Found that (1) neighborhood leaders' agendas and definitions of issues compared highly with those of residents, especially the most educated residents, while (2) neighborhood papers' agendas and definitions were much less related to those of residents. (PD)

This paper highlights factors that either facilitated or hampered the work of a local Safe Schools Coalition in a Rocky Mountain state in advocating adoption and implementation of their school district's policies that include sexual orientation. Non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity are needed to help stop…

A field trip and simulation exercise for a fourth-year "O"-level geography group in England are described. The activity focused on waste disposal problems at a coal plant and related local issues. (DC)

Reports the results of a survey of high school newspaper advisers that revealed a lack of newspaper coverage of issues not directly related to the school; discusses four reasons cited for narrow coverage: lack of staff motivation, lack of time and skills, administrative censorship, and previous publication by the local newspaper. (GT)

Explores the effectiveness of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) public affairs program regulation through analysis of annual reports for 75 television stations, examining amount of time for public issues programing, amount of local affairs programing, total prime time programing, and whether FCC standards are met. (CWM)

Considers how the closure and consolidation of schools are seen by cash-strapped boards of education as means to save money. Addresses the same "seven red herrings" or arguments that are repeated loudly and angrily to officials as they go through the process of public consultation. (SG)

Notes four strategies that will almost certainly result in losing a school bond election, then discusses four strategies that increase the probability of passage. (SR)

Discussion of decision making focuses on a study that was conducted to examine how policymakers at the local community level use social science information in making decisions. The use of social science information and other information sources in two communities examining health care issues is described. (Contains 18 references.) (LRW)

Describes a strategy for selecting a delivery method for electronic resources based on experiences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Considers local conditions, pricing, feature options, hardware costs, and network availability and presents a model for evaluating the decision based on dollar requirements and local issues. (Author/LRW)

Surveyed all Virginia school board chairmen and superintendents on local governance issues. Discusses both groups' perceptions of board members' orientation to their role as elected representatives, their personal attitude toward the electoral process, their assessment of interest-group involvement in district decision making, their feelings…

Contends that music teachers promote arts education on a daily basis and may want to consider writing for a local newspaper as another means for advocacy. Offers guidelines for becoming the arts news writer, such as sending in a query letter and sample articles to the newspaper, and content for the columns. (CMK)

''Coming home to eat'' [Nabhan, 2002. Coming Home to Eat: The Pleasures and Politics of Local Foods. Norton, New York] has become a clarion call among alternative food movement activists. Most food activist discourse makes a strong connection between the localization of food systems and the promotion of environmental sustainability and social…

In November 2001 the Finnish Ministry of Education published a working group report on the internationalisation strategy for higher education, and shortly after another report concentrating on the local dimensions and effects of higher education. In the era of internationalisation and globalisation, local concerns seem to be so great that the…