Communication and dissemination

The communication strategy of the project is based on quantitative and qualitative research conducted by IRSOP for three stages, three years consecutively. The repetition of the research wave offers consecutive years: 2008, 2009 and 2010. Results of the first wave of research were presented to the media at a press conference in September 2008. Repeated research in 2009 and 2010 will provide a scientific understanding of the perspective of the impact, so that communication strategy can be adjusted and resized according to the comparative analysis of the development project. The strategy also uses communication channels and promotes awareness and types of speeches adapted and customized by profile audience segments which the project addresses to. If their communication and relationship with the media began in 2007, with developing the visual identity, production and distribution of raw materials for promotion and media relations.

Project process

In 2008 the priority investment in communication and information dissemination targeted RECL managers, in order to give them the tools they need to fulfill the role of local leaders and catalysts, in the year 2009 the attention turned to the communities, which were invited to identify development engines. The winning communities were promoted through a coordinated effort, as replicable models, on national television. Thus, between October to November 2008 eight meetings were held with RECL managers and mayors from EBC communities in Timisoara, Cluj, Alba Iulia, Craiova, Iasi (two meetings), Bucharest and Galati, attended by over 200 experts. These meetings were aimed at identifying and disseminating good practices and the presentation of information sources useful for PAPI managers.

It has also been developed and made available to PAPI managers, a manual for communication in order to improve their relations with citizens. By participating in these meetings, the establishment of relations was facilitated based on the feeling of belonging to the same community of all the specialists and public officials who contribute to the project. They have also been encouraged and supported to exchange best practices and other experiences.

In 2009 the attention turned to the communities, that were invited to participate in a contest (Community values) in order to identify local development engines. The jury, composed by Andrei Ciolos - former Minister of Agriculture, Gabriel Gherghescu - TVR scorer of Village Life, Dumitru Sandu - sociologist and specialist in community development, Drago Pîslaru - economist, specializing in local development, Diana Voicu - Director of the Project and Theodor EBC Frolu - communications specialist, have appointed 10 winning communities. Each of these was presented in a report of 10 minutes in which the communities had the opportunity to express their values and community development projects. Promoting on national television TVR1 these localities and their way of addressing issues generated EBC replicable models, and examples for other communities not only. Also in 2009 was updated the visual identity project.

 

Information materials. Printed materials were developed and distributed to attract attention to the importance of "knowledge based economy" and to educate the public on the benefits of ICT access facilities for personal fulfillment and professional, both on a personal level and at community level.
Some of the relevant material are:

• eaflets showing the benefit of the knowledge babsed economy (10,000 copies);

• brochures presenting the project activities (11.000 copies);

• leaflets showing the e-government (7.500 copies);

• detailed brochures and examples of e-government services (6.225 copies);

• posters promoting PAPI (3,000 copies);

• posters promoting e-government services (4.000 copies).

On the filming of the most active communities were made small films with an educational role (which the types of services and activities carried out at PAPI and other points of the local network), which aired on TVR 1.

Media releases . The project has received constant media coverage, thus allowing the public to understand a a dry and complex concept, as is the knowledge based economy. Appearances in the press have been generated by press releases issued by the project, events and meetings organized under it, or TV appearances dedicated to the project.

Articles in print:

Between July 2008 - July 2009, 225 press releases were sent to the local and central press, the events and news generated by the project at central or local level. if the press release presents information of national interest, it is filled with general project data, customized for each county (counties from communities included in the project).

 

From June 7th to August 7th, 2009, 15 articles have appeared online and in the printed media and as well as 3 radio materials covering the 10 communities that won the contest Community values, following the visits of journalists who have been directly interested in the subject.

Radio and TV appearances:

From 28th Sept. 2008 to 29th March 2009, 8 programs were broadcast at TVR ( during the programs Village Life and General Interest), as follows: a live broadcast on 28th Sept 2008 and 7 recorded shows. In three of these shows were presented interviews with the director of the project, while others are films which have portrayed the project, or reports made by TVR on topics proposed by project experts.

Also, from October 8th to November 20th, 2008, there were 9 TV and radio appearances in local media as a result of interviews during press conferences in Timisoara (Analog TV and Radio Timisoara), Alba Iulia (Antena 1 and One TV), Cluj Napoca (Radio Renaşterea) and Iaşi (Radio Hit, Radio Iasi, Tele M and TVR)

Between July 5 to August 9, 2009, was presented to TVR1 in the program Village Life, a series of 20 minutes weekly 6 shows, presenting the 10 localities of the Community Values contest winners. Each community was presented individually, in a report of 10 minutes and the sixth issue of the series was a comprehensive interview, 10 minutes, with the EBC program director.

Perspectives

In 2009, primordial expected objectives of communication efforts will be increased interaction with the eComunitate portal, increasing the absorption of structural funds and also awareness of the importance of the technical assistance program. The set of forecast activities includes online promotions and special projects, materials and information on the portal project, meetings with managers and competitions between communities.

Online promotions and special projects:

The interactive campaign will be initiated with the help of bloggers interested in ICT penetration in rural activities. The campaign will be completed in spring 2010,on the occasion of the national conference of the project

Special projects will be launched online in partnership with the media, in order to promote the concept of knowledge economy and to draw attention to the portal and its features.

Information materials:

There will be developed and distributed, an information leaflet on the services provided by RECL. There will also be made a leaflet to promote the ecomunitate portal. At the end of 2010, there will developed and produced a brochure overview of the project and its achievements.

Activities for RECL managers:

We have organized a national conference for RECL managers and local government representatives with decision-making power. The conference will review the occasion of the greatest achievements of the project and possible replication of successful activities of the project in other communities and other communities not listed in the project.

We have organized a contest of best practices that will be involved in as many of the EBC communities as possible, in order to turn in replicable models the most interesting and effective activities initiated by the RECL managers. Awarding localities will occasion RECL managers to become more credible in the community and increase chances of project sustainability after the withdrawal of funding provided by the Ministry.

Awards and prizes

The project “Knowledge based economy” achieved already, two important distinctions: The Award “ best information project ” and a medal from the European Commission, at the section “Geographic Inclusion”, at the gala projects on e-Inclusion, held in Vienna in late 2008.

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