[Winona Online Democracy]
Bob, I agree that we need all media to inform the public. Your idea of
having the local newspapers take some of the ideas expressed and summarize
them for the general public who might prefer the written word is a good one.
Online Democracy might also be the source of more substantive investigative
stories which could be done by the reporters when specific questions are
asked and no one has the answer. Comparing costs of education in other
states to Minnesota and looking at the value placed on education in our
state vs that of other states is one of the insightful pieces of information
I would like to have. Perhaps someone has a web site for me to find this on
my own???
Lee Luebbe
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Conover <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 4:38 AM
Subject: [Winona] (Winona) "If a tree falls in the woods...
>[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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