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Frederick Noronha

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Frederick Noronha
Noronha in 2019
Born (1963-12-23) 23 December 1963 (age 60)
NationalityIndian
Other namesRico
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Journalist
  • writer
  • publisher
  • Wikipedia editor
Years active1983–present
TitleCo-founder of BytesForAll

Frederick Noronha (born 23 December 1963) is an Indian journalist, writer, publisher, and Wikipedia editor[1] based in Saligão, Goa. He is active in cyberspace and involved with e-ventures related to Goa, developmental concerns, and free software. Noronha primarily writes about free software/open-source issues, technology, and computing in India. He is the co-founder of BytesForAll and the founder of Goa 1556, an alternate publishing house.[2]

Education

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Frederick Noronha received a B.Com. degree from Dempo College of Commerce and Economics, Panjim, and M.A. (English Literature) degrees from Goa University and the University of Bombay.[3] In 2021 he took a PhD in English, focusing on publishing in twentieth-century Goa, via Goa University's Department of English (under Prof. Andre Rafael Fernandes).[citation needed]

Noronha is also an alumnus of the Internationales Institut für Journalismus (G57 course, 1990). He received a scholarship from the Institute for Further Education of Journalists (Fojo), Sweden (1998) and was a Sarai Print Media Fellow (2001). He was a Panos Fellow in 2001 (focusing on reproductive health and gender issues).[citation needed]

Journalism

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He has been a full-time journalist since 1983. From November 1987 to December 1994, Noronha was a staff correspondent for Deccan Herald. From 1994 onwards, he turned to a freelancer, and has written for India Abroad News Service (now Indo-Asian News Service), on news related to Goa and, more recently, Information Technology. He also worked as an editorial consultant with Herald (Goa) from October 2003 to April 2004.

He has written articles on Goa, Goan books, media, environment, development, and information technology. From 1996 to 2006, he has been part of the Admin Team of Goanet, a volunteer and not-for-profit network that links the Goan diaspora community. Publications that have featured Noronha's works include The Economic Times, The Financial Express, Spider Internet Magazine (Pakistan), Associated Press (photographs), Dawn, the BBC website and Outlook.[3][4]

Noronha is a Wikipedia editor, particularly active on Konkani Wikipedia, and was named English Wikipedia's Editor of the Week in March 2020.[5][6]

Online ventures

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Together with Partha Pratim Sarkar of Bangladesh, Noronha co-founded BytesForAll. He is a supporter of copyleft-based models for sharing digital information and resources, with some 6000+ photographs, mainly related to Goa, available on his Flickr page.[2]

Involvement with FOSS movement

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Noronha is a supporter of free software, and is actively involved in chronicling its growth in India and other Asian countries. His articles on Free Software have been published in Linux Journal and Free Software Magazine.[7][8]

He has also participated in a study on FLOSS in the 'developing' countries (2003–04) in Finland.[9] He has been a member of the panel deciding on the FSF Award for the Advancement of Free Software and The Manthan-AIF Award 2006.[10] He has also spoken at many FOSS conferences, including FOSS.IN in 2006.[11]

Goa 1556

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On 20 June 2007, Noronha founded the alternate publishing house Goa 1556. As of 2018, it had published over 100 books in print and ebook form. All authors of books published are Goan and the topics published range from Goan history to Goan cuisine.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "These "Wiki' Goenkars chisel info on Goa's rural history". oHeraldo. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b Chopra, Rahul (2 November 2018). "It wasn't love at first sight with FOSS, but the idea was most appealing". Open Source For You. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Frederick Noronha: Biographical statement". The Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2007.
  4. ^ "Authors/People Page: Frederick Noronha". Outlook. Archived from the original on 22 October 2006. Retrieved 26 April 2007.
  5. ^ Ony Anukem, "Meet the CC Summit Presenter: Frederick Noronha", Creative Commons (2 September 2021).
  6. ^ Frederick Noronha, "20 Wiki regrets", The Navhind Times (17 January 2021).
  7. ^ "The social implications of free software". Free Software Magazine. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2007.
  8. ^ "Frederick Noronha". Linux Journal. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2007.
  9. ^ Rajani, Niranjan (2002–2003). "Free as in Education: Significance of FLOSS for the Developing Countries" (PDF). Helsinki, Finland: Suomen OneWorld -portaaliyhdistys and KEPA: 96. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2018. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ^ "The Manthan-AIF Award 2006 Jury". Digital Empowerment Foundation. Archived from the original on 21 March 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2007.
  11. ^ "Bangalore readies for "one of world's largest" FOSS events". MSN Technology News. 6 November 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Goa,1556: Binding ideas and dreams". Herald Goa. 2 November 2018. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018.
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