The Last Messages Club

The Last Message Process Explained

What it can do
The Last Messages Club is a secure place for you to write and store
messages to be sent after you die.

What it can't do
The Last Messages Club cannot replace a properly drawn-up will. Documents
that you store with the Last Message Club have no legal authority.

What are the alternatives?
You could ask a lawyer to store these documents with your will or leave
them with a friend but neither of these options are really suitable. A
lawyer will normally only store documents with a Last Will and Testament
for a client they know very well and, even then, it will be inconvenient
and probably quite expensive to add, amend or delete your messages. If you
leave documents with a friend, there is always a risk that they will be
read (either deliberately or by accident) during your life. And after you
die they may simply be forgotten.

You can use The Last Messages Club to:
Let your family know where to find details of important documents, like
life insurance policies and bank account details.
Make life easier for those you leave behind.
Explain the reasons why you have divided your estate in the way you have
& the thinking behind your will.
Manage your on-line life with a digital will
Give somebody the passwords to your online accounts so that they can
close them down.

http://www.lastmessagesclub.co.uk/

Socialnomics Summary

Video compilation of Erik Qualman explaining his theory of Socialnomics(TM) along side relevant social media statistics. The book Socialnomics from Wiley Publishing will be in stores August 31, 2009... mind you... Erik has the personal appeal of a dork.

Resolution (The Torture Song)

A brand new, powerful music video from David Ippolito. (That Guitar Man from Central Park) Watch this video. Please leave your own comments. Be heard. Download this song for free at thatguitarman.

George Lessard celebrates a personal photographic milestone

GEORGE LESSARD 
is very pleased to announce
that his images on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/george-lessard/
have, as of
August 1st, 2009,
been seen
over 100,000 times.

Apologies for duplicate posts

---

GEORGE LESSARD
Information, Communications and Media Specialist
451 Norseman Dr.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
X1A 2J1, Canada

Yellowknife Land Line # (867) 873-2662
Yellowknife Cell # (867) 445-9193
SKYPE: themediamentor

Online Business Card:
http://lessardcard.notlong.com

E-mail: mediamentor@gmail.com

Home Pages: http://mediamentor.ca
My panoramic images
http://panoramas-by-george.notlong.com
My YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/mediamentor
Online Activities: http://www.web.ca/~media/index.html
Photos: http://photosbygeorge.notlong.com
Photo Illustrations: http://www.flickr.com/photos/george-lessard/sets/72157603627797568/
Etcetera:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/george-lessard/sets/459582/

My Public Bookmarks: http://del.icio.us/themediamentor

Member:
Canadian Association of Journalists http://www.caj.ca
Canadian Artists Representation / le Front des artistes canadiennes http://www.carfac.ca/
Canadian Artists Representation Copyright Collective http://www.carcc.ca/

Good Time Delta Band # 02

The Old Time Dance - Jig 'Till You Can't Jig No More... with James Rogers and the Good Time Delta Band, Monday July 13, 2009 at the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik Northwest Territories, Canada
For more on GNAF, please visit their website at http://www.gnaf.org/

Crack Spider's Bitch

Grea Northern Arts Festival

GNAF_2009
Originally uploaded by The MediaMentor

Canadian North Great Northern Arts Festival

I will be in Inuvik from July 10th to 19th.... and will present the following workshop....

Introduction to Digital Imagery and the Internet with George Lessard (Yellowknife)
Saturday July 18 1:00PM

This 4-hour workshop is designed to introduce participants to digital photography and the use of digital photographs to increase their income and protect their intellectual property rights. Participants will learn how to choose the right digital camera to buy; basic photography skills; and how to show your work online for little or no money. In the end you will have the tools to be able to buy the right camera at the right price that will be a good investment and meet the your needs; understand how to edit images for use on the internet or for print use; and how to have a presence on the internet that you can maintain yourself. $65
Visit George's website at http://mediamentor.ca

