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I think public access internet sites are (should be considered as) part
of community media. Not sure if this is addressed in this report. If
anybody has time to look at it and suggest a way for us to comment,
please do. I have considered attending this conference which will be
held in Ottawa in late Nov.<br>
<br>
Marita<br>
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<th nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT" valign="BASELINE">Subject: </th>
<td>CACTUS: New Study Calls for More Coherent Approach to
Community Media in Digital Environment</td>
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<th nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT" valign="BASELINE">Date: </th>
<td>Wed, 28 Oct 2015 04:48:54 -0400</td>
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<th nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT" valign="BASELINE">From: </th>
<td>Cathy Edwards <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:cathy@timescape.ca"><cathy@timescape.ca></a></td>
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<th nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT" valign="BASELINE">To: </th>
<td>Cathy Edwards <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:cathy@timescape.ca"><cathy@timescape.ca></a></td>
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">October 28, 2015 (Ottawa) — A
coalition of media stakeholders published a draft report yesterday that
calls for further research as well as a more coherent approach to
community media in the digital envirionment. The group, calling itself
the Community Media Policy Working, is made up of community media
practitioners and academics and is supported by high-profile figures
like former Chair of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage,
Clifford Lincoln, and former Chair of the Working group on Broadcasting
Policy, Florian Sauvageau. The report entitled Community Media in the
Digital Era: Relic or Renewal, is based on an online survey and focus
groups that were conducted in August and September of this year and
which was distributed throughout community media networks. </font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">The study unearthed a pattern of
closures of community media organizations over the last decade and
observes, “The current policy approach by the CRTC to community media
is a legacy of analogue, mass media broadcasting technologies and
practices that isolated community media according to their platform of
distribution . . . A more comprehensive inquiry into digital
technologies and the community media sector that takes into account
technological convergence is long overdue.” When asked about the
continued relevance of community media in a time when most Canadians
have access to the Internet and social media, an overwhelming 96% of
respondents to the survey said that formal policies and funding are
still necessary to support community media organizations. Reasons
cited included the need for local institutions with community-elected
boards of directors that can provide editorial guidance and training in
digital media, are aware of community needs, and are answerable to
communities for the coverage and consistent local reflection they offer.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Interestingly, the report also
concludes that current policy goals for community media as articulated
by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (the
CRTC) are in alignment with what the sector wants. If there are gaps,
it's in the implementation “The challenge for the sector and for
agencies whose policies impact community media is ... not only to
update policy goals in the digital environment, but to review the
methods for achieving existing goals."</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Catherine Edwards, the spokesperson
for the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and
Stations, one of the stakeholders participating in the Working Group
commented, “The report is timely, as the CRTC begins its review of
local and community TV.” The Working Group hopes to generate specific
policy proposals over the next month, in the lead-up to the Community
Media Convergence, a conference to be held at Carleton University in
Ottawa on Nov. 22-24, at which stakeholders and researchers interested
in community media will have the opportunity to debate and finalize the
proposals.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">The report is posted on the web site
of the conference at <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.ComMediaConverge.ca/survey">www.ComMediaConverge.ca/survey</a>.
The site also hosts a forum where the public can offer comments and
feedback. </font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">CACTUS contact: (819) 456-2237.</font></div>
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