UM lacks visibility
On many sites related to Ubuntu the last articles or updates on UM do date at least 2-4 years... All is into Mint, Zorin, POP!, etc.
Nothing to say about UM ? How to attract more users then ?
Silence is often the road to oblivion.
Just thinking
W
I have noticed a bit of slowdown lately, too, ever since Martin left Canonical. His focus on making UM visible on social media really made a difference.
Maybe they are not reporting on UM, because for them it is only the old one boring thing that just works... 
So nothing to be excited about or nothing to complain about...
Just saying
W
Maybe you can do more. When I read tech sites comparing those other Ubuntu based OS's I often comment how similar they all are with one exception, Ubuntu Mate has the best forum. Look at Mint, pages and pages of unanswered questions. (I am a member there too). Everyone gets an answer here, and some of the best Linux experts around ( cudos to Pavlos and Richard).
You can help too, talk Ubuntu Mate up on Linux and tech sites that allow comments.
Reply I got from It's Foss (https://itsfoss.com/) :
" Ubuntu MATE 24.04 release has also been covered. And we have some articles on MATE customization. Although, it seems like it's development is stopping. 24.04 release almost didn't happen because Wimpress is busy with other work.
Regards, Abhishek Prakash Co-Founder, It's FOSS"
W
My correspondence with them was ahead of this new article. Did I wake them up ?.... can't say and don't want to attribute myself anything.
Besides, the article refers to the lack of new 'exciting things'... which is fine by me. Personally (don't know for you guys) I am not looking for an OS on the forefront of what is new and exciting (and sometimes means problems or gets flushed). UM fully fits the need for something that just works for the standard regular computer user, for word processing, emails, other communication tools, etc (yes, for sure it can serve at doing much more as many other Ubuntu flavors) - all without being in a MS environment. The average user looking for an alt to MS doesn't want to be on the fringe of new developments or the new 'flavor' in town, is not a developer, is not a gamer, is not a 'wiz' with software or terminal 'stuff', but is in need a working tool. Period. UM fits right in.
All the frenzy articles about the 'what's new' may be informative, but may also be a distraction for those that UM may want to attract.
Just thinking
W
I think what might be needed is what they had in the old days, something like a phone tree, or a mailing list, so that
the sender would identify the topic/issue
the sender would provide the contact/target, and
mailing list recipients would all compose their own "message of persuasion" that promotes, advocates, nurtures, endorses, etc. the topic/issue in question.
But, before we follow like lemmings over a cliff, there would need to be "internal" or "community" discussion to help "clarify" and "center" the focus of the campaign, to ensure that we don't work at cross-purposes, undermining our own cause with a mixed or confused message.
What say you all ?
I'll start by throwing this out for consideration:
as a group, identify a set of topics that would be appropriate for each "venue", "platform" or "forum",
specific to each of those, invite members to offer "wisdom" or "experience" in the form of an "infographic", "presentation" or "exposé" or "discussion", such that it might engage the reader in a way that would elicit their interest in saying "Hey! I want to be part of that gang!"
Naturally, there would be a need for a vehicle for participants to get together to make all this happen. Can anyone suggest an appropriate vehicle?
We have the Media Coverage category which welcomes journalists to make their communications known, but do we have anything scanning all such channels for the timely and earliest harvest such references to make a determination as to positive/negative impact on the "UbuntuMATE brand" or community?
I don't think the "Meta Category" is appropriate for the "post-setup" marshalling and discussion, but it could be the point where we discuss how to organize ourselves to make such things happen.