Watch for daily posting of images on my Flicker site

and videos on my YouTuble page

Canadain Newspaper "Letters" E-mail Addresses

AB Calgary Herald <letters@theherald.canwest.com>,

        AB Calgary Sun
<callet@calgarysun.com>,

        AB Edmonton
Sun <mailbag@edmsun.com>,

        AB Edmonton
Journal <letters@thejournal.canwest.com>,

        AB Grande
Prairie Herald-Tribune <letters@bowesnet.com>,

        AB Red-Deer
Advocate <editorial@reddeeradvocate.com>,

        BC Victoria
Times-Colonist <letters@tc.canwest.com>,

        BC Merrit
Herald <newsroom@merrittherald.com>,

        BC 100Mile
Free-Press <newsroom@100milefreepress.net>,

        BC Abbotsford
News <editor@abbynews.com>,

        BC Aldergrove
Star <newsroom@aldergrovestar.com>,

        BC Burnaby News
Leader <newsroom@burnabynewsleader.com>,

        BC Burnaby Now
<editorial@burnabynow.com>,

        BC Campell
River Mirror <editor@campbellrivermirror.com>,

        BC Castlegar
News <newsroom@castlegarnews.com>,

        BC Chilliwack
Progress <editor@theprogress.com>,

        BC Cloverdale
Reporter <crnews@shaw.ca>,

        BC Commox
Valley Record <editor@comoxvalleyrecord.com>,

        BC Cowichan
News Leader <nlpedit@vinewsgroup.com>,

        BC Creston
Valley Advance <advanceeditor@cyberlink.bc.ca>,

        BC Kamloops
Daily News <kamloopsnews@telus.net>,

        BC Kelowna
Capital News <edit@kelownacapnews.com>,

        BC
North-Thompson Star-Journal <news@starjournal.net>,

        BC Omineca
Free Press <newsroom@ominecaexpress.com>,

        BC Prince
George Free Press <editor@pgfreepress.com>,

        BC Quesnel
Observer <editor@quesnelobserver.com>,

        BC Salmon Arm
Observer <newsroom@saobserver.net>,

        BC Smithers
Interior News <editor@interior-news.com>,

        BC Squamish
Chief <sqchief@uniserve.com>,

        BC Terrace
Standard <newsroom@terracestandard.com>,

        BC Thompson
Times <newsroom@clearwatertimes.com>,

        BC Vancouver Province
<provletters@png.canwest.com>,

        BC Vancouver Sun <sunletters@png.canwest.com>,

        BC Vernon
Morning Star <letters@vernonmorningstar.com>,

        BC Williams
Lake Tribune <newsroom@wltribune.com>,

        Guelph Mercury
<editor@guelphmercury.com>,

        National Post
<letters@nationalpost.com>,

        NB Fredericton Daily Gleaner
<letters@dailygleaner.com>,

        NB Moncton
Times & Transcript <tteditor@timestranscript.com>,

        "NB
St.John Telegraph-Journal" <barry.ron@nbpub.com>,

        "NF
St.Johns Telegram" <letters@thetelegram.com>,

        NS Cape Breton Cape Breton Post
<letters@cbpost.com>,

        NS Halifax
Chronicle-Herald <letters@herald.ca>,

        NS Halifax
Daily-News <letterstoeditor@hfxnews.ca>,

        NWT The
Yellowknifer <editorial@nnsl.com>,

        ON Kingston
Whig-Standard <whiged@thewhig.com>,

        ON Ottawa
Citizen <letters@thecitizen.canwest.com>,

        ON Brockville
Recorder & Times <wb.raison@recorder.ca>,

        ON Toronto
Globe and Mail <letters@GlobeAndMail.ca>,

        ON Woodstock Sentinel-Review
<sentinelreview@bowesnet.com>,

        ON Ottawa
Metro <letters@metronews.ca>,

        ON Ottawa Dose
<Editorial@dose.ca>,

        ON Durham News
<newspaper@ocentral.com>,

        ON Flamborough
Review <editor@flamboroughreview.com>,

        ON Flamborough
Post <dford@haltonsearch.com>,

        ON Hamilton
Spectator <letters@thespec.com>,

        ON Hill Times
<news@hilltimes.com>,

        ON London
London FreePress <letters@lfpress.com>,

        ON Milton Canadian-Champion
<miltoned@haltonsearch.com>,

        ON Missisauga
News <thenews@mississauga.net>,

        ON
Niagara-Falls Review <editor@nfreview.com>,

        ON Oakville
Beaver <rjerred@haltonsearch.com>,

        ON Ottawa Sun
<ottsun.oped@sunmedia.ca>,

        ON
Peterborough Examiner <letters@peterboroughexaminer.com>,

        ON Sarnia
Observer <editorial@theobserver.ca>,

        ON Sault Star
<ssmstar@saultstar.com>,

        ON Sudbury
Star <editorial@thesudburystar.com>,

        ON Toronto Sun
<torsun.editor@sunmedia.ca>,

        ON Toronto Star
<lettertoed@thestar.ca>,

        ON Toronto
Guardian <etg@insidetoronto.com>,

        ON Windsor
Star <letters@thestar.canwest.com>,

        ON York
Guardian <letters@insidetoronto.com>,

        QC Montreal
Gazette <letters@thegazette.canwest.com>,

        QC Sherbrooke Record
<newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com>,

        SK Regina
Leader-Post <letters@leaderpost.canwest.com>,

        SK Saskatoon
Star-Phoenix <spnews@SP.canwest.com>,

        Whitehorse
Star <letters@whitehorsestar.com>,

        Winnipeg Free
Press <letters@freepress.mb.ca>,

        Winnipeg Sun
<editor@wpgsun.com>

Yellowknife Social Plan Discussion Paper

For Discussion

City
of Yellowknife Social Plan

What is the
Social Plan?

The
goal of the social plan is to enhance the welfare of Yellowknife
citizens. The social plan will define the City of Yellowknife’s
role in responding to social issues. The plan will:

• 
  Summarize
  key social issues and conditions.

  
  

• 
  Inventory
  services and programs by government and non-government agency
  responsibility.
  

  
  

• 
  Evaluate
  service gaps and concerns.
  

  
  

• 
  Recommend
  a process to build consensus for coordinated action to address gaps
  in social services and concerns.
  

  
  

At
minimum, the plan will consider:

-crime
and public safety -homelessness -substance abuse

-children
and youth -seniors -ethnic diversity

-process
-public education -organizational capacity

-access
to social programs/services

In
January, the City of Yellowknife contracted with Lutra Associates
Ltd., of Yellowknife, and the Social Planning and Research
Council of British Columbia to prepare the social plan.

