A new editor for LWN

[Posted April 25, 2012 by jake]

We put out a call for applicants for a job as an LWN editor in January, and were quite surprised by all of the excellent responses we received. It took us a while to narrow the list down, but we eventually got there and we are excited to announce that longtime LWN guest author Nathan Willis has accepted our offer to join the staff.

Not surprisingly, based on the great work he has done for us over the last few years, Nate had the right mix of skills and experience for the job. We look forward to him building on those to help LWN expand its coverage and reach over the coming years. Readers undoubtedly already know about his writing, but we asked him to give us a little biographical background; here's what he had to say:

Nate has been using Linux full-time since 1998, and writing about it since 2004. At some point in the intervening stretch he worked as a photographer and got hooked on free software tools for creative graphics. For the past few years he has lent a hand with the Texas Linux Fest regional community conference at night while writing during the day. He also works on open font development in between, at dusk and shortly before dawn. He lives in western-north-central Texas, right where the Monarch butterfly migrations and tornadoes cross paths.

Nate will be starting on April 27 and will quickly be tossed into the fire with trips to two conferences shortly after he starts. Please join us in welcoming Nate to LWN.

We'd also like to thank all of the folks who took the time and effort to apply for the job. There was a long series of hard decisions, which is part of what took us so long. But the result was a good one, and Nate's help will be important in our efforts to make LWN better.

A new editor for LWN

Posted Apr 26, 2012 3:00 UTC (Thu) by pr1268 (guest, #24648) [Link]

Congratulations, Nathan. I look forward to reading your continued contributions to LWN.

A new editor for LWN

Posted Apr 26, 2012 5:44 UTC (Thu) by Darkmere (subscriber, #53695) [Link]

Great news!
More articles and people who write them can only be a good thing. Hope you enjoy the job, Nate!

A new editor for LWN

Posted Apr 26, 2012 6:50 UTC (Thu) by halla (subscriber, #14185) [Link]

Great news and a excellent reason to continue being a subscriber!

A new editor for LWN

Posted Apr 26, 2012 7:26 UTC (Thu) by dune73 (guest, #17225) [Link]

Congrats Nate. Looking forward to read more from you.

A new editor for LWN

Posted Apr 26, 2012 9:31 UTC (Thu) by ebirdie (guest, #512) [Link] (2 responses)

Fully concuring to the above positive comments. I can see the Chief Editor's possible intent in the hire now. (I did not apply for the position and not interested, if someone may think so from my words.) I think this move strenghtens the same characters the Chief Editor shows in the field of software development using Linux, Open Source tools, technologies and ideals for a profession other than the Linux/Open Source/Information technology itself. Another try to say the same shorter, using Open Source technologies as a tool to do a profession outside Information technology. That may bring new paying subscribers AND that is a good move.

Although I greet the above, it contains a little disappointment to my expectations. I had little hopes that LWN.net could bring more open hardware content as there was voiced wishes in commments of couple LWN.net articles recently at the wake of hiring process. But this commenter has not seen any comments from the head of LWN.net whether he finds any grounds for the wishes for more hardware content and even for own hardware section. So no real grounds for any real expectations and dissappointment.

If my thoughts hold with the figured intent above in hiring, what the future may only tell, I think the move surpasses greatly my disappointment. Still I review my wish that the Chief Editor could voice some words, how he thinks about the stated wishes about more hardware content. Although I'm one subscriber from Information technology group of subscribers and as such increasing content about hardware does not have as big potential for greater subscription revenues as from the totally new group, I wish the CEO's voice to the wishes of this customer camp.

A new editor for LWN

Posted Apr 26, 2012 14:38 UTC (Thu) by corbet (editor, #1) [Link] (1 responses)

The first step is to solidify the creation of the content we have now; Nate will help us to do that in a great way. Then we can think about interesting options for expansion. I don't know if open hardware is the thing we'll do first; there were wishes for a lot of things expressed, and we have some of our own. But I do hope we're going to have some good things to announce in the very near future - stay tuned.

A new editor for LWN

Posted Apr 26, 2012 18:58 UTC (Thu) by ebirdie (guest, #512) [Link]

Thank you for your answer and looking forward whatever comes out

A new editor for LWN

Posted Apr 26, 2012 12:10 UTC (Thu) by ekj (guest, #1524) [Link]

Congratulations Nate ! I look forward to reading even more of your articles.

A new editor for LWN

Posted Apr 26, 2012 15:41 UTC (Thu) by tseaver (guest, #1544) [Link]

Congratulations to both Nathan and LWN on a fine match.

A new editor for LWN

Posted Apr 26, 2012 21:42 UTC (Thu) by alison (subscriber, #63752) [Link]

Congratulations, n8willis. LWN, showing its usual taste, has chosen a well-qualified fine writer. I look forward to reading even more of your material. Please do consider putting links to items within "Weekly Edition" in the main-page sidebar as well as in the RSS feed so we slackers can find them.

A new editor for LWN

Posted Apr 27, 2012 5:18 UTC (Fri) by aryonoco (guest, #55563) [Link]

I would like to add my voice to the above. Congratulations Nathan, your contributions have been of the highest quality, and I look forward to reading even more of your pieces.

On another note, it's been nearly 10 years since that "end of the road" announcement was made. All these years later, it's so great to see LWN thriving and being able to actually expand. LWN is an amazing publication with very unique capabilities and some of the highest editorial standards I've ever come across. Congratulations!

A new editor for LWN

Posted Apr 29, 2012 21:00 UTC (Sun) by Aissen (subscriber, #59976) [Link]

Congratulations to LWN and Nathan. I've always been a fan of Nathan's articles. I hope going full-time will allow him to keep the same writing quality, or even improve it.

A new editor for LWN

Posted May 1, 2012 3:05 UTC (Tue) by PaulWay (guest, #45600) [Link]

Good to see another editor on board LWN. Great news!

Have fun,

Paul

A new editor for LWN

Posted May 11, 2012 19:57 UTC (Fri) by shlomif (guest, #11299) [Link]

Congratulations to Nate, and Good luck with his role as an LWN.net editor. I'm looking forward to reading his writing.