(This prototype job description of what a community media facilitator might do is based on a generic job description for a Sharing Our Future communications facilitator. It is not a document approved by the sponsors and coordinators of the Burnt Islands project. The intent is to open discussion and lead to a formal job description for a community development/media facilitator.)

1. PURPOSE:

The job description of community communications facilitator focuses on the importance in our communities of dialogue on local issues and cultural celebration. It reaffirms the inter-generational relationships which are an essential component of our way of life. It recognizes that there must be communication between rural communities, locally and throughout the Atlantic region, so we can share strategies of survival and development in the new global economy.

2. DEFINITION:

Community communications is defined as dialogue on local issues and cultural celebration. The two are intertwined. It is important to have our way of life positively mirrored so we can affirm our self identity and feel empowered to speak out on local issues and plan together for the future.

3. GOALS:

The goal of the facilitator is first to develop an interest and awareness of community communications in the local area. The second step is to work with community members, principally youth, to produce communication on community television and/or radio. The third step is to use internet technologies to communicate with groups and communities locally and throughout the Atlantic region. The fourth step is to be a contact for expatriate Newfoundlanders wanting to re establish contact with their home communities.

4. FOCUS:

The community communications facilitator is a people job; its primary focus is to motivate and liaison. It will be necessary for the facilitator to learn basic technical skills and to conduct training workshops but it is more important to be able to identify support agencies rather than take full responsibility for the technical aspects.

5. LOCAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

(A) Conduct and update monthly a community communications needs, skills and resources assessment (see attached assessment form).

(B) Help establish, maintain and coordinate regular meetings of a local community communications committee.

(C) Motivate and involve the youth of the area in community communications production.

(D) Coordinate community communications training workshops.

(E) Organize regular community television public consultations and events (see attached community television "recipe").

(F) Develop public awareness of community communications and publicize events.

(G) Co-ordinate and help produce local programming (community based videos) for community television and/or radio.

(H) If there isn't a local Community Access program Centre, support local agencies in their efforts to establish a CAP Centre.

(I) If there is a local Community Access Program Centre:

(i) Help publicize the CAP Centre.

(ii) Help organize general public and targeted interest group training on basic computer and internet use.

(iii) Promote and help organize training for the production of local web pages.

(iv) Utilize the CAP Centre for community media networking purposes including video conferencing, email and web board participation.

(J) Implement a community media sustainability program which will focus on generating income from communication activities.

6. RESPONSIBILITIES OUTSIDE THE LOCAL AREA:

(A) Network with the sponsors and district coordinator.

(B) Share ideas and experiences with other community communications facilitators in the region by email and weekly participation in the web board discussions.

(C) Share video and/or audio tapes with other community communications facilitators.

(D) Use the internet - email, web boards and video conferencing - for communication.

(E) Participate in networking with other Newfoundland communities on the internet.

(F) Help coordinate local internet television and/or radio special event broadcasts (one per year).

7. REPORTING:

(A) Verbal progress reports to meetings of the local community communications committee.

(B) Monthly written reports to the district coordinator.

(C) Weekly reports on the web board.

Link to a community media facilitator's self assessment. These documents derive from assessments developed for Communities In Schools Newfoundland.
Link to a community assessment.