Not Just Roads
and Sewers!

The
City of Yellowknife acknowledges that it has a responsibility for the
well-being of Yellowknifers. The City’s responsibility extends
beyond traditional services like safe water, sewage treatment, roads,
and recreation. City Hall already coordinates Yellowknife’s
Homelessness Coalition and distributes grants to community
organizations. Up until now, it has not had a social plan for
furthering community well-being.

What
role do you think the City can play to address social issues?

A
Preliminary Scan of Yellowknife’s Social
Issues.

Yellowknife
has significant housing concerns.

• 
  The
  Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition has made progress on transitional
  housing for adult men but there is a lack of emergency and
  transitional housing for women and youth.

  
  

• 
  Suitable,
  affordable housing challenges many city residents but the
  City is working on an Affordable Housing Strategy.

  
  

The
average personal income in Yellowknife is higher than the
Canadian average but,

• 
  The
  income disparities between the ‘have’ and ‘have
  nots’ are striking and food security and nutritional health
  are growing concerns.
  

  
  

Substance
abuse/addictions and the illegal drug trade
are related to other social problems.

• 
  The
  Yellowknife Wellness Coalition is tackling these issues. More active
  community policing and prevention programs
  help to curtail the drug trade and other criminal activity but these
  efforts need to be intensified and sustained. Treatment facilities
  and a day-time drop-in center for people on the street would also
  help.
  

  
  

Yellowknife
is a small city facing big city public safety issues.

• 
  Lack
  of public washrooms and public telephones, public drug and alcohol
  abuse, and poor lighting, litter, and lack of care of some public
  spaces are among the factors that create concerns about personal
  safety in public places.
  

  
  

About
one-quarter of Yellowknife’s population is Aboriginal and 10%
are members of visible minorities.

• 
  There
  are not a lot of ways to publicly celebrate and serve the needs of
  Yellowknife’s ethnically diverse population or ensure
  that all residents participate in, and contribute to the community.
  

  
  

Yellowknife
has always had a young population but the number of seniors
is growing.

• 
  There
  is no coordinated community response to the needs of children and
  youth.
  

  
  

• 
  New
  ways of operating are needed to better serve seniors.
  

  
  

Is this an accurate assessment of
social issues in Yellowknife? What perspectives or issues are
missing?

Who has
Responsibility for Social Issues?

Crime
and Public Safety

The
RCMP and the federal or territorial legal system have the main
legislative, financial, and implementation responsibilities for
addressing crime. Bylaws shape the City of Yellowknife’s
responsibilities for public safety.

Homelessness,
Social and Affordable Housing

Responsibilities
for homelessness and social and affordable housing are shared by
federal and territorial agencies. Non-government organizations (NGOs)
such as YWCA Yellowknife, the Centre for Northern Families, and the
Salvation Army, are contracted by governments to address various
housing needs. The City of Yellowknife has taken responsibility for
coordinating, supporting partnerships, and planning to address some
housing issues.

Substance
Abuse

The
GNWT through agreements with the federal government, the Yellowknife
Health and Social Services Authority, NGOs, and the Yellowknives Dene
First Nation respond to alcohol and drug counselling, prevention,
treatment, and awareness needs. The City of Yellowknife enforces
bylaws and may fund some NGOs to address substance abuse issues.

Well-being

The
main responsibility for income and food security rests with the GNWT.
Some NGOs rely on donations and fundraising to supply food,
clothing, furniture, and services to needy residents. The City of
Yellowknife through partnerships and bylaws supports residents’
well-being.

Children
and Youth

The
territorial government has the main responsibility for children and
youth in the home and school environments. No level of government has
clear responsibility for youth and children in the community. The
SideDoor Youth Centre is the only agency in the city dedicated to
serving youth and the City continues to work with the Center and
others to address youth issues.

Seniors

The
federal and territorial governments have financial, social, and
health responsibilities for seniors. The City of Yellowknife provides
grants and cost reductions. The Yellowknife Seniors’ Society is
a main source of social programming and advocacy.

Ethnic Diversity

It is federal policy to support
multiculturalism in Canada. The federal and territorial governments
provide funding to showcase multiculturalism or target services at
Aboriginal people or new Canadians. The City of Yellowknife may
assist groups through the community grant program.

What is the City’s
legislative, financial, and implementation responsibility for
addressing social issues?

Issues
Yellowknife’s Social Plan Could Consider.

Organizational
Capacity

1.
Many government agencies and NGOs lack staff and/or volunteers,
funds, and training and the demand for some services outstrips
supply.

Coordination

2.
Some planning and coordination of services happens through
coalitions. Where coalitions exist they are often challenged to
maintain momentum, leadership, and focus. Many agencies may also lack
the capacity to participate in coalitions.

Public Education

3.
Residents and newcomers have no ‘one-stop’ source for
information about social services.

Access
to Services

4.
Youth, seniors, and new Canadians may not be well served by social
programs and services designed for the general population.

Leadership

5.
There is no central ‘big picture’ social agency that
brings government, First Nations, and NGOs together to plan and
address social issues. Businesses may be an untapped source of
expertise and financial or in-kind help.

