Reuters journalist looking for input on Bitcoin

[mcorlett]

Naomi O’Leary, an Irish British (sorry!) journalist writing for Reuters, is doing a piece on Bitcoin, and is looking for some input from us, the community, on how we use bitcoins, and how we initially discovered them.

Let's all take a couple of minutes out of our day to chip in with a response, and make sure we get an accurate portrayal of Bitcoin and our wonderful community this time. "Hacker currency" no more!

PM Naomi.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

Naomi O’Leary, a British journalist writing for Reuters, is doing a piece on Bitcoin, and is looking for some input from us, the community, on how we use bitcoins, and how we initially discovered them.

Let's all take a couple of minutes out of our day to chip in with a response, and make sure we get an accurate portrayal of Bitcoin and our wonderful community this time. "Hacker currency" no more!

PM Naomi.

We will soon see if this is the same Naomi that works at Reuters, for I PM'ed her letting her know that I Tweeted her and requested a DM from her via Twitter, thus proving that she's the same Naomi. The last thing we would want is to have a rogue reporter, or somebody claiming to be such, amassing information from users, then possibly a user getting to comfortable with that individual and start offering up a mess of personal and unrelated information to their advantage. I offer no apologies for being skeptical, and for what, and how, I've approached this is not detrimental by any stretch of the imagination.

~Bruno~ (not Jacqueline Theresa Bruno)

[BadBear]

Off topic split here
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=65876.0

Let's keep it on track folks, don't want her to have to read 2 pages to find one real/relevant post 

[mcorlett]

We have confirmation.

[Technomage]

I sent her my story. I hope it helps.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

We have confirmation.

First it was the joint, now you, mcorlett, stealing my thunder.   I hereby confirm this confirmation.

Hi Bruno,
 
Don't worry, I'm happy to follow you! It's the same Naomi, I replied to you on Twitter about an hour ago.

Do you have any tips for me on who would be good to talk to on this piece?

Thanks,

Naomi

I'll reply in kind, then post what I've penned on this thread.

If memory serves me, I believe that at least two threads exists consisting of how users first discovered Bitcoin. Would somebody be so kind as to hunt, then link them here while I pen my reply? I'm sure some gems could be gleaned from within.

Thanks in advance,

~Bruno~

[Phinnaeus Gage]

As promised, my PM reply to Naomi O'Leary with Reuters:

Hi Bruno,
 
Don't worry, I'm happy to follow you! It's the same Naomi, I replied to you on Twitter about an hour ago.

Do you have any tips for me on who would be good to talk to on this piece?

Thanks,

Naomi

Naomi

It's kind of you to consider writing an article that'll introduce Bitcoin to your fine readers of Reuters, a publication I truly enjoy reading, albeit only the easy-to-load online version.

To take into consideration your valuable time, a dedicated thread started by mcorlett, found here, could act as your one-stop-source for your copy. As the thread becomes populated, I'm sure you'll even be able to glean nuggets from it.

As far as your request from me is concerned, I offer up two names: Tony Gallippi and Roger Ver, of Bit-pay Merchant Solutions and MemoryDealers, respectively.

Granted, it may not be Bitcoin related or accepting type business entities you seek but, if you drop them a quick line, I'm sure they'll provide you adequate fodder. At the very least, compare the list of names they provide with those of users who have gracefully sent you their stories, and I'm sure you'll be golden.

Sincerely,

Bruno

[the joint]

First it was the joint, now you, mcorlett, stealing my thunder.   I hereby confirm this confirmation.

I retract my thunder.

[BitPay Business Solutions]

I am traveling and limited to iPhone fr another day. Will send a thorough reply when I get to a computer

Tony

[Isepick]

Zhoutong might be an interesting candidate for her to talk to. The sociopolitical implications of him opening up Bitcoins to the Chinese are staggering...and he's just a kid in Singapore. Although it may be wiser to hold up on the speculation side of things for a bit. Still, he is a pretty good success story, even if you disagree with the effects his service has on the market.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

Zhoutong might be an interesting candidate for her to talk to. The sociopolitical implications of him opening up Bitcoins to the Chinese are staggering...and he's just a kid in Singapore. Although it may be wiser to hold up on the speculation side of things for a bit. Still, he is a pretty good success story, even if you disagree with the effects his service has on the market.

Interesting thought. I wish Chicago Cabbie was fully on board, for I know as a fact his story would make interesting copy.

