A warm welcome from the team to the CSME and You DiaBlog! In order to maximise the value that this DiaBlog will have both to your input and our research, we think it's good idea to explain what you can expect when you contribute to the DiaBlog. We will try to keep to our commitments to you but feel free, always, to bring to our attention if we don't, or to ask further questions. First, let's answer some you might have about posting here:
WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET MY COMMENT PUBLISHED?
A fair question, even if we pose it ourselves! This DiaBlog is moderated. Moderation serves a few important purposes:
- Relevance. We want the discussion to be relevant to the issue on the page where it’s posted. And being relevant means more direct input to the research than if we go off on tangents.
- DiaBlog courtesy. As always, we need to respect not merely the people about whom there are comments but we will also show respect for the other people posting on the page. That, as much as anything else, helps to keep the discussion on point and focussed, too. It goes without saying then, that comments that disparage someone's race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation
- Brevity. We look forward to passionate debate but if you make your points as succinctly and as engaged as possible in order to keep a rich flow of ideas and inquiry going, and keep us on our toes as well.
- Fair dealing. Make your position as clearly and fairly as you can, in good faith. You are certainly entitled to your own opinion, which we seek and welcome. No one, however, is entitled to their own facts. By all means, disagree with something without being disagreeable.
If your comments can meet those four main standards, then they will likely be published.
A few more things...
Comment Length. I'm afraid we have to be somewhat strict on the length of a comment. Calling this a DiaBlog is not just a gimmick - we really do intend this to be a dialogue on labour issues in the CSME. In the course of ordinary conversation, we don't stop to make - or listen to - lengthy speeches in turn followed by another lengthy reply. As it is in real life, so must it be on this DiaBlog. There is no actual word limit but while we encourage you to think outside the box, do try to write within it.
Nonetheless, there will be times when you might relate a highly relevant yet personal story that requires you to write more. We'll play it by sight...
On occasion, however, if you write something that works better as a separate discussion article than as a comment, we won't hesitate to publish as much of it as possible.
WILL YOU CENSOR MY COMMENTS?
The short answer is no. Editing comments for relevance, courtesy and brevity does not mean that strong opinions - even ones we might disagree with - won't get published.
WHO MODERATES THIS DIABLOG?
Although we are working for the Caribbean Community Secretariat, we are not officials of CARICOM Secretariat or of any CARICOM Member State. We are team of Caribbean specialists in labour issues, social marketing and public communication. We have been hired to propose how CARICOM should go about its future communications strategy on the CSME. More information on this project may be found here. Further details about who we are and what we do may be found here.
THANK YOU!
We are indeed very grateful to everyone who contributes to the CSME and You DiaBlog. Your contribution will help this DiaBlog to be a useful tool in helping to shape future policy and strategies for how CARICOM communicates with you on the CSME.
The Right Angle Imaging Team
The web portal of the CSME Labour Market Communications Study Project