Are there
other gaps in services and concerns?

What could
the City’s role be in addressing these gaps?

Exercising
Social Responsibility.

There are many ways that the
City of Yellowknife’s bylaws, financial decisions, and policies
influence social conditions. For example, City bylaws can influence
where, how, and the type of housing that is available. Grants to
community groups can focus on particular social issues. The City can
and does appoint representatives to boards such as the Yellowknife
United Way, to influence social priorities and responses.

How can the
City best exercise its responsibility for improving social
conditions?

Participate in the City of Yellowknife Social
Plan.

Learn
more. Consider the questions in this newsletter. Tell us what you
think.

Here’s
how.

April 2, 2009 Key Agency Focus Group

City
Hall, Lower Boardroom 1:30 - 3:30pm

April 23, 2009 Community Social Plan Public
Forum

Northern
United Place 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Contact
a member of City Council or Dennis Marchiori, Director of Public
Safety at 920-5661or dmarchiori@yellowknife.ca.

1

George Lessard's Pictures and Interview on Russian TV now online

OK... I've been been here for a week now and its halfway through my assignment.. it has been sunny and warm... next week's forecast calls for snow... brrrr... but I get to meet a group of local photographers and get to have a "Russian bath" saw a great saxaphone and organ concert last week.. and have been very well taken care of..

 

I am helping a Russian photographer get the hang of using the web to publicise and sell his photos... how to use photoshop in ways he did not know about and of course chating with him about all things media and photographic in the world... to expand his knowledge... All expenses for me are paid for my http://ceso-saco.com (they are the same people who sent me to Bolivia a few years back)
.. I had two weeks holiday (of my 4 weeks for the year) that were due to me by my employer http://nnsl.com where I am the photo editor... so I asked for it off and they said OK...
So a week ago yesterday (Friday) I flew out of Yellowknife via Calgary/Frankfurt/Moscow and am now here until next Friday enjoying helping a fellow photographer learn more about his business...

---

GEORGE LESSARD
CESO-SACO  VA # 11799
http://www.ceso-saco.com
Follow my Russian trip on my Overseas Blog at
http://mediamentor-overseas.blogspot.com/

See the interview or Russian TV here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtlEjNTb3Tw

See my pictures here..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/george-lessard/sets/72157613820810814/

 

Media Training Resources

Training resources

http://www.mediahelpingmedia.org/content/section/6/234/ This training section was set up by David Brewer of Media Ideas International Ltd in order to offer ongoing help to media development clients in transition states, post-conflict countries, and areas where freedom of expression is under threat.   David had undertaken a number of contracts for media development organisations but realised that, in some cases, there were no plans to support the media organisations involved after the projects ended.   He set about writing a number of training modules so that the media organisations that couldn't afford to pay for further help could still build their own capacity to survive.   Over time, others joined in and offered existing training modules, or to write new ones. These have been added to the mix.   More are being added all the time. If you have a training module you would like to make available, please use the contact us form and let us know.   Also, because many are written on planes, in departure lounges and in hotels, they may contain typos. The only condition for using these modules is that if you spot any typos and errors you let us know, and that you credit Media Helping Media (or the author if it is a module written by a guest) with a mention and a link.   Listed below are the categories for the training modules.

Media management  ( 3 items ) This section contains a number of modules covering media management. These modules are designed to help media business manages build strong, independent and fiancially sustainable media operations. If you want to add to this section, please use the contact us form and your contribution will be considered for inclusion. Editorial ethics  ( 9 items ) This section contains a number of modules covering editorial ethics. They are offered to help media organisation ensure that they offer balanced, objective and impartial journalism that informs the public debate. If you want to add to this section, please use the contact us form and your contribution will be considered for inclusion. Journalism training  ( 22 items ) This section contains a number of modules covering various aspects of journalism. They have been drawn up over a period of years and are being continually updated and added to. If you want to add to this section, please use the contact us form and your contribution will be considered for inclusion. Investigative journalism  ( 10 items ) This section contains a number of modules covering investigative journalism. Most have been donated to Media Helping Media by internationally recognised experts in this field. If you want to add to this section, please use the contact us form and your contribution will be considered for inclusion.

Job Vacancy: Internews - Kenya: Media Coordinator

Kenya Media Coordinator Job Vacancy: Internews - Kenya
Closing date: Friday 6 March 2009

http://kenyanjobs.blogspot.com/2009/02/media-coordinator-job-vacancy-internews.html

Internews Network-Voices in Health Information access for all Media Resource Center Assistant, Internews - Kenya

Job Title: Media Coordinator
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Reports to: Media & Development Manager

Background:

Internews network, www.internews.org. is an international not-for-profit media development organization that works to improve access to information for people around the world by fostering independent media and promoting open communications policies in the public interests.

Internews programs are built on the conviction that providing people with access to vibrant, diverse news and information empowers them to participate effectively in their communities and make their voices heard.

The organization trains and mentors journalists and news managers, helps produce innovative radio' and television news programming and provides technical assistance to local journalists in countries all around the world.

