[Winona Online Democracy]
...and nobody hears it, does it make a sound?"
This forum is great. Lots of important issues, informed opinions, generally
civil discussions.
However: Is there a problem with a relatively small number of citizens
having a wonderful discussion that the general public may never see? Kind of
like the committee that works long and hard to produce a great report that
ends up on a shelf?
Email is great, but it is still not universal in Winona households. It's
also a medium that requires people to turn on computers, connect to the
Internet, fire up a program, sort through messages, etc. It is not the same
as opening real mail or paging through a newspaper.
As I've discovered at the Saint Mary's U. public info office, email is not
completely replacing the printed word; in many cases it's in ADDITION to
print. By popular request, I do a newsletter that is printed on paper for
some of my audience, and available on our web site (with an email
reminder/link) for others. Despite our "paperless office" capabilities, more
paper is being used than ever before. People are printing email and web
pages.
Who are we reaching with the Winona Online forum? Who are we missing? Are
people who would normally send their opinions to newspaper letter pages
posting them here, instead, thus actually withdrawing their opinions from
broader public exposure?
Hypothetical situation: Say there is a big referendum issue such as spending
money for a new school. A vigorous, informed discussion ensues on this email
forum. Consensus is reached that a school is needed and money should be
spent. But the great debate never reaches the mass of the community, which
shows up on election day and votes down the referendum. What has been
accomplished?
My point:
If the goal is communication to the most people possible, it has to be
multi-media. What if an agreement is made with the Winona Daily News? Maybe
they could monitor the email discussion, and print selected letters every
day?
Reactions/other ideas are welcome.
Bob Conover
Associate VP / University Relations
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
700 Terrace Heights #36
Winona, MN 55987
EMAIL: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
FAX: 507-457-6967
PH: 507-457-1496
WEB: www.smumn.edu
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