Is it information?

This is a little lesson in making information accessible, beyond making language plain.

This little video called Information, from MAYnMAYA, makes the point that we need the facts when we need them and in a useful form.

http://vimeo.com/3248432

This handout from an investment company is sent out as an annual reminder of “information” resources.

Mackenzie Investments Investor update - Statement Insert
http://www.mackenziefinancial.com/eprise/main/MF/DocLib/Public/InvestorUpdate.pdf

I believe the recipients of this mailing immediately throw it in the garbage. The available material is overwhelming and descriptions not revealing.

There must be better ways to deliver information. I imagine a list of questions would be more helpful. The answers to the questions could direct a reader to the best document for the information they seek.

Here is a more academic article on the topic. [I liked the charts]

Knowledge Management—Emerging Perspectives
http://www.systems-thinking.org/kmgmt/kmgmt.htm

What is content strategy?

I am finding myself frustrated with the jargon arising around social media and new technologies. Some of it can be ignored; some must be learned.

Kristina Halvorson defines "content strategy" for us at her blog.

It’s a well-founded plan, fueled by your business objectives and user goals. An achievable plan, created with your current business reality, content assets, and limited resources in mind. A future plan, for what’s going to happen to your content once you send it off into the world. And, most importantly, a profitable plan, where your measures of success ultimately have impact on your organization’s bottom line.

Everybody wants plain language but the banks?

The Government of Canada's Code of Conduct for Credit and Debit Card Markets has been reviewed by PAC. PAC is a coalition representing 250,000 Canadian merchants, co-chaired by the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) and the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors (CCGD)

 

PAC's review and commentary is based on three key principles, one being:

-  The need to provide clarity - for consumers and merchants
 

Among other issues, merchants want language that can be understood: 

-  Merchants are asking for plain English language contracts, with
       clearly defined terms... 

-  Merchants are asking for full disclosure... 

-  "Fee changes" must be defined in plain language.

Democracy requires plain language

At the 2009 Conference of Plain Language Association in Sydney, we learned of an Australian (Victorian Electoral Commission) and a U.S. (http://vote.nist.gov/instructiongap.pdf) project on making voting easier and more accessible.

Today I learned of the European interest in this:
http://www.eupolitix.com/no_cache/latestnews/news-article/newsarticle/disengagement-threatens-eu/

“Communicating Europe to citizens is an effort which not only constitutes a responsibility of European institutions and member states, but also constitutes the right of citizens to be informed,” the EU justice chief Antonio Vitorino claimed. “Only informed citizens can fully participate in democracy and are able to exercise their citizenship.”

Irish Europe minister Dick Roche outlined a "basic" five point plan to reinvigorate a jaded EU citizenry.
“The introduction of plain language initiatives/anti-jargon measures; the simplification and improvement of forms; the establishment of a form audit agency; the simplification of legal texts; the development of a [EU]-wide code of administrative practice.”

And I was pleased to learn this month that my provincial government is working on this also.

Cheryl Stephens Interview 2009

 MeMeMeMe

A video interview of me at the Plain Language Association International where I discuss:

1. the democratic right to [understandable] information

2. the history of and behind the Association.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2hEDd_VHk4&feature=player_embedded