Outing Perth revisited
Fri, 10 Dec 1999, 05:08 pmGrant Malcolm7 posts in thread
Outing Perth revisited
Fri, 10 Dec 1999, 05:08 pmThree months ago i was emailed by a staff member at Minister Foss' office and asked to provide information about community theatre in western australia. The Minister was looking at setting up a page on his website called Outing Perth that would list theatre and other entertainment around town.
At that stage, an otherwise blank page on the Minister's site, advertised that the page would soon contain information about what was happening around Perth.
It was made clear to me at the time that the Minister was under no obligation to publish any information provided.
A couple of emails later, i had provided links to all the relevant information, including the ITA home page, companies database and what's on details.
I went back to the Minister's website today to see what had happened with Outing Perth.
http://www.wa.gov.au/cabinet/foss/index.html
Draw your own conclusions.
Cheers
Grant
At that stage, an otherwise blank page on the Minister's site, advertised that the page would soon contain information about what was happening around Perth.
It was made clear to me at the time that the Minister was under no obligation to publish any information provided.
A couple of emails later, i had provided links to all the relevant information, including the ITA home page, companies database and what's on details.
I went back to the Minister's website today to see what had happened with Outing Perth.
http://www.wa.gov.au/cabinet/foss/index.html
Draw your own conclusions.
Cheers
Grant
Grant MalcolmFri, 10 Dec 1999, 05:08 pm
Three months ago i was emailed by a staff member at Minister Foss' office and asked to provide information about community theatre in western australia. The Minister was looking at setting up a page on his website called Outing Perth that would list theatre and other entertainment around town.
At that stage, an otherwise blank page on the Minister's site, advertised that the page would soon contain information about what was happening around Perth.
It was made clear to me at the time that the Minister was under no obligation to publish any information provided.
A couple of emails later, i had provided links to all the relevant information, including the ITA home page, companies database and what's on details.
I went back to the Minister's website today to see what had happened with Outing Perth.
http://www.wa.gov.au/cabinet/foss/index.html
Draw your own conclusions.
Cheers
Grant
At that stage, an otherwise blank page on the Minister's site, advertised that the page would soon contain information about what was happening around Perth.
It was made clear to me at the time that the Minister was under no obligation to publish any information provided.
A couple of emails later, i had provided links to all the relevant information, including the ITA home page, companies database and what's on details.
I went back to the Minister's website today to see what had happened with Outing Perth.
http://www.wa.gov.au/cabinet/foss/index.html
Draw your own conclusions.
Cheers
Grant
Grant MalcolmFri, 10 Dec 1999, 05:18 pm
RE: Outing Perth revisited - PS
> http://www.wa.gov.au/cabinet/foss/index.html
>
> Draw your own conclusions.
If you check the three links listed on the Outing Perth page you will find:
Redboys has not been updated since October and contains no current information.
Scoop lists only two theatre shows in December.
Wesfarmers Arts Diary lists only one theatre show in December - at Effie Crump. Effies cancelled the season months ago.
The ITA website - not listed in Outing Perth - has details on 14 theatre shows in December.
Cheers
Grant
GeorgeSat, 11 Dec 1999, 09:28 am
RE: Outing Perth revisited - PS
Grant
You have highlighted the problem of extending our site to Pro & Interstate - will it be kept up to date? I am all for extension but not if it means outdated information. I think you and the ITA office staff do a wonderful job of keeping our data base up to date but can we be sure of others contributing? If we start to get an outdated data base then all your good work wil fall into disrepute.
I know how difficult it is to find the time to do the job properly.
George
You have highlighted the problem of extending our site to Pro & Interstate - will it be kept up to date? I am all for extension but not if it means outdated information. I think you and the ITA office staff do a wonderful job of keeping our data base up to date but can we be sure of others contributing? If we start to get an outdated data base then all your good work wil fall into disrepute.
I know how difficult it is to find the time to do the job properly.
George
Jeff AsselinSun, 12 Dec 1999, 12:05 pm
I wonder?
I wonder if Peter Foss has even seen his own Web Site?
Maybe the Attorneys office we're too busy celebrating the 10% payrise the politicians just conveniently recieved :) and over looked you request?
I wouldnt expect anything less coming from a Government site. Personaly I can't see anyone visiting the site for its entertaiment guide, all I see is high rolling Nite clubs being flogged and productions that are way out of my humble budget.
I have searched high and low for updated information on the local theatre scene and this is the only one, so keep up the good work! I have you book marked...
Maybe the Attorneys office we're too busy celebrating the 10% payrise the politicians just conveniently recieved :) and over looked you request?
I wouldnt expect anything less coming from a Government site. Personaly I can't see anyone visiting the site for its entertaiment guide, all I see is high rolling Nite clubs being flogged and productions that are way out of my humble budget.
I have searched high and low for updated information on the local theatre scene and this is the only one, so keep up the good work! I have you book marked...
LabrugMon, 13 Dec 1999, 09:12 am
RE: Outing Perth revisited - PS
Correct if I'm wrong Grant ;-) ---
The very good thing about the current setup for this Web Site is that most of the updating is automatic (in terms of Date Checking etc.) and that visitors are able to update information themselves. Takes a certain amount of pressure off Grant in a way.
If a majority of us are prepared to assist in keeping the site up-to-date, then there should be no reason why it should fall "out-of-date."
