During the 1980s the province's journalism program, working closely with
industry, developed an "incubator concept" of learning. Students managed and
produced a provincial newspaper (sent to all high schools); weekly cable
television programs, and a weekly radio program (distributed on mainstream
media - they later got their own AM station).

In 1986/87 the operating (not capital) budget was $2,000 - the same year
the students raised more than $20,000 for their "business" by selling
advertising; selling videos of their programming; charging for
videotaping, and facilitating workshops.

The same concept can be adapted in community media programming.
The practice of charging local people for messages and photos on the
community channel and media bingo is a start.

But only so much money can be raised locally. The strategy, I think,
should be to tap into the market of expatriates.

The key here is webcasting of local programs and the daily maintenance
of an interactive website. A shopping online component would also be
useful.

Marketing could also be extended from the products of community media
(videotapes, newsletters, desktop publishing products such as "cards",
and CDs) to local cottage industries.

Remittances - money sent back home by people working or living away, forms
the largest source of income - even outstripping tourism - in some developing
countries.

We were told, in conversation at the Global Community Networking Congress
in 2001, that around the world more money is sent home in remittances
than governments' "foreign aid".

Certainly in southwestern Newfoundland, money sent from away - whether
from
workers on Great Lakes boats; Lunenburg scallop draggers, or canning
factories in PEI - has been happening for generations.

In 1996 Ramea Island had a new school but they needed computers - the
community owns its own cable station so they decided on a Valentine's
Day telethon to raise money. They also distributed Christmas card
inserts which were sent out all over the continent. And, following the
event, they collected a lot of money from across Canada and the US.

(Note: In 1996 people living off the island couldn't view/listen to the
telethon, but now, with webcasting, they could.

My proposal is simply to consider the implications of the remittance
economy and how we can evolve the concept to develop an economy serving
the needs of "homesick" expatriates.

The vehicle is community media utilizing internet technologies.

Workshop # 1 - Marketing

Workshop # 2 - Interactive websites

Workshop # 3 - Webcasting