Communication Glitch

voices voices everywhere - not a line to spare

Heat the Lab up ...

Hello - Hello to all of you summer boys and girls.....

I think its time we took the Gaplab out of the fridge ,,, and get it all up and running again!

After a long break of silence and introspection, and now that the Handbook is out (http://ciceb.org/youth/), we should take this opportunity and get on with what we started!

I would like to suggest that we all read and comment on the Handbook and its content! Do we like it? Is it going to reach its goal - is it appealing to young people? Did the authors take our comments into consideration? After all, the goal of the seminar was to find the ways to make the communication between the institutions and the young people better, cooler and more direct and true! Is any of that spirit reflected in the Handbook?

Food for thought... Re-Join the Gaplab

NkkkL

Manifest Yourself ... and be creative with it

My fellow manifesteers,

the Gaplab Manifesto is already published in the Süddeutsche Zeitung in English (thanks to Max), and on the CICEB Webiste: http://ciceb.org/youth/

For the handbook, we are going to need everyone's signature at the end of the manifesto text. In that sense it will mean that you have all read and agreed upon the things that are in there. This is our mission statement. We may not be fully operationable yet, but our modest efforts will soon be rewarded (i just know they will)!

Keep spreading the word my witty globe-trotting mediawizards,,,

nikko

It is here...finally arrived...it is extra-ordinary...cool and fun as we wanted it to be....Santa Claus was very generous this year....

The GapLab Manifesto
A proposition for better communication from the Youth Media Seminar participants

Been to London? Remember the speaker’s inspired announcement, Mind the gap? That’s probably the richest phrase that anybody has ever said in an underground. Now go to Brussels. You’ll realize Mind the gap is what should be written in bold letters in each and every office of the European quarter.
We… But who are we?

We are a group of young journalists from 23 European countries. We came together to Brussels as participants in the Youth Media Seminar on Active European Citizenship. After long hours of discussions and deliberations on the communication Gap between the EU institutions and the European citizens, we decided to make the best out of our meeting in Brussels by establishing a network. It’s not an exclusive club at all – any journalist who wants to join us is welcome. We came – we saw – now it’s time to do something about it.

We aspire to put another brick - not in the Wall - on the bridge that will eventually and hopefully connect the European superstructure with the European public. We believe that the media have a key role to play in bridging the gap between a complicated Europe and its citizens. Our role is dual. First and foremost, we can communicate the views and worries of our audiences to Brussels officials and hold them accountable to their responsibilities. Secondly, we will try to bring the European effort closer to its people and make the EU locally relevant, keeping also the citizens accountable to their responsibility – being involved.

We might not be experts in institutions but we know a few things about communication. We also know a few things about the apathy and discontent that our audiences show towards the European enterprise.
We are standing on the shoulders of a giant. This giant is the European Union and we can see further if we stay critical and keep our eyes on the horizon. There is something to see.
So we suggest that you take off your coat, have a cup of coffee, and read the following.



Make it human

Most of the information coming from the EU is addressed to ‘the general public’; it’s high time that you realize there is no such thing as ‘the general public’. In all possible senses, Europe speaks many languages. If you don’t want to talk to the people, why are you surprised that they don’t want to talk to you either? Make public panels constant and relevant, not occasional and opportunistic. Remember it was ‘all about diversity’? Then go and speak to those who are different from you. Ask them what they want from you: after all, they are your employers too! Set your agenda drawing from your base, not top to bottom. Break the glass box you seem to operate in and tune into the real problems of society. Re-prioritize spending! If you truly believe culture and education can change the future of the EU, put them high on the agenda and be generous with relevant programs and initiatives.

Make it specific

Speak clearly and to the point: the goal of communication is to be understood, not to baffle the other side. Quit jargon and never use ‘Eurospeak’; forget about Lisbon strategies, structural funds, etc. Even at press conferences, imagine you’re speaking to people who don’t know about these things: you actually are. Never – never! – avoid questions: you risk turning bored journalists into angry journalists. Still, remember journalists are not there to eat you alive. Privilege criticism and respond to it constructively. Don’t feel threatened by it. Don’t panic when journalists ask questions: it’s their job; in the end, we all want to make the EU more transparent, don’t we?

Make it local

Most people find it difficult to comprehend the EU on a general level: Brussels has become an abstract entity somewhere out there. Show people what the EU is doing for them on the local level: in their country, in their town, in their neighbourhood. You can’t expect people to care about the EU unless you prove the EU cares about them; if this last bit seems obvious to you, remember it’s not necessarily obvious to everyone. Tell people about other EU countries, make them familiar with their culture, encourage mobility. Make the EU institutions accessible to the public and bring more people to Brussels: not would-be bureaucrats but ordinary people. And reduce the fortress-tight security of your glassy anthills: these are our institutions and we want to see what’s going on there!

Make it cool

Today, people are preoccupied with all sorts of information. Make sure that your information reaches them: present it in an attractive way. Issuing leaflets is not enough: make people want to read them. Address the new media while not forgetting the old ones. Put some colour in your info! Talking about colour, remember Europe is multi-colored/multi-ethnic now. EU integration is not only about new member countries, it’s also about integrating those who feel segregated. EU institutions look exclusively white. They also look exclusively boring: do something about their image, make it less formal. For a start, next time you’re going to be filmed, you might consider leaving your tie home. This is serious. If EU-topia is about cultural diversity, then why do all the bureaucrats in those glassy anthills look so forbiddingly similar? Or, to summarize: why, the hell, does it have to be so dull?

