably be overlooked. No phone calls, please.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The priority deadline was Wednesday, May 27th, 10:00AM EDT, but we are still accepting applications at this time.

The FSF is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or application for employment on the basis of race, color, marital status, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, handicap, or any other legally protected status recognized by federal, state or local law. We value diversity in our workplace.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software -- particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants -- and free documentation for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites, located at fsf.org and gnu.org, are an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF's work can be made at https://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in Boston, MA, USA.

More information about the FSF, as well as important information for journalists and publishers, is at https://www.fsf.org/press.

Community is the focus of 2015's International Day Against DRM

mardi 5 mai 2015 à 23:40

The groups are united in envisioning a world without Digital Restrictions Management (DRM), technology that places arbitrary restrictions on what people can do with digital media, often by spying on them. As the largest anti-DRM event in the world, the International Day Against DRM is an important counterpoint to the pro-DRM message broadcast by powerful media and software companies. The Day is coordinated by Defective by Design, the anti-DRM campaign of the Free Software Foundation.

This year, community members are the highlight of the Day. Activists have organized twelve events in Bangladesh, Canada, England, Guatemala, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, the US, and Greece (as of May 5th).

Map of events for the 2015 International Day Against DRM

Events in at least nine countries. See dayagainstdrm.org for the most up-to-date list.

Four individuals with unique perspectives also worked with Defective by Design to write community posts: two blind anti-DRM activists, an anti-DRM tech librarian, and a social scientist/activist analyzing the rise of DRM in streaming media services.

Bookstores and publishers, including O'Reilly Media, are offering sales on DRM-free media and advocacy organizations allied with Defective by Design will also be making official statements. Activists in Russia, Romania, and France have already translated the anti-DRM flyer into their native languages, and more translations are in progress. More groups are expected to join on the day itself.

Zak Rogoff, campaigns manager for the Free Software Foundation, said "Powerful entertainment and technology companies use DRM to restrict our use of digital media, demanding control over our computers and network connections in the process. Our community is doing everything we can to organize and build tools to protect our freedom. Our opponents are strong enough to have the government on their side in most countries, but when we come together, we are strong too."

Individuals can participate with a variety of online and in-person actions on dayagainstdrm.org, from media downloads to gatherings. To be part of Defective by Design's year-round anti-DRM campaigns, supporters can join the low-volume Action Alerts email list or join the discussion on the email discussion list or #dbd IRC channel. Media stores, activist organizations and other groups interested in participating in the International Day Against DRM today or in 2016 should contact info@defectivebydesign.org.

About Defective By Design

Defective by Design is the Free Software Foundation's campaign against Digital Restrictions Management (DRM). DRM is the practice of imposing technological restrictions that control what users can do with digital media, creating a good that is defective by design. DRM requires the use of proprietary software and is a major threat to computer user freedom. It often spies on users as well. The campaign, based at defectivebydesign.org, organizes anti-DRM activists for in-person and online actions, and challenges powerful media and technology interests promoting DRM. Supporters can donate to the campaign at https://crm.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=40.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software -- particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants -- and free documentation for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites, located at fsf.org and gnu.org, are an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF's work can be made at https://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in Boston, MA, USA.

Media Contact

Zak Rogoff
Campaigns Manager
Free Software Foundation
(202) 489-6887
campaigns@fsf.org

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LibrePlanet 2015 brings free software luminaries to MIT

mardi 24 mars 2015 à 22:40
Richard Stallman at LibrePlanet

Richard Stallman gave the opening keynote

At a ceremony on Saturday, March 21st, Free Software Foundation executive director John Sullivan announced the winners of the FSF's annual Free Software Awards. Two awards were given: the Award for the Advancement of Free Software was presented to Sébastien Jodogne for his work on free software medical imaging, and the Award for Projects of Social Benefit was presented to Reglue, an Austin, TX organization that gives GNU/Linux laptops to families in need.

Software Freedom Conservancy executive director Karen Sandler closed out the conference with a rallying cry to "Stand up for the GNU GPL," in which she discussed a lawsuit recently filed in Germany to defend the GNU General Public License. When she asked the audience who was willing to stand up for copyleft, the entire room rose to its feet.

