🚀 go-pugleaf

The following is an announcement about a project in which some of you may
be interested.  Please feel free to contact me should you have any ideas,
suggestions or projects you think that I should know about.

Regards,
Sylvia

Please circulate.
November 14th, 1996

ATTENTION:  TO ALL VIDEAZIMUT MEMBERS, COLLEAGUES & FRIENDS

SUBJECT:  AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NICT PROJECT.


APPROPRIATING the RIGHT to COMMUNICATE:
THE NEW INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (NICT)


THE NICT KIT
The objective is to produce an introductory kit of what alternative
video/television practitioners and others working for democratic
communications should know about "Appropriating the Right To Communicate
and the New Information and Communication Technologies".  The kit will
include what people are saying, thinking and what they are doing to help
democratise communications today and how NICTs are or could be helpful in
this process.  Along with the material collected including interesting and
innovative projects, Internet communication addresses (WEB Sites,
listserves, etc.), communication resource material, the kit will also
include relevant articles from Clips, presentations from various Videazimut
seminars, copies of communication Declarations, Statements and Charters,
etc. This kit will be introductory as a follow-up phase is planned in order
to assure the continued distribution of collected material.


THE BACKGROUND
Recognising the importance of disseminating information and knowledge on
communication in the world today, Videazimut decided to initiate a project
which would help members and other practitioners make creative use of the
information and communication technologies by sharing information about
their appropriation.  The project intends to collect and circulate
experiences, reflections and proposals concerning the use of these
technologies whether they be new or old.  The experiences in the field from
all the regions of the world are being sought after in order to provide a
clearer picture of how these technologies are being used creatively, could
be used in the future and, in particular, how they are assisting you in
your work, how they are expanding popular access and how they are promoting
the right to communicate.  The material collected will be written up into
short articles and circulated internationally.  Access will be made
available in a variety of ways (diskettes, printed documents, Data Bank,
electronic media, etc.)


THE THEME
How can the New Information and Communication Technologies help civil
society gain a better social control of the means of communication and the
global communication infrastructure?  A few key questions concerning the
NICT:
-How have the New Information & Communication Technologies been used to
improve production, distribution, broadcasting for and communications
(international exchange) between alternative media practitioners?  What has
been done and, what still could be done?
-What are the experts saying about what is or will be possible and what
hasn't been tried yet?
-How should alternative organisations working in the field of
communications make use of the NICT and prepare themselves for the changes
the NICT will bring about?
-Will the NICT really help democratise communications?
-How should training be adapted to these technological advances?


THE CONTENT
We are interested in hearing about any uses of communication technologies,
new or old, implemented, planned or even imagined, whether very simple or
quite elaborate.  What is important is that these changes or modifications
have or could improve, in any manner, your effectiveness (visibility,
output and/or institutional objectives), the popular access to the means of
communication and/or help make communication more democratic.  Areas of
interest include:
-Alternative or community Television
-Computers, new software and peripherals
-Production, distribution and broadcasting equipment
-Multimedia (convergence, international networks, digitalisation)
-Women and technology
-How will/can legislative or international policies halt or open up
possibilities?
-The Information Highway



HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Write an article.
Send me the information.
or just...
Tell me about it.

To participate, you may submit one or more articles, reports, etc. in any
length and in any language.  Tell us in your own words how a technology (no
matter how insignificant) has helped you or could help you in your work.
or,
if you send me the relevant information (documents, names of contacts,
etc.) I will prepare the article or articles.


For more information about the project
or to indicate your interest in receiving this information,
contact me, as soon as possible, at the following address:

Sylvia Roy
VIDEAZIMUT
3680, rue Jeanne-Mance, bureau 430
Montreal, Quebec
Canada H2X 2K5
Telephone: (1 514) 982 6660
Fax : (1 514) 982 6122
Email: videaz@web.net

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VIDEAZIMUT
3680, rue Jeanne-Mance, bureau 430
Montreal, Quebec
Canada H2X 2K5
Telephone: (1 514) 982 6660
Fax: (1 514) 982 6122
Email: videaz@web.net
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