Well, it doesn’t have to be dull. It can be human. It can be specific. It can be local. It can be cool.
It’s all about personality!

"The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible". Oscar Wilde

My dear "anti-bureaucrats"

Almost two weeks after the deadline and only three colleagues have managed to dedicated some of their valuable time and write and send us some of their thoughts about our upcoming manifesto and the publication abstract. I assume the rest of you are too busy. Should we let time be an obstacle in this effort of ours? Should we treat this effort as any other bureaucrat, who is way too obsessed with his work and can not think (or live) outside their little box , would do? Or should we be a little more generous with our time and make this network happen? The answer is for you to give....

I and Angel would like to thank Marie Brynskov, Ausrine Daunoraviciute and Maria Seppala for defying time and schedules, and providing us with such constructive feedback - - well done girls!

The manifesto is still in its draft phase. Soon it will be finalised and published. You do have a few more days to send any contributions...in case you felt guilty and want to make up (LOL).

Keep Well -- Keep Blogging -- Mind (our) Gap

Nikos Koulousios

Sorry for disappearing!!!!

Hi everyone, John here!

I have to offer everyone my deepest apologies for disappearing that way..And here is the reason why.

I was sent on an assignment out of town for a week where I could not have internet access and when I got back, I found that we were hugely understaff so we were all working around the clock to make sure the paper was coming out.

Sorry about that!!

By the way, I was mean't to come to Brussels on Monday 7 November but I couldn't make it in the end. I will be in Brussels on December 5 for a seminar on AIDS and poverty in the EU, so if anyone can make it there that would be great!!

Anyway, now I'm back, hopefully we can all get round to keeping the website up to date.

All the best and keep in contact

John

Call for Proposals/Recommendations/ Ideas - Manifesto making-of

Dear All,

Our Manifesto is like this pineapple - still on its way.....

This is an official Call for proposals, ideas, comments and recommendation about the GapLab Manifesto and the Youth Media Seminar Publication. And because it is official, it has a DEADLINE (!) and that is NEXT WEDNESDAY November 2nd. It is very important that we move swiftly and get it done with input from as many of you as possible - if not all. Please keep your contribution short, from two lines to half A4 page. Email your it to both nikkokoul@gmail.com and amigov@gmail.com (Nikko and Angel), Your hard-working editors.

Let me clarify once more: There are two separate things me and Angel have to work on: one is our Manifesto, the charter of our network. The other one is our contribution to the publication of the seminar - the one with the results of the seminar that the organisers are putting together! We could use our manifesto for the publication - slightly modified to include our comments on the issues of the seminar and the seminar itself.

Email your feedback first and foremost to me and angel, and secondly, you can post them on the blog for everyone to read and react - or be inspired!

The name EU-TOPIA was suggested by a colleague on the weblog : We can use it as the name of one of our forums. I have already included it in the blog's titel.
((If anyone knows how we can divide our blog into thematic categories please share the info. We need technical support. I still can't figure out how we can open folders for pix - or separate thematic folders for forums. ))

On a different but related note, I have already registered for the: Stakeholders’ Forum on Bridging the Gap : how to bring Europe and its citizens closer together?
Co-organised by the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Commission
At the building of the European Economic and Social Committee,
Rue Belliard 99, B-1040 Brussels
On 7-8 November 2005

If anyone else is interested and can afford coming to Brussels again, please join me - It would be great if all/more people could come. For questions contact Martin Westlake.

Keep well

Mind the Gap
nikko

Food for thought!!!

Hi everyone,

Angel and Nikos have introduced the great idea of having a proposals/comments/ideas page? Great idea guys and I now leave it in your laps to come up with the first topic so we can start!!!

I have come up with the name 'Food For Thought', if anyone has any objections, post now or forever hold your peace!!!

Lets have some feedback on this guys, input is greatly needed...

Thanks everyone,

John

These are the votes of the Copenhagen jury!!!

Well everyone,

Mette has got in contact with us and she is inviting everyone of us to Copenhagen...pls make sure that my room will have a jacuzzi!!! see you in two days and make sure the limo has cable TV!!!

Hey folks,
What a great idea with this blog - I will try to look at it often and I hope some of you post more pictures as I didn't bring a camera in Brussels.
Unfortunately I didn't see the The Europian Song Contest but I hope Helena won - it's a damn good dancenumber.
A HUGE pile of work was waiting for me on friday and is still waiting so it's going to be some time before I have time to write about EU.
And by the way if any of you ever come to Denmark my door is open and I have a spare room. You are all very welcome - just phone me when you're in Copenhagen.
Mette

(Well darling, thanks so much for the invite, but I will be staying with my girlfriend's parents in Valby at Christmas but it would be great to meet up with you anyway!!, John)

As for Eurovision, justice was served - WATERLOO!!!!

By the way, pls send me a pic of you so I can use for gaplab!!

Viktoria's slideshow

Hi all,

For all those wanting to check out the pics that Viktoria took in Brussels, just go to the link below...Thank you to the lovely lady from Budapest!!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=fwhvsf0.156h86u0&Uy=-pb1aex&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=1

Keep posting people!!!