For over 25 years, it has worked in 70 countries and currently has Offices in 23 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

Internews works towards building media capacity for effective and accurate reporting in issues such as democracy, governance and transparency, health, environment, humanitarian media and ICT, training over 9000 media professionals each year and since inception has worked with 4,300 radio, television and print publications around the world.

Overall Responsibilities:

The Media Coordinator will be in charge of the managing processes and operations of Internews Media Resource Centre. He/she will supervise the Media Resource Centre Assistant.

Specific Responsibilities:

    * Management of Media Resource Centre: information, databases, systems, operations, facilities and equipment
    * Management of media archives: television, radio and print stories
    * Review Media Resource Centre content which includes identification and acquisition of relevant information and resources for journalists
    * Summary writing - compilation of daily newspaper clippings on relevant issues to Internews Programs
    * Monitoring and evaluation (analysis and report writing) on the Media Resource Centre
    * Initiation of a web portal which includes design and content supply to web-based journalism enhancement tools

Desired Qualifications and Attributes:

   1. Degree in Journalism
   2. Media savvy with a minimum of four year's experience as a journalist/sub-editor in a newsroom or busy media environment
   3. Ability to analyze and interpret local, regional and international news events and research developments in relevant training areas
   4. Demonstrated skills in Internet and Microsoft Office applications: Word, Access, Excel and PowerPoint
   5. Excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skills
   6. Team-oriented and ability to work in a dynamic and culturally diverse environment
   7. Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, set priorities
   8. Ability to supervise staff


To apply for this position please send your CV and a descriptive cover letter to:- Hr.nairobi @ internews.org

ATT: Lucy Gacheru

Applications by e-mail only.

No phone-calls or canvassing allowed.

Closing date: Friday 6 March 2009

Canadian Artists Worry They Will Get Left Behind In The New Federal Budget

Canadian Artists Worry They Will Get Left Behind In The New Federal Budget
 
For immediate release
 
Press release
 
Canadian artists worry they will get left behind in the new Federal Budget
 
Ottawa, Thursday, January 29, 2009 - The Canadian Artists' Representation (CARFAC) is pleased that the federal government will invest in new cultural programs but is concerned that artists themselves, the backbone of the creative economy, will get left behind.
 
"Investing in galleries and festivals is a smart way to stimulate the creative economy and inject money into a sector that represents 3.8 % of Canada's GDP," said Gerald Beaulieu, president of CARFAC National, "But if artists are left out, there won't be anything to show in those galleries and festivals."
 
Despite encouraging investment in the arts, the federal budget does little to help individual artists, half of whom earned less than $10,000 a year, according to 2004 statistics. Artists create wealth for communities simply by living and working in a neighbourhood but virtually none of these benefits come back to artists themselves. Government investment in the arts is key for sparking urban renewal, and other spin off benefits generated by artists who can return 200% or more on investment in arts funding. If nothing is done, these artists could be forced to change careers, leaving many communities without an important economic driver.
 
An opportunity to invest in Canada's artists:
 
CARFAC, along with many other arts organizations, made several suggestions to stimulate the creative economy. The following recommendations, made by CARFAC to the Finance Committee last summer, would help government maximize return on their investment in Canadian artists:
 
Tax exemption
 
A tax exemption on copyright royalties would encourage creative production and innovation which, in turn, feeds into local economies. Artists in Quebec and Ireland already benefit from tax exemptions of up to $15,000 and €250,000 respectively. The Irish Arts Council's 2005 report Testimonials on the Artists' Tax Exemption Scheme describes that, for artists, the Scheme "represents the difference between taking on a second job and being able to concentrate entirely on their art form and on creating output of an exceptionally high standard."
 
Grants and awards
 
Similar to tax exemptions on copyright income, some artists who have demonstrated a high level of excellence are supplemented by grants that allow them opportunity to produce work. These grants and awards are currently subject to tax deductions at both the federal and provincial level. In most cases, the amounts awarded are already minimal, and any deduction makes a big difference. If grants and awards were not subject to tax deductions, it is money that would otherwise be invested back into the artist's work.
 
Income averaging
 
Artists' income levels fluctuate over months and even years, making it difficult to predict what their yearly income may be in any given year. It is hard to know how many exhibitions artists may have, how many artworks may sell in a year, or whether a commission or teaching position will open up. The traditional system of annual tax assessment is therefore inappropriate for artists for this very reason. Income averaging allows artists to average their income revenues out over a block of time, as has been implemented in Quebec.
 
Social security net
 
Self-employed artists do not have accessibility to social security programs that other professionals receive. These include such benefits as pensions, disability insurance, maternity leave, and employment insurance. The Federal Budget documents suggests artists may have access to some of these benefits in the future - which is a good first step - but does not bring them close to the same level as average Canadians. The extension of social security programs to self-employed artists is consistent with policies applied to other self-employed groups, such as fishers, taxi drivers and hairdressers, all of whom are eligible for such programs as EI.
 
CARFAC (the Canadian Artists' Representation/le Front des artists canadiens) is the national association of Canada's professional visual and media artists. CARFAC defends artists' socio-economic and legal rights through advocacy and professional development and produces a schedule of artists' fees that is widely recognized as the national standard. The Status of the Artist Act empowers CARFAC to negotiate with national organizations on behalf of all visual artists in Canada.
 
