[Winona Online Democracy]
HEAR! HEAR! Bob has made a good point and a great suggestion. I hope it
is considered.
>[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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