Jeff "Little Helper" Watkins
The very good thing about the current setup for this Web Site is that most of the updating is automatic (in terms of Date Checking etc.) and that visitors are able to update information themselves. Takes a certain amount of pressure off Grant in a way.
If a majority of us are prepared to assist in keeping the site up-to-date, then there should be no reason why it should fall "out-of-date."
Jeff "Little Helper" Watkins
LabrugMon, 13 Dec 1999, 09:18 am
Would Foss know?
Why would he ever see his Web Site? Does he even know he has one? Well, Ok yes he would, but would he know what the H#!! it all ment, and it's implications?
Doubtful. Too many people in High positions of power are still learning WHAT A COMPUTER IS! This I feel confident in saying having worked within the Computing Industry for over 9 years, and dealling with such clients.
It's already a little bit concerning when a technician is Called-Out to fix a problem, discovers that the mouse is being used upside-down and that the user is a Copmuter Network Supervisor! These are people in positions where they should know better! What does that say of the people who put them into that position?
Would he really understand what "having a Web Site" actually means? I feel that he would not, but that's just me.
Jeff "Just Being Myself" Watkins
Doubtful. Too many people in High positions of power are still learning WHAT A COMPUTER IS! This I feel confident in saying having worked within the Computing Industry for over 9 years, and dealling with such clients.
It's already a little bit concerning when a technician is Called-Out to fix a problem, discovers that the mouse is being used upside-down and that the user is a Copmuter Network Supervisor! These are people in positions where they should know better! What does that say of the people who put them into that position?
Would he really understand what "having a Web Site" actually means? I feel that he would not, but that's just me.
Jeff "Just Being Myself" Watkins
Grant MalcolmMon, 13 Dec 1999, 09:49 am
RE: Outing Perth revisited - PS
Hi Jeff
Jeff Watkins wrote:
-------------------------------
> Correct if I'm wrong Grant ;-) ---
you're right, of course. George is also correct in forseeing some potential issues here.
> The very good thing about the current setup for this Web Site is that most of the
> updating is automatic (in terms of Date Checking etc.) and that visitors are able to
> update information themselves. Takes a certain amount of pressure off Grant in a
> way.
Each page on the site is freshly built from live databases every time someone visits. Every event in the what's on database has an effective "use by" date - the end of the month in which it is being performed. When that date passes, the information is no longer displayed, but is available in the archive should anyone wish to look it up. The database only gets out of date when no fresh information is added. If the database gets out of date, the website starts displaying blank pages!
> If a majority of us are prepared to assist in keeping the site up-to-date, then there
> should be no reason why it should fall "out-of-date."
This is the vital one! There are plenty of examples of web sites where information is drawn from databases and displayed on a web page, but not very many where the community has a direct hand in adding and updating the information.
Maintaining the information is not a task entirely undertaken by either myself or anyone from the ITA office. As practically anyone can add and maintain their own information, the task for the ITA becomes more one of filling the gaps left by people not contributing their details.
With this in mind, negotiations are underway to endeavour to farm out responsibility for maintaining the details on professional productions in WA to another organisation. I don't want to pre-empt what may or may not happen, but it is a body with a strong vested interest in making the information available.
Adding other states to the website will be entirely contingent on there being an expressed need from people within the state. They will need to take responsibility for maintaining their own information. I'm anticipating that the website will default to displaying WA details. People will be able to select a preferred state. Their preference will be remembered the next time they visit.
I know that Stagewhispers magazine has been providing some listings for a few years now. I've been wondering whether they were planning to make these available on their website. Perhaps there's an opportunity for a fruitful partnership here?
Cheers
Grant
Jeff Watkins wrote:
-------------------------------
> Correct if I'm wrong Grant ;-) ---
you're right, of course. George is also correct in forseeing some potential issues here.
> The very good thing about the current setup for this Web Site is that most of the
> updating is automatic (in terms of Date Checking etc.) and that visitors are able to
> update information themselves. Takes a certain amount of pressure off Grant in a
> way.
Each page on the site is freshly built from live databases every time someone visits. Every event in the what's on database has an effective "use by" date - the end of the month in which it is being performed. When that date passes, the information is no longer displayed, but is available in the archive should anyone wish to look it up. The database only gets out of date when no fresh information is added. If the database gets out of date, the website starts displaying blank pages!
> If a majority of us are prepared to assist in keeping the site up-to-date, then there
> should be no reason why it should fall "out-of-date."
This is the vital one! There are plenty of examples of web sites where information is drawn from databases and displayed on a web page, but not very many where the community has a direct hand in adding and updating the information.
Maintaining the information is not a task entirely undertaken by either myself or anyone from the ITA office. As practically anyone can add and maintain their own information, the task for the ITA becomes more one of filling the gaps left by people not contributing their details.
With this in mind, negotiations are underway to endeavour to farm out responsibility for maintaining the details on professional productions in WA to another organisation. I don't want to pre-empt what may or may not happen, but it is a body with a strong vested interest in making the information available.
Adding other states to the website will be entirely contingent on there being an expressed need from people within the state. They will need to take responsibility for maintaining their own information. I'm anticipating that the website will default to displaying WA details. People will be able to select a preferred state. Their preference will be remembered the next time they visit.
I know that Stagewhispers magazine has been providing some listings for a few years now. I've been wondering whether they were planning to make these available on their website. Perhaps there's an opportunity for a fruitful partnership here?
Cheers
Grant