Table of Contents Previous Chapter MEMORANDUM TO CABINET

COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

Communications Analysis

1. Public Environment

The growth in telecommunication technology has created an information society. In this society access to information is of paramount importance. Public access to public information is essential.

Media coverage of the Information Highway and the Internet has steadily increased in the past year and expected to continue.

2. Target Audiences

The target audience includes: municipalities, public libraries, Public Library Association of BC, FreeNet Associations in BC, FreeNets in BC, Commercial Internet Access Providers.

3. Communications Objectives

To initiate grass root activities along the lines of Electronic Community Information Network (ECIN). Involve the public library with ECIN. To inform the target audience of the new policies regarding the ECIN.

4. Messages

Communicate the following: Government recognizes and keeps up with the ever changing social structures of the new era; importance of public access to information; diversification of the financial sources in the plan; and expenditure of tax dollars in direct benefit of the tax payer.

Communications Tactics

5. Strategic Considerations

The following opportunities are to be considered: Meetings of the Free-Nets (Vancouver and Victoria), Computer and Telecommunication shows in Vancouver, public library events.

No major impediments are foreseen at this time.

6. Interdepartmental Coordination

Ministry of Municipal Affairs has the leading role: communicating with municipalities, public libraries, and FreeNet Association of BC. Ministry of Education communicates with the schools for their participation as data provider as well as connection to the Community Information Network.

7. The Announcements

The ideal time would be as soon as possible. The format would include press conference; radio interviews in "The Early Edition", Mr. Hal Wake, CBC 690AM ---He has on-going coverage of the Internet; announcement and articles in "The Computer Paper", "The Computer Player", and "The Vancouver Compute" and Vancouver Island Advanced Technology Center's newsletter.

In the announcement day a meeting should be held with the representatives of FreeNet Association of BC, and BC Library Association, followed by the announcement. Interview with the press will follow the announcement and the above reps would make comments as well.

8. Minister's involvement

The FreeNet and Library Associations are the most suitable audience for this announcement. The primary role of the Minister would be to convene the meeting mentioned in \xa6 7 above. 

 
Foad Shodjai 
shodjai@sfu.ca
Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology (CPROST)
Simon Fraser University
Vancouver, BC, CANADA