Karen Sandler at LibrePlanet

Karen Sandler gave the closing keynote

Videos of all the conference sessions, along with photographs from the conference, will soon be available on https://media.libreplanet.org, the conference's instance of GNU MediaGoblin, a free software media publishing platform that anyone can run.

LibrePlanet 2015 was produced in partnership by the Free Software Foundation and the Student Information Processing Board (SIPB) at MIT.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software -- particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants -- and free documentation for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites, located at fsf.org and gnu.org, are an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF's work can be made at https://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in Boston, MA, USA.

More information about the FSF, as well as important information for journalists and publishers, is at https://www.fsf.org/press.

Media Contacts

Libby Reinish
Campaigns Manager
Free Software Foundation
+1 (617) 542 5942
campaigns@fsf.org

Sébastien Jodogne, Reglue are Free Software Award winners

dimanche 22 mars 2015 à 00:05

The Award for the Advancement of Free Software is given annually to an individual who has made a great contribution to the progress and development of free software, through activities that accord with the spirit of free software.

This year, it was given to Sébastien Jodogne for his work on free software medical imaging with his project Orthanc.

Sébastien Jodogne

One of Jodogne's nominators said, "The Orthanc project started in 2011, when Sébastien noticed in his work as a medical imaging engineer that hospitals are very exposed to lock-in problems when dealing with their medical imaging flows....Freely creating electronic gateways between imaging modalities (autorouting), between medical departments, or even between hospitals remains a challenging task. But the amount of medical images that are generated, analyzed, and exchanged by hospitals is dramatically increasing. Medical imaging is indeed the first step to the treatment of more and more illnesses, such as cancers or cardiovascular diseases."

Jodogne said, "Technology and humanism are often opposed. This is especially true in the healthcare sector, where many people fear that technological progress will dehumanize the treatments and will reduce the patients to statistical objects. I am convinced that the continuous rising of free software is a huge opportunity for the patients to regain control of their personal health, as well as for the hospitals to provide more competitive, personalized treatments by improving the interoperability between medical devices. By guaranteeing the freedoms of the users, free software can definitely bring back together computers and human beings."

Jodogne joins a distinguished list of previous winners, including the 2013 winner, Matthew Garrett.

The Award for Projects of Social Benefit is presented to a project or team responsible for applying free software, or the ideas of the free software movement, in a project that intentionally and significantly benefits society in other aspects of life. This award stresses the use of free software in the service of humanity.

This year, the award went to Reglue, which gives GNU/Linux computers to underprivileged children and their families in Austin, TX. According to Reglue, Austin has an estimated 5,000 school-age children who cannot afford a computer or Internet access. Since 2005, Reglue has given over 1,100 computers to these children and their families. Reglue's strategy diverts computers from the waste stream, gives them new life with free software, and puts them in the hands of people who need these machines to advance their education and gain access to the Internet.

FSF executive director John Sullivan and Ken Starks

One nomination for Reglue read, "Mr. Starks has dedicated his life to distributing free software in many forms, both the digital form...and by building new computers from old parts, giving a new life to old machines by re-purposing them into computers given to extremely needy children and families. They are always loaded with free, GNU/Linux software, from the OS up."

Ken Starks, founder of Reglue, was present at the ceremony to accept the award. While all free 'as in freedom' software is not free of charge, Reglue focuses on finding empowering free software that is also gratis. He said of his work with Reglue, "A child's exposure to technology should never be predicated on the ability to afford it. Few things will eclipse the achievements wrought as a direct result of placing technology into the hands of tomorrow."

Nominations for both awards are submitted by members of the public, then evaluated by an award committee composed of previous winners and FSF founder and president Richard Stallman. This year's award committee was: Hong Feng, Marina Zhurakhinskaya, Yukihiro Matsumoto, Matthew Garrett, Suresh Ramasubramanian, Fernanda Weiden, Jonas Öberg, Wietse Venema, and Vernor Vinge.

More information about both awards, including the full list of previous winners, can be found at https://www.fsf.org/awards.

About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software—particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants—and free documentation for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites, located at fsf.org and gnu.org, are an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF's work can be made at https://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in Boston, MA, USA.

More information about the FSF, as well as important information for journalists and publishers, is at https://www.fsf.org/press.

Media Contacts

John Sullivan
Executive Director
Free Software Foundation
+1 (617) 542 5942
campaigns@fsf.org

Photos under CC BY-SA 4.0 Attribution