Marketing and Media

Agebomb, a blog which looks at the impact of an ageing population, asks "What if users' reviews of care homes were available online?"

While the 'Patient Opinion' NHS review site is deemed a success, the much slower turnover in care home places makes for a different dynamic and it is too early to say if a new pilot will get anywhere.

For those interested in the political scene, 'Key Issues for the New Parliament 2010', produced by the House of Commons Library for MPs, is an insight into the huge range of issues that they may be concerned about, and also gives key data.

Campaigners may wish to check if there is a starting point for communicating their issues here. A chunky pdf at 8.42MB.

Third Sector magazine reports that The Impact Coalition, which promotes transparency among charities, has set up a media response unit to deal with negative media coverage of charities. Charities will be able to refer journalists to this unit, which will respond on the charity's behalf.

The sixth series of the Media Trust's Volunteer Film-making scheme is open for applications, up to 26th July. It matches professional film-makers with small charities (up to £2 million turnover) to create short promotional films at a fraction of the normal cost.

Ten Tactics for Turning Information into Action is a website from the Tactical Technology Collective provides "original and artful ways for rights advocates to capture attention and communicate a cause". There are video examples and a set of cards with tips and advice.

Highlighted by Nonprofit Online News, it is at http://www.informationactivism.org.

Calendar Check is being launched as a facility to help charities avoid planning (fundraising/volunteering) events that clash and has already got the backing of a range of prominent organisations. Registered charities are encouraged to upload event details now, before the official launch due on 12th May.

The communication regulator Ofcom is considering whether it will embark on a third round of licensing for community radio as the second round is drawing to a close.

To help it plan for a possible third phase, Ofcom has asked for (non-binding) expressions of interest from prospective applicants for community radio licences. There are a number of areas where FM frequencies are unlikely to be available, however.

Welsh umbrella body WCVA is the latest to produce material on campaigning by charities during elections, building on the updated guidance from the Charity Commission. This document gives some useful pointers on organisations other than charities in receipt of council funding, for example, and the use of facilities by political parties and more.