MEDIA


6.01.2016

LCC: NEWS, produced by a network of concerned citizens of northern Tasmania, has just released their first issue of the network’s newsletter – PDF ATTACHED. It is envisaged that the newsletter be an ‘occasional publication’ in its HARDcopy format. Nonetheless, the original and ongoing interactive ONline publication persists – as do linked and networked publications etc.

The LCCnetwork is a diverse group of Launcestonians – citizens, residents & ratepayers – with network affiliations growing by the day in Launceston and elsewhere. As a measure of community concern the LCCnetwork has thus far been able to muster something in excess of $20k (Cash & In-kind) towards funding its activities.

Seemingly, the all too common commentary that goes something like “you are alone in your concerns” has worn very thin within the Launceston community. Street surveys are increasingly revealing this. Interestingly, the LCCnetwork is becoming a somewhat organic network of networks.

Clearly, ‘people out there’ are looking for more effective ways to have their concerns taken into account and for local government to be truly an exemplar the “representational democracy” it claims to be. 

Indeed, Tasmania’s Local Government Act. 1993 all too often fails to meet 21st C expectations in so many ways. 

Moving on, the LCCnetwork is currently seeking CITIZENjournalists and CITIZENphotographers to enable the network to become more diverse in its community engagement and networking.

LCC: NEWS, in the release of the first issue of the network’s newsletter, is simply aiming to put in place the means for a more effective communications network.

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22.12.2015

JANUARY 2016 will see the launch of a Launceston focused newsletter cum information sheet – THE LAUNCESTON CONCERNED CITIZENS NEWS.

The initiative comes as various community members, across a diverse demographic, collectively, are finding it increasingly difficult to engage with a meaningful community discourse relevant to local issues – and on their own terms.

Primarily
LLC: NEWS will appear online as an ongoing BLOGsite – http://tcc63.blogspot.com.au/. However the LLC: NEWS network members are well aware that despite the effectiveness of social media an ‘occasional hardcopy newsletter/journal’ will need to be produced as needed.
It is anticipated that these newsletters will be available at LINC’s local libraries, and other key points, in the Launceston municipality for copying and network word-of-mouth distribution to complement social media postings etc.

In addition, entries placed on LLC: NEWS will distributed to the ‘Print Press’, the ‘Electronic Press’ and appropriate online publications Local State & Federal.

LLC: NEWS springs from the TASMANIAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE (a Launceston chapter), an informal network of concerned citizens and residents auspiced by, but distinct from, various community groups – Tasmanian  Ratepayers’ Assoc inc., Heritage Protection Society (Tas)Inc. Residents Action Network (Tas), My Community (Tas) et al.

In the context of the increasing community ‘debates’ to do with “council amalgamations”, initially the network’s overarching and long term purpose is to achieve the reimagination (repeal?) of the Tasmanian Local Government Act 1993 in order to achieve greater efficiency and more effective outcomes in local governance and community development.

In the short to medium term there are local ‘policy issues’ in regard to which the wider community is increasingly becoming more and more disconnected and less and less able to engage with their representatives. Consequently they are becoming more and more socially isolated.

Indeed, at times it appears that various demographics in communities  are being insulated from meaningful consultation and the participation decision making processes.

All this is compounded by incidents where community members are told by ‘the press’ that “ they no longer have anything to offer” (paraphrased) or that “you are actually a nobody”, or that “you cannot possibly understand this or that unless X, Y or Z” or that “you will need find somebody with the time to help you”  etc. etc. The discrimination comes in all guises – ageism, rankism, racism, sexism plus every other ‘ism’ imaginable.

Likewise, journalists, council officers, aldermen, et al are increasingly failing to respond to emails or phone calls and when they do they are either unable or unwilling to discuss policy issues for multiple reasons – typically characterising a concern as an ‘operational matter’ for the sake of administrative convenience.

Not to put too fine a point upon it, the time has come to ACT instead of continually searching for socially acceptable expletives to describe the disregard in which individuals and communities are held by ’civic functionaries’ and all too often by ‘our representatives’ cum governors as well.
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REFERENCES


4 comments:

  1. This is a great idea. I am concerned on your delivery style of content to the public. Your delivery of the information you are trying to get out is too complicated. The varying fonts and annotations are confusing. Please can you simplify so more of Launceston are attracted to reading it. Please please please! Look at the Art work I am concerned you are frightening people off instead of encouraging them to read on, understand and participate. Krista Preece.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Krista ... It seems that you have missed the point here. LCC NEWS is a 'facilitated' network of networks and it is unsurprisingly a 'collage' of styles.

      It is much easier to say what LCC is NOT.
      •First of all it is NOT a newspaper … its NOT The Examiner;
      • Its NOT edited for style or even grammar or content;
      • It does NOT understand the phrase "the proper way”;
      • It does NOT insist that contributors write in 'one voice' or the 'house style;
      • It does NOT change what people say UNLESS it is defamatory and then the contribution is removed;
      • Its NOT based on any particular ideology except perhaps one to do with inclusion and the freedom of expression … and in any language;
      • Its NOT funded by anybody and is thus it’s not beholden to anyone, any political group, any organisation.

      So with that longish list there comes another quite short list of what it CAN BE.

      Keeping the NOTS in mind, anyone is free to contribute anything at any time. So, to all the readers out there … feel FREE to contribute!

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    2. In my opinion your response above has demonstrated my point. I understand what LCC News is and I hope that more people will become aware and take the time to read it. The trouble is I would like people to read it.

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    3. We are glad that that has been made clear for you. We simply ask that you take part and contribute what you think people will want to read.

      It's an open forum and your contribution will be welcomed along with the readers you no doubt will bring with you. Hey that is how social media works ....

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