Transcript Communications Theme Learning

Communications Theme Learning
David Bruce, Ivan Emke,
Doug Ramsey, Derek Wilkinson
Anna Woodrow
April 2006
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Overview
• Findings
• Evidence
• Development / Communication Strategy (Forthcomings)
 A CD-ROM of various communications “how-to’s” led by Ivan Emke
 Digital videos for some findings (across all themes) led by David
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Bruce
 An overview on Communications and Capacity (Woodrow)
 Variety of traditional approaches (articles, papers, presentations)
Implications
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Use of Communication Tools
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Findings
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Evidence
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Inventories (Bruce, Woodrow)
Traditional media interviews (Woodrow, Ramsey)
Case studies (Emke, Woodrow, Ramsey)
Literature Review for Comm Theme (Romanow)
Community radio paper (Sharkey, Woodrow)
Tech-Mediated Learning Project paper (Bruce and Lyghtle)
Communication
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Presence of existing / various media tools does not mean they are used for intended purposes
Existing networks/tools constrain choices on which channels can be used for communications
The Use of the Traditional Media in the New Rural Economy. Submitted to the Canadian Journal of
Communication (Ramsey, Moss, and Gould)
Implications
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Communities must build capacity to link info / knowledge / access / power
We need to learn more about existing studies in media and comm. studies programs in other
universities
“Build it and they might not come.” The presence of technology does not ensure that it will be
used – need to argue for more training opportunities for communities
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Traditional Forms of Communication
(General)
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Findings
Community radio and TV can play an important role in filling communication gaps in
the community; people become more aware of their community and their collective
talents and abilities
 Newspapers and newsletters remain important, particularly for seniors and families
with school age children
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Evidence
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Twillingate resident survey – after Fall 2005 radio event (Emke)
Report to Senate Standing Committee on Transportation and Communications (Emke)
Key informant survey data (Woodrow, Ramsey)
Communication
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Report to Twillingate community (Emke)
Working paper for website and possible publishing in Municipal World (Emke)
Implications
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There may be a role for “communications facilitators” in communities to develop and
support these efforts
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Traditional Forms of Communication
(Radio)
• Findings
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Community radio builds sense of community, awareness, interest, skills
CR is Bureaucratic/Market rather than communal/associative relations -> capacity
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Twillingate resident survey – after Fall 2005 radio event (Emke)
Tweed radio event summary (Campbell and Emke)
CAP Project reports / analysis (non-NRE)
Community radio paper (Sharkey, Woodrow)
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Conference paper (Emke)
Working paper for website and possible publishing in Municipal World (Emke)
Notes in The Pilot (Emke)
Presentation on community cable station (Emke)
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There may be a role for “communications facilitators” in communities to develop and support community radio;
promote this as a legitimate form of community development which could be supported through job training
programs or HRSDC
More hands-on projects in NRE communities
Case study research on specific community radio projects, including both community-owned and privately-owned
stations
• Evidence
• Communication
• Implications
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Private vs Community Media
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Finding
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Local needs are not always met by private media interests (Twillingate)
Evidence
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Twillingate resident survey –Fall 2005 (Emke)
Twillingate and Tweed radio events (Emke and Campbell)
Benito newsletter project (Emke and Campbell)
MARS (Mackenzie)
Lot 16 Community Newsletter (Bruce)
Communication
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Conference paper (Emke)
Working paper for website and possible publishing (Emke)
Report to Senate Standing Committee on Transportation and Communication (Emke)
Presentation on community cable station (Emke)
Implications
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CRTC needs to support and promote community media
Need to build capacity in small communities to build their own community-owned
media tools
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Bulletin Boards
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Findings
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Types of postings are unique to certain types of locations
Geography limits access to audiences in some places
Local uses/knowledge/content dominate – small business content is most prevalent
Private business locations are key locales for BBs
No local reflections / strategic thinking on role of BBs
Evidence
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Content analysis in six communities (Woodrow and Hagens)
Communication
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Report back to each community (Woodrow)
Conference paper (Woodrow)
Insight flyer (Woodrow and Hagens)
Working paper (Woodrow and Hagens)
Implications
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Need to know more about how people who read / view BBs make use of the
information found on them
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Internet Use – Health Information
• Finding
 Older internet users use Internet more than younger users for health
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information purposes
Evidence
 Internet user survey data (Wilkinson)
• Communication
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 Working paper (Bruce)
 Insights flyer (Bruce)
Implications
 Need new content and format to attract / provide for younger users?