-30-
 
For more information contact:
 
April Britski
Executive Director
CARFAC National
director@carfac.ca
613-233-6161
Toll-free: 1-866-344-6161
 
For media inquiries outside business hours, call 613-255-4645 or 613-791-6411.
---

GEORGE LESSARD
Yellowknife
Member:
Canadian Artists Representation / le Front des artistes canadiennes http://www.carfac.ca/
Canadian Artists Representation Copyright Collective http://www.carcc.ca/

INTERNATIONAL RADIO FORUM 2009, Iran, 18-20 May 2009

INTERNATIONAL  RADIO   FORUM 2009, Iran, 18-20 May 2009

http://www.radioforum.ir/

In its inaugural year, the International Radio Forum brought together leading radio media practitioners, media specialists, policy makers and academics from across the Middle East and other parts of the world. Eminent speakers from all radio broadcasting industry shared their experiences and their vision for the future of this medium. Most of them underscored the need for radio to reinvent itself and reposition itself in the evolving multimedia environment.

The theme selected for the International Radio Forum 2009 responds exactly to this requirement. The era of diverse multimedia platforms being available for delivery of content is already with us. Several of these new platforms cab gainfully be used for delivery of radio programming. While this multimedia environment creates new competition for radio broadcasters, more importantly, it provides them with exciting possibilities for creating new genres of content and delivering their programming in many new ways.


As a medium of communication, radio has immediate access to mass audiences. Being a cost efficient mass medium, it lends itself best to low cost at the production end as well as at the receiving end. Together with the ease with which radio services can be received, it is not surprising that radio has found itself deeply involved in dissemination of developmental communication. Considering that in many developing countries radio may still be the only affordable medium of mass communication with access to target population, the role of radio broadcasting is to provide a powerful tool for flow of modern ideas.

Developmental communication is about human development and the quality of human life. Developmental communication is a means of binding individuals into a society by the use of shared language and aspirations, common interests and objectives. Coupled with economic growth, social dimensions like education, health and ecological considerations are important factors for development. In particular, developmental communication focuses on the disadvantaged and deprived groups.
Radio is a medium that is aptly used to encourage positive individual attitude to development and constructive social change. Radio can, in a more effective manner, carry interesting, entertaining and valuable information into the homes and lives of millions of listeners, through imaginatively conceived lessons, music, dramas and documentaries that engage listeners' emotions and thought-process towards life improvement.
Creation of content (programming) for developmental communication is a major challenge for radio programmers. An innovative approach rooted in the cultural ethos of the target audience and making use of modern metaphor and content creation tools is the key to developmental communication programming. Devising appropriate formats for developmental communication is of vital importance. What is also important is that these formats and content need to be location specific, language specific, borrowing heavily on local mannerisms, nuances and traditions.

Delivering developmental communication to audiences is one of the important roles that radio has been playing over the last one century. Across the region, many families continue to be at disadvantage on social, economic and developmental opportunities. The such medium of radio has been, and continues to be utilised to impart gainful information to such audiences designed to enable them to work towards their empowerment through awareness-generation, confidence-building, employment, economic independence, education, training, health, nutrition, welfare services and legal safeguards. Radio will have to continue to play this role in the society effectively. And for this purpose, the new delivery opportunities can be harnessed.

Public Service Broadcasters continue to play a pivotal role in broadcasting. While the PSBs may not always produce the most popular content, they do try to reach a wide and broad segment of the population. Demands to stay competitive, relevant and current mean that PSBs have to find unique new ways to attract and retain listeners. With technology playing an increasingly important role in reaching audiences, PSBs have embraced technology and used it to advantage.


This second edition of the International Radio Forum is an effort to focus on all the aspects of radio in the traditional and emerging markets in West Asia and North Africa. Given the mix of public service and commercial radio broadcasters operating in this region, the conference takes up issues which concern both the public values and the commercial world. The Forum takes place alongside the 10th International Radio Festival of Iran 18-20 May 2009) in Tehran.
 

P.O.Box : 19395-3778        Tel : (+9821) 22168048
Fax : (+9821) 22168048            E-mail :IRF@irib.ir

Understanding your legal risks when you blog or publish

*_ Media Law _*
* Understanding your legal risks when you blog or publish

Over the next few weeks I'll be posting about various topics we cover in the CMLP's Citizen Media Legal Guide.
http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-guide
If you would like to read any of the previous "highlights" from the guide, you can find them here.
http://www.citmedialaw.org/taxonomy/term/104/

* Today, I'll start with the risks associated with publishing online
http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-guide/risks-associated-publication
(for information on the legal risks associated with gathering, as opposed to
publishing, information, see the Newsgathering
http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-guide/newsgathering-and-privacy
section of the CMLP's legal
guide). Every time you publish something online, whether it's a news
article, blog post, podcast, video, or even a user comment, you open yourself up to potential legal liability. This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise because the Internet, after all, is available to anyone who wishes to connect to the network, and even the smallest blog or most obscure discussion forum has the potential to reach hundreds of millions of people throughout the world.

Often the legal risks are small, but not always. The risks you could face when you publish online can take a number of forms, depending on what and how you publish. This post and the legal guide sections it links to are not intended to make you an expert on media law, but merely to help you identify potential "red flags" so that when you publish something that might result in liability, you will know to be extra careful and will take the necessary steps to minimize your potential legal risks.