[bitstarter]

You might want to mention this story about how bitcoin saved someone from a "crippling injury" :

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=64287.0

[kiba]

You might want to mention this story about how bitcoin saved someone from a "crippling injury" :

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=64287.0

Well, it's more like bitcoin help facilitate an exchange.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

Naomi, if the admins haven't done it already upon reading this post, you can formally request to be whitelisted, thereby enabling you to fully interact with the rest of the forum, opposed to being limited as a Newbie.

~Bruno~

[Phinnaeus Gage]

Update:

Naomi has been whitelisted, thereby allowing her free reign of the forum.

And of special interests to fellow Bitcoiners living in the UK, the following is an except from a PM she sent me:

I've been reading online about how Bitcoin works and I have downloaded the program. I think the best way to truly understand how it works would be for someone to show me how they use it. I'd be really interested in meeting some Bitcoin users/miners in London, who are happy to introduce me to the system.

I suggest that everybody keeps filling her request, for you'll never know what story(s) she'll grad for her copy.

~Bruno~

[Koekiemonster]

You might want to mention this story about how bitcoin saved someone from a "crippling injury" :

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=64287.0

I don't see how that has anything to do with bitcoin itself, fun story nevertheless.

I suggest she speaks to Erik Voorhees as well since I've been impressed by his stories and posts. He always is spot-on and explains everything as clear as you'd like it to be. I'm pm'ing her now.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

You might want to mention this story about how bitcoin saved someone from a "crippling injury" :

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=64287.0

I don't see how that has anything to do with bitcoin itself, fun story nevertheless.

I suggest she speaks to Erik Voorhees as well since I've been impressed by his stories and posts. He always is spot-on and explains everything as clear as you'd like it to be. I'm pm'ing her now.

This:

Hello,

I'm a journalist for Reuters, and I'm writing an article about Bitcoins. I plan it to be an introductory piece, explaining to a broad audience what Bitcoins are, how they work, and why they are exciting.

I'm interested in talking to people who use Bitcoins who can explain how they are useful and how they got interested in using them.

I'd love to hear from you - send me a PM if you're interested in helping me out!

Naomi

[the joint]

You might want to mention this story about how bitcoin saved someone from a "crippling injury" :

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=64287.0

I don't see how that has anything to do with bitcoin itself, fun story nevertheless.

I suggest she speaks to Erik Voorhees as well since I've been impressed by his stories and posts. He always is spot-on and explains everything as clear as you'd like it to be. I'm pm'ing her now.

This:

Hello,

I'm a journalist for Reuters, and I'm writing an article about Bitcoins. I plan it to be an introductory piece, explaining to a broad audience what Bitcoins are, how they work, and why they are exciting.

I'm interested in talking to people who use Bitcoins who can explain how they are useful and how they got interested in using them.

I'd love to hear from you - send me a PM if you're interested in helping me out!

Naomi

    Do the doctor one, do the doctor one!

[bitprotection]

You might want to mention this story about how bitcoin saved someone from a "crippling injury" :

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=64287.0

I don't see how that has anything to do with bitcoin itself, fun story nevertheless.

I suggest she speaks to Erik Voorhees as well since I've been impressed by his stories and posts. He always is spot-on and explains everything as clear as you'd like it to be. I'm pm'ing her now.

This:

Hello,

I'm a journalist for Reuters, and I'm writing an article about Bitcoins. I plan it to be an introductory piece, explaining to a broad audience what Bitcoins are, how they work, and why they are exciting.

I'm interested in talking to people who use Bitcoins who can explain how they are useful and how they got interested in using them.

I'd love to hear from you - send me a PM if you're interested in helping me out!

Naomi

    Do the doctor one, do the doctor one!

+ 1 Dr. Dr.!

[naomioleary]

Hello everyone.

Thanks so much for setting up this forum for me. Bitcoiners have proved so helpful and welcoming! Thanks to all.

I've received a lot of responses from everywhere from Washington to Israel to China. I'm currently looking to meet up with people who use Bitcoin in or near London, so I can see for myself how it works. I'm especially keen on meeting anyone who actually has a mining operation - I've been hearing about dry ice and various kinds of modifications, it all sounds fascinating, I'd love to see one for real.

Are there any ex-forex traders out there? These characters keep getting mentioned, but I have yet to hear from any.

ps. mcorlett - I'm actually not British, I'm from the Republic of Ireland, but that's not important.

Naomi