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Internet Use – Government
Information
• Finding
 Internet users who have self-reported higher levels of computer
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skills and who spend more time on-line are more likely to access
Gov’t information
Evidence
 Internet user survey data (Wilkinson)
• Communication
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 Working paper (Bruce)
 Insights flyer (Bruce)
Implications
 Need to build skills and interest among infrequent nternet users
 Do a survey of preferences for web-based vs other formats for gov’t
info and services
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Using New Internet Technology
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Findings
Creating on-line communities around specific development issues cannot be forced
and cannot be easily facilitated
 Barriers – technology, time, hardware, competing interests, variety of learning
modes, no prior social network contact among potential participants
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Evidence
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Tech Mediated Learning Project – surveys and transcripts (Bruce)
Communication
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Working paper (Bruce and Lyghtle)
Journal article (Hagens)
Connection with NBURC broadband research project in rural NB (Bruce)
Implications
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On-line learning in rural communities needs to support or enhance existing activities
Creation of multi-community learning networks will require prior social contact and
networks, facilitation
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Technology-facilitated Learning
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Findings
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Capacity for learning via internet is constrained by many factors
Not enough just to put the hardware in place
Other factors: Social capacity, hardware, speed of access, time constraints, busy schedules,
relative importance of learning, motivation, imagination
Evidence
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Transcripts and data from Tech-Mediated Learning project (Bruce)
Communication
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Journal article (Hagens)
Working paper (Bruce and Lyghtle)
Insight flyer (Bruce)
Conference presentation (Bruce)
Connection with NBURC broadband research project in rural NB (Bruce)
Implications
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Invest in more than just the hardware and the infrastructure, there is a need for training and
capacity development
Develop policy initiatives for government which will expand training opportunities for technology
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Learning and Innovation
• Finding
 Perception of the value of technology tools and content for learning is
constrained by motivation, time, imagination for use of the information and
technology (innovation issue)
• Evidence
 Tech Mediated Learning Project – surveys and transcripts (Bruce)
• Communication
 Working paper (Bruce and Lyghtle)
 Journal article (Hagens)
 Connection with NBURC broadband research project in rural NB (Bruce)
• Implications
 On-line learning in rural communities needs to support or enhance existing
activities
 Creation of multi-community learning networks will require prior social
contact and networks, and active facilitation
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Capacity Outcomes May Differ
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Finding
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Evidence
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Case studies of radio stns in Twillingate, Tweed, Altona, Mackenzie (Emke, Ramsey)
Communication
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Social capacity built by same comm tool (e.g. community radio) in different
communities can have different capacity outcomes
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Service Provision in the Rural Prairies: Three Case Studies of Community Resilience.
Submitted to The Journal of Rural and Community Development (Ramsey)
An academic article with the four case studies
Suggestions in the CD-ROM of communication “how-tos
Implications
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Need for further case study research
Raise the policy issue of using the radio spectrum for valuable community outcomes,
especially in under-serviced areas
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Further Analysis … and Lessons?
• Internet Users
 … and life-long learning (Bruce)
 … and small business owners (Bruce)
 … and social cohesion (Wilkinson)
• Bulletin boards
 … more detailed content analysis (Woodrow)
• Community newspapers
 … role of editors (Emke)
 … content analysis (Woodrow)
• Community newsletters
 … impacts in communities (Emke, Bruce, Ramsey)
• Community Radio
 … followup with implementation in Tweed area (Emke)
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