Let's start with the more obvious risks...

Source: Berkman Center for Internet and Society

US Orphan Works Bill

Why the Orphan Works Act is Uncle Sam's thieves' charter

The proposed US Orphan Works Act would dramatically shift the balance away from copyright holders, in favour of those who would like to use creative argues EPUK moderator Tony Sleep

Imagine this: anyone in the USA can use your copyright work without asking, and should you somehow find out they've robbed you, they can escape all legal liability by claiming they didn't know who they were stealing from, and then only paying you whatever they consider reasonable.

On Thursday the 'Shaun Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008' was placed before the US Senate and House of Congress. Ostensibly intended to permit the legal use of orphaned works – works whose copyright status and ownership cannot be traced – the bill will have these astounding consequences for photographers around the world.

If this Bill passes into law as it is currently written, it will potentially strip copyright control from every photograph that has not been registered with the privatised commmercial registries that the Bill proposes to create. It allows infringers the defence that any work that is unregistered with these agencies is an orphan and may be used.

Should the copyright holder subsequently find out about the usage, they must send a written notice to the user of the image who is then obliged to pay a 'reasonable' amount. In practical terms all other legal redress for infringement is removed.

Two-tier nature of US copyright law

Although the Bill provides for other means of establishing ownership that would disallow the 'orphan' defence, such as metadata, databases and context, the real problem lies in the two-tier nature of US copyright law.

At present, international copyright law is defined by the Berne convention which makes copyright purely a passive right : if you create something, you own copyright by right, without having to do anything, and it is up to would-be users of your copyright material to trace ownership and negotiate usage.

The Bentley Bill stands this principle on its head by requiring the creator to take costly and time consuming steps to obtain registration, and by limiting liability for infringement for any unregistered work that can plausibly be described as an orphan. Whilst the USA is a signatory to Berne and cannot diverge from its principles, supporters of the Bill claim that copyright remains passive, it's just that if you want the protection of legal remedies you may optionally register work.

http://www.epuk.org/Opinion/848/uncle-sams-thieves-charter

Orphan Works bill introduced in US
By John Watson // April 25th, 2008

There has been a lot of discussion and a lot of fear among photographers regarding potential orphan works legislation.

A major problem with current copyright law is that it does not provide a way to use a creative work that has been abandoned (no entity can be found to claim ownership). The premise behind an "orphan works" addition to copyright law is that it would provide a means for anyone to make use of copyrighted material that no longer has an owner.

It works by limiting damages that can be claimed if the work truly falls under orphan works protection.

http://photodoto.com/orphan-works-bill/


Oppose the Orphan Works Act of 2008

By now many of you are already informed about the proposed Orphan Works Act being introduced to the U.S. house and senate. For those unaware, this legislation, if enacted, can effectively undermine and dismantle your existing copyright protection.

Currently, copyright is granted the moment a work is created. This new Orphan Works legislation proposes a change in U.S. copyright that would (indirectly) require artists, illustrators, photographers, and any creative individual to actively maintain and defend their copyright by registering each and every work with privatized registrars. Failure to do so would leave everything you've ever created as an artist up for grabs by anyone who wanted to copy, reproduce, create derivative works of, or flat out steal your work since the act defines an "orphan work" as any work where the author is unidentifiable or unlocatable, and applies to both published and unpublished works, U.S. and foreign, regardless of age.

This is completely contradictory with international copyright standards and is ethically, logistically, and financially bonkers.

http://drawn.ca/2008/05/13/oppose-the-orphan-works-act-of-2008/

Orphan Works - Beyond the U.S.

Yesterday, I attended a lecture presented by ALAI and hosted at the Access Copyright office on orphan works. The speaker was Willem Grosheide, a professor from the Netherlands.

This was a very interesting discussion, especially in light of all the activity in the U.S. surrounding their Orphan Works legislation. Here are my notes:

http://blog.juliannayau.com/2008/05/14/orphan-works/

Photo Advocates Divided Over Orphan Works

May 08, 2008

By Daryl Lang

Updated 4:05 p.m. ET

As the orphan works copyright legislation advances through Congress, it has exposed a split among photo associations. With their ranks divided, professional photographers have lost whatever lobbying power they might have had as a unified force.

On one side is the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), and stock photography companies. After years of lobbying against the orphan works amendment, these groups are resigned to the idea that it will probably pass. Their strategy is to work with legislators to get concessions for artists added to the law.

Taking a different tack are the Advertising Photographers of America (APA), the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), and others who have lined up behind the Illustrators Partnership. They say any orphan works law will diminish their rights, and feel their voices were left out of the negotiating process. They have stirred up a vocal following with an online advocacy campaign.

Other groups have differing stances, including the Stock Artists Alliance (SAA), which urges a more tightly drafted bill, and Editorial Photographers (EP) and the American Society of Picture Professionals (ASPP), which have not announced any position.

http://www.pdn-pix.com/pdn/newswire/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003801084

How Will the Orphan Works Bill Affect Ownership of Your Art and Written Work?

by Mary Emma Allen on May 9th, 2008

QuiltingAndPatchwork.com

If a proposed law, H.R. 5889, The Orphan Works Bill of 2008 passes the U.S. House of Representatives or S. 2913, The Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008, passes the Senate, will your images, photos, artistic work and authored works be in danger of becoming public property? Apparently, the infringers just have to indicate they can't find or couldn't contact the owner and will have free use of much written and artistic work.

