Creating real stories: The power of community-generated content in tech

How to get involved in open source, leverage AI for content creation, and more insights from Jen Wike Huger.

Jen Wike Huger, a content strategy consultant with extensive experience in open source, sat down with the All Things Open team to share valuable insights on community-generated content, getting started with open source, and the role of AI in content creation. She explains that user-generated content is essential because it represents real, authentic stories from technology users. Jen stresses that organizations often focus too much on revenue and forget the people behind the content, which can lead to disengagement.

Jen advises newcomers to open source to align their skills and passions with the right projects, and suggests using platforms like Outreachy to find opportunities with projects that welcome new contributors. Regarding AI, Jen views tools like ChatGPT as helpful assistants in content creation, offering frameworks and ideas that can be refined by human editing.

She also touches on her parenting approach, illustrating how she teaches her children about open source and collaboration. She emphasizes the value of collaboration in life and how working with others leads to something greater than working alone. This perspective is integral to the open source philosophy, where every contribution, no matter how small, adds value to the larger community.

Key takeaways

• Human connection in content: User-generated content connects with audiences because it reflects real experiences and stories.
• Get involved in open source: Assess your skills and passions, then find projects that support new contributors, for example, through Outreachy.
• AI as a support tool: AI tools like ChatGPT help generate ideas, but human editing is key to creating authentic content.

Conclusion

Jen highlights the importance of human connection, collaboration, and using AI as a tool, not a replacement, in both content creation and open source. By focusing on these principles, developers and content creators can make meaningful contributions and foster stronger communities.

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