13 February 2009

The Great Bribe to the Canberra Times commences

| johnboy
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Jon Stanhope has proudly announced the launch of a “Community Noticeboard” to be published in the Canberra Times.

    “Mr Stanhope said the noticeboard aims to improve access to public information and strengthen the community’s ability to engage with the government.

    “The ACT Government’s new community noticeboard will improve access to government announcements and notices by consolidating this information into a single entry in the Canberra Times,” Mr Stanhope said.

    “Canberrans can use the noticeboard to find out about upcoming community events, community consultation meetings, government seminars, grants and awards.

    “We want Canberrans to know where and when to look for information in the newspaper about opportunities to engage with the government and give feedback on the issues that affect them most.

    “By providing better access to information on government announcements and notices, the noticeboard will enhance the community’s ability to engage with the government,” Mr Stanhope said.

    The noticeboard will appear in the Early General News section of the Canberra Times every Saturday.”

The cynical might view it as a combination of Government propaganda combined with a huge stick to wave over the paper should reporting cease to please in the future.

Surely this could be delivered with greater reach and lower cost by using the Canberra Connect website and a free weekly handout?

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Apparently, events.act.gov.au and Canberra Connect were also “aspirational targets”!

As evidently is basic competence in provision of government services.

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy10:19 pm 13 Feb 09

What about those of us who not only don’t buy the CT, but won’t even visit their website for free?

deye said :

Hmm it appears as though the Balloon festival has moved. It’s now in March.

It always used to be in March to co-incide with the Canberra festival. I could never work out though why Canberra Day was always celebrated a week or so after the event though.

What about those who don’t buy the CT? Or are good at ignoring ads when I read a work copy, ie not on a Saturday? (Me on both counts)

Maybe if he made those big signs that tell you about water use occasionally flash up something else….

Apparently, events.act.gov.au and Canberra Connect were also “aspirational targets”!

And what’s he mean by “strengthening the community’s ability to engage with the government”? Strengthening the government’s ability to connect with the community would be a better idea!

It is as easy as pie to synchronise information across a variety of media, so the Great Chief is obviously not serious. This, too, is an ‘aspirational target’.

Hmm it appears as though the Balloon festival has moved. It’s now in March.

hmm so http://www.events.act.gov.au is as useless as it appears then ?

jimbocool said :

I’m pretty sure that back in the Carnell days the ACT Government had a community noticeboard in the Chronicle. I seem to recall a young Jon Stanhope deriding it as government propaganda.

Wouldn’t you just love to get a hold of that quote.

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives, Jimbocool. What goes around comes around. It’s the circle of life.

By gum!

Sounds like when (former NSW premier) Neville Wran pulled all state govt ads from the SMH and put them all in the Tele in order to keep Murdoch on side.

I’m pretty sure that back in the Carnell days the ACT Government had a community noticeboard in the Chronicle. I seem to recall a young Jon Stanhope deriding it as government propaganda.

PreciousLilywhite10:16 am 13 Feb 09

“Or if they insist on paying, at least put it in the Chronicle, which goes in most letter boxes for free.”

+1

I am cynical and this is soooo boring of Stanhope. Great example of Captain Control trying to keep us all thinking inside his square…again.
They should put that money into the embarrasing Canberra Connect website and have a fabulous resource.

Surely this could be delivered with greater reach and lower cost by using the Canberra Connect website and a free weekly handout?

Or if they insist on paying, at least put it in the Chronicle, which goes in most letter boxes for free.

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