Social Norms
Social norms action with informed and engaged societies
Social Norms
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
Time to read
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 22 years ago
Last updated 2 years ago
Read so far

Small Newspapers Information Exchange (SNIE) - Commonwealth Countries

0 comments
In October 2003, the Commonwealth Press Union (CPU) launched an electronic listserve (e-forum) called the Small Newspapers Information Exchange (SNIE). Publishers and editors of small newspapers in Commonwealth countries may subscribe to this free service. "Most small newspapers are relatively young and many struggle to survive, let alone be viable businesses," according to one CPU official. "Hopefully, SNIE will be able to help them. Not only will the listers subscribed to SNIE be able to compare notes but there will also be list members from more established newspapers who will be able to offer advice, and solutions to problems."
Communication Strategies
This programme uses electronic group discussion to empower small newspapers though information and experience exchange. As of this writing, there are 160 publishers and editors subscribed to SNIE. A limit on the circulation figure of the paper has not been set; some of those editors subscribed may therefore only have a staff of 10, others many more. The moderator of the group is John Schalch, Editor-in-Chief of Capricornia Newspapers in Queensland, Australia. He is assisted by Roxanne Gibbs, Associate Managing Editor of The Nation in Barbados.

This programme relies on collaboration - both on the part of participants themselves and other media organisations. For example, the editorial board of APN News & Media and journalism academics at the Queensland Central University have agreed to support SNIE. Outside Australia, the CPU is inviting editors of small newspapers throughout the Commonwealth, as well as training consultants and university academics and lecturers, to come on board.
Development Issues
Media Development.
Key Points
The CPU has approximately 750 members in 49 countries, including newspaper groups, individual newspapers, and news agencies throughout the Commonwealth. CPU works to promote, through the press, understanding and goodwill among members of the Commonwealth, as well as to advance the freedom, interests, and welfare of the Commonwealth press and those working within it.
Partners

APN News & Media, Queensland Central University.

Sources

SNIE description on the CPU site.