In a radical departure from existing copyright law and business practice, the U.S. Copyright Office has proposed that Congress grant such infringers freedom to ignore the rights of the author and use the work for any purpose, including commercial usage. In the case of visual art, the word "author" means "artist." (From Overview at Illustrators Partnership of America)

The House Bill already has passed the House Judiciary Committee.

For more information on how this affects you, the artist, photographer, painter, designer…small and home business owner, visit the Illustrators Partnership of America web site.

Another source of explanation of "Orphan Works" and the consequences to authors and artists if one of these bills becomes law is at Public Knowledge.

"Orphan Works" are copyrighted works - books, music, records, films, etc - whose owner cannot be located. (From Public Knowledge)

http://www.quiltingandpatchwork.com/2008/05/09/how-will-the-orphan-works-bill-affect-ownership-of-your-art-and-written-work/

The very basics on this legislation:

Currently under US copyright- the only legal way to use someone's work (whether you have officially filed for copyright with the US copyright office or not) is to find the copyright owner and negotiate for the use. If you can't find the copyright owner you can NOT legally use the work. If the proposed current legislation passes as it is now written, that will change. These proposed pieces of legislation will allow for someone (a person or a business) who has done a "search" (which is not clearly spelled out in the legislation at this point as to how long and what the search will need to entail) and if they can't find the copyright owner, they will be legally allowed to use or infringe the copyright (i.e. use your work). This will hold for artwork, music, family photos, films, essays, poems, etc.. You don't lose your copyright, but your work will be able to be legally infringed under these pieces of legislation if your work is deemed to be orphaned.

What has prompted this legislation you may ask? Libraries and other educational institutions have works in their collections that they would like to use the copyright for educational purposes and presently they can not find the copyright owners in question. Individuals want to be able to retouch old family photographs and they too can't find the copyright owner of the photographs (although I personally know folks who have had their family photos retouched without any problems). Documentary filmmakers are also in need to have access to images and work that they can not find the copyright owners of. These are clearly very important issues that need to be dealt with- unfortunately both pieces of legislation allows for anyone to infringe who has done a search and the proposed legislation makes no distinction from educational use v.s. commercial use. (i.e. an advertising company could use your work under this proposed legislation if they searched and could not find you).

There are other aspects of this legislation that are very troubling that are contained in both bills: 1) the pieces of legislation calls for on-line databases or what would be also called registries to be certified by the Copyright office for visual artists to register their work with. No where in the legislation does it say they are to be free of charge to artists and although the law does not mandate you to register your work with these databases/registries- it is clear that these databases/registries will be a key tool for those to use searching for the copyright owners and a way for them to justify they did a search, 2) the amount of damages that can be retrieved by the copyright owner if they "surface" and find their work was deemed and used as an orphan work when in fact it was not orphaned are very problematic and unacceptable 3) this law will essentially force musicians, writers, visual artists, and others who want to protect their creative work to officially copyright their work to protect it-this will be too costly for most individuals and small businesses. 4) and the very real problem that works will be classified as orphaned works when in fact they are not orphaned, etc..

http://www.artistsfoundation.org/orphan.html

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GEORGE LESSARD

Information, Communications & Media Specialist
6402135 Canada Inc.

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Places I've been... places I've lived...

1. Beijing, China


2. Butare, Rwanda


3. Bhubaneswar, India


4. Arviat, Nunavut, Canada


5. New Delhi, India


6. Kolkata (Calcutta), India


7. Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada


8. La Paz, Bolivia


9. Sainte-Adele, Quebec, Canada


10. Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada


11. Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada


12. Montreal, Quebec, Canada


13. Salluit, Quebec, Canada

• Create your own travel map or travel blog


• Visit TripAdvisor.com

JOB POSTING

Constituency Assistant, Permanent Full-Time Position

Location: Western Arctic MP Constituency Office, Yellowknife, NT

Duties:

• Provide administrative support in Member’s Western Arctic Constituency office

• Deal with federal constituency casework (i.e. Immigration and Citizenship, pensions, Revenue Canada)

• Act as liaison with local, provincial/territorial and national organizations and cultural groups

• Schedule meetings for Member, maintain calendar of events

• Liaise with various community organizations and federal/territorial and municipal governments

• Manage office finances

Qualifications:

• Proven verbal and written communication skills

• Strong organizational skills, ability to work under pressure in busy office setting

• Strong administrative and accounting skills

• Strong computer skills ( MS Office 2003, Windows XP)

• Knowledge of an Aboriginal language an asset

• Familiarity with Western Arctic Riding and priorities

• Aboriginal candidates are encouraged to apply

Salary per annum: $43,000

Closing date: August 3, 2007

Please send resume to bevind@parl.gc.ca

For inquiries, call Toll Free: 1 866 992 4587

NCRA/Anrec - National Campus and Community Radio Association

NCRA/Anrec - National Campus and Community Radio Association