June 17, 2005
Non-Traditional Communication Strategy Discussion
The Madison School Board's Finance & Operations Committee discussed non-traditional communication strategies at their recent Monday evening meeting. Ed Blume recorded the discussion (Quicktime Video)
Posted by James Zellmer at 12:49 AM | Comments (0)
June 13, 2005
Madison School Board Finance & Operations Committee Presentation
Johnny Winston, Jr. kindly asked me to give a brief presentation to the Madison School Board's Finance & Operations Committee on "Non-traditional Communication Strategies". Following are my thoughts:
- Don Severson, Larry Winkler and Ed Blume offered a number of comments at the beginning of the meeting. Larry posted his notes "With is not a 4 letter word". I'll post other links as soon as they are available.
- Opening Remarks:
Many of you have little doubt that people’s use of new technologies can be socially and economically transformative. Scholars have found that new tools of communication and information dissemination do these things:
- The role of experts and information gatekeepers is radically altered as empowered amateurs and dissidents find new ways to raise their voices and challenge authority.
- Attempts by those in power to censor activity and choke off new avenues of commerce inevitably bring a wider libertarian backlash and, eventually, new social and political institutions form.
- There is a struggle to revise social and legal norms, and the battles center on the concept of intellectual property.
- Cultures of identity multiply as people use the new technologies to find others who share their background or their passions or their lifestyle.
- New forms of language arise.
- New ways to pursue scientific study and new scholarly disciplines emerge as knowledge spreads much more quickly.
- Boundaries break down between the private and the public spheres of life.
- Literacy grows and new emphasis is placed on training and educating children.
- New professions emerge. Read more: PDF
- The role of experts and information gatekeepers is radically altered as empowered amateurs and dissidents find new ways to raise their voices and challenge authority.
- OODA Loops (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act). Compare the old news/information cycle to the one we're living today.
- Terms and Places:
- The Cathedral & The Bazaar
- NetNewsWire - The Best; Mac OS X Only
- Windows RSS Newsreaders
- NYU's Jay Rosen writes about traditional and emerging media.
- Wispolitics does a great job creating and aggregating state political news.
- UW Grad Dave Winer is the original blogger.
- The EFF, which we should all support, has published a "Legal Guide for Bloggers".
- Business Week: Mass collaboration on the internet is shaking up business.
- Roger Price expressed concern about the authenticity of information. One of the key differences with internet writers or bloggers is that others can link and/or comment on any post. This type of expression or fact checking is nearly impossible in traditional one way media. Roger can choose to participate in the conversation, or not. If he does not, the conversation continues, without his point of view. Jon Udell writes a timely article on this very issue: "Wikipedia and the social construction of knowledge"
- Steve Rubel: 10 Commandments for The Era of Participatory Public Relations
- Robin Sloan, Matt Thompson & Aaron McLeran created this fabulous look back at the media revolution - from 2014. It's called EPIC
Posted by James Zellmer at 10:08 PM | Comments (1)
June 11, 2005
"With" is Not a Four-Letter Word
Larry Winkler posted the following today:
The agenda of the Finance and Operations committee meeting for Monday, June 13 contains these items:
4. Communication to the Public about the Proposed 2005-06 Budget
6. Nontraditional Communication Strategies to Speak to Community Stakeholders.
Mark Twain once remarked: "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightening and the lightening bug."
For me, "communication to" and "speak to" is vastly different than "communication with" and "speak with" -- like the difference between "lightening" and "lightening bug".
I can hear the failed referenda supporters and the supporting press editorials: Just needed a little better PR.
"With" has this strong flavor of team work, working together, listening: dialog!. "To?" Well, that has been the legacy of the Administration and Board.
But, no, folks. "With" is not a four-letter word. It needs to be used, again and again, until it becomes part of the Administration's and Board's culture.
Posted by Larry Winkler 08:11 PM: Permanent Link Posted to Budget/Financing | Governance/Board Decision Making
Posted by at 3:59 AM
June 9, 2005
Letter to Mr. Johnny Winston, Jr. -
I sent the following letter to Johnny Winston, Jr., who is chairing the Finance and Operations Committee for next year.
Hi Johnny,
The web site Schoolinfosystem.org will be providing information for the community on each of the committees of the MMSD Board of Education. I know you are a regular, welcome contributor of information/ideas.
I will be attending as many meetings for the Finance and Operations Committee as possible and hopefully video taping them for community members viewing. The purpose is to provide the community and especially families with busy children an opportunity to listen and learn about the schools and the districts needs and planning as meetings frequently occur when members of the community can not attend.
We will be posting the following:
a) committee goals for coming year - I watched what you stated your goals to be on Monday night - good start.
b) calendar of meetings and dates
c) agendas and materials provided with agenda
d) video/audios of meetings we might record
e) minutes of committee meeting and notes when we are able to attend
f) links to relevant articles on issues under consideration by the committee.
As the chairperson of the Finance and Operations Committee, SIS invites you to submit goals for the upcoming year and any information you would like to submit. You may submit to me or directly or to the site, which you frequently do already. Our goal is to increase communication to the community so everyone has the opportunity to be informed. Thanks for your attention, time and commitment to our community and schools.
Barb Schrank
Posted by at 8:12 PM