1. Listserv and Newsgroups
BCIS 82 Introduction to the Internet
Marge Hohly

2. Names for Listserv? E-conference List Processor Mail Reflectors
Mailing Lists
Mailserv

3. What’s a Listserv? E-conference (discussion group) Topical in nature
Questions and Answer (problem solving)
One address for many people
Two way communication
Delivery by

4. What is a Newsgroup?
Collection of tens of thousands of electronic bulletin boards subdivided by topic
Post messages called ‘articles’

5. Guidelines for Listserv and Newsgroups
Check out FAQ’s when available
Generally business advertising and “off-topic” articles not appreciated
Vicious replies called “flames” should be avoided
Messages and articles are generally the author’s OPINION

6. Listserv vs. Newsgroups
Distribute by
Subscribe to
Topical in nature
Problem Solving
Not real-time
Stays in mailbox until deleted
Newsgroup
Posted to central site
Don’t need to subscribe - called register
Topical in nature
Problem Solving
not real-time
Posted for fixed time period

7. How to find a Listserv Use Liszt http://www.Liszt.com Global Search
Send message to
Message should be as follows:
list global /topic (where you choose a topic)
Results will be ed back to you

8. Subscribing to Listserv or Mailserv
Two parts to a listserv/mailserv
Managing software (no people)
subscribe and unsubscribe to list
help (commands)
general information about list and listserv
To join a List (members of discussion group)
Send message to
no subject
subscribe

9. Communicate with members of List
To communicate with members on list
send message to
CC: yourself
Subject: (should reflect topic of communication)
Reply to members of list or individual
when reading message type REPLY
cc:cctc-list (this returns message to all on list)
If reply to only one person, place correct to: address

10. Newsgroup sources http://www.liszt.com/news/ http://www.deganews.com
Alpha system Newsgroups (information on another slide)
Newsgroup Hierarchies
(list of newsgroups)

11. Newsgroup Hierarchies
Newsgroup names usually consist of three words separated by periods (dots)
First name is newsgroup category
Left to Right is general to specific
comp.infosystems.

12. Newsgroup common categories
alt - “alternative” newsgroups
biz - business
comp - computer hardware and software
k12 - education
misc - odd topics that don’t fit anywhere else
news - information about the newsgroups
rec - sports, music, dance, games, hobbies
sci - science
soc - social and cultural topics
talk - heated discussions on controversial issues