‘Visualizing Information for Advocacy: An Introduction to Information Design’ has been recommended by Laura’s Notebook, a voluntary sector technology blog (http://laura.popokatea.co.uk). This useful guide is “aimed at helping organisations strengthen campaigns and projects through communicating vital information with greater impact”.

Go to TacticalTech at http://tacticaltech.org/infodesign for more and the download (a chunky 6.85MB pdf, A5 format).

A short book from the Voluntary Action Media Unit is for charities wanting to find out more about how the media works, ‘Clever Communications’ has a media directory and short personal takes from media and charity professionals on a range of communications topics.

Perhaps of most relevance to small national organisations and available at no charge - email your name and address to book@vamu.org.uk

A new pan-European radio station will start broadcasting from 31st March, Euranet (from European Radio Project). While it has received EU funding, the consortium of 16 radio stations from 13 member states will be editorially independent and jointly produce half hour news shows, weekly magazines and cover major European cultural events, across a number of languages.

A major aim is to inform young citizens about the European Union. http://www.ejc.net/media_news/european_radio_network_officially_launched/.

The second edition of ‘Blog for a Cause! The Global Voices Guide to Blog Advocacy’ has been published. Nonprofit Online News says that the solid advice includes why you would use a blog for advocacy, crisis versus issue blogs, the basics that every blog needs and steps towards launch.

A largish pdf, 1.06MB, at http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/wp-content/downloads/gv_blog_advocacy2.pdf.

Virtual Press Office - how a small team with limited resources can communicate with journalists on your organisation’s innovative projects.

A new article on ICT Hub’s Knowledgebase, http://www.icthubknowledgebase.org.uk/virtualpressoffice.

Social networking sites like MySpace and FaceBook have featured prominently in discussions of online communication, but are they necessarily a good fit for your voluntary organisation?

Idealware, the American nonprofit review resource, has a good article exploring whether such sites are right for you. http://www.idealware.org/articles/should_you_social_network.php.

Volunteering England has new publications available to download, based on research undertaken by the Institute for Volunteering Research with VAMU and Media Trust.

‘An Introduction to the Media’ (2.85MB pdf) and ‘An Introduction to Marketing’ (2.87MB pdf) can be found via http://www.volunteering.org.uk/Resources/publications/

NGO TV is aiming to “become one of the most important factual channels on Sky Digital TV”, having received its Ofcom licence. It will broadcast documentaries, news and talk shows about charities and international development, hopefully from later this year, and will share some content with Community Channel.

A little more information and contact details at http://ngotvchannel.com, Third Sector news item at http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/774366/ (registration required).

Third Sector Foresight has started putting together a section on the growth of online communities, http://www.3s4.org.uk/drivers/growth-of-online-communities?context=32.

Pointing out that these present both membership challenges and opportunities for voluntary organisations, it already asks some pertinent questions, such as
- Should your role be as a facilitator of knowledge creation and sharing rather than simply sending out information?
- As many membership benefits become freely available online can you develop exclusive benefits available only to members?

A new NCVO Campaigning in Focus publication, ‘Tips on good practice in campaigning’ assesses the effectiveness of charity campaigns and provides insights under ten headings such as “Compile strong and compelling evidence” and “Stay with the issue through to resolution”.

Download from http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/ce/index.asp?id=7136

The Advisory Group on Campaigning and the Voluntary Sector met with officials from the Ministry of Justice recently with the aim of introducing an amendment to the Charities Act that would secure the right of charities to campaign. The Constitutional Renewal Draft Bill, announced in the Queens Speech, could be a suitable vehicle. See Plaza Publishing news alert at http://www.plazapublishing.co.uk/campaigners.html.

Third Sector reports that the group is looking for case studies from registered charities that have encountered difficulties caused by the current campaigning rules - http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/764820 (registration required).

CommunityNI has added a new item looking at basic standards for holding a sustainable conference, exhibition or other event, tackling water and energy consumption and waste/CO2 production.