i have posted some thoughts and tips about this topic on the forum at
www.vcdquality.com
for some helpfull tips on getting started on irc and newsgroups...
http://www.vcdquality.com/forum/show...&threadid=2093
and for my thoughts on peer to peer and how it compares to irc/newsgroups this may be interesting reading...
http://www.vcdquality.com/forum/show...&threadid=2831
looking for good irc networks?
irc.criten.net
irc.infatech.net
irc.undernet.net