InfoNet System
Coverage of Adult Education in Europe
Start: October 2006

The Network of Correspondents
InfoNet Adult Education is an information agency directed in the first place at journals reporting on adult education. The main sources of information are editors of the respective journals who work as correspondents for the network, at the same time. In addition, there are further correspondents and the reports from the InfoNet office in Brussels. InfoNet has about 25 correspondents in Europe working for it.

Output
- Multilangual, structured database with reports on Adult Education
- InfoLetter in English (10 pages) 6 times a year
- InfoFlash (1 page) with summeraries of the reports of the InfoLetter

Types of Contributions and Delivery
The following types of contributions are possible:
Journalistic contributions (esp. educational policy): news items / background reports / features / interviews / commentaries
Technical/Scientific information (information from the academic community, on projects, on practical examples): brief information / best practice reports / expert reports
Reports on publications: Summaries of professional articles / book reviews
Graphic material: photos / caricatures / information graphics
The texts do not have to be written by the correspondents themselves, they can be written by other authors, too.

Extent of Delivery Depends on the Correspondent's Status
Permanent correspondents are responsible for coverage of one country / region or, where applicable, of one special field. They are obliged to submit the following contributions on an annual basis:
All in all four times per year 2 pages (a total of 8 pages per year). This total must include one article for each of the above mentioned categories (Europe / current developments / background reports), 2 book reviews and 1 summary of a professional article. The rest of the contributions may deal with any of the subjects outlined on page one.

Freelance correspondents provide InfoNet with information on the basis of their area of interest or expertise. They are bound by the same quality criteria and requirements as the permanent correspondents with their contributions. Freelance correspondents cannot submit more than 6 pages per year. Texts can only be submitted after they have been agreed to by the InfoNet editor (by e-mail).

Further providers are all those who can provide InfoNet with their texts, for instance scholars, project leaders, etc. InfoNet gives them access to the system and they can submit their texts (English only) and thus make them available to the network. Such texts will be marked accordingly in the database.

Input Method / Dealing with the database
All correspondents use the InfoNet online input mask (www.infonet-ae.net). This will make it possible to classify and structure contents unambiguously. In addition, the length of the input fields is limited and the activity of each correspondent can be monitored.

Writing for Europe
To be comprehensible for a European audience, the texts should have the following characteristics:
- An unambiguous, clear topic
- Understandable without background knowledge
- Explanations of all abbreviations, names and institutions
- Straightforward, clear style, because otherwise there could be difficulties with respect to the translation

Editorial Boards
All permanent correspondents are automatically a part of the editorial board. Freelance correspondents can become members of the editorial board by vote. The board elects a chairperson. An editorial team of five will be in charge of each issue. This task will rotate among the members of the editorial board. If possible, the editorial board will meet three times per year; one of these meetings will take place during the InfoNet conference.

Translation and Output
Correspondents can submit their texts in their native language and - if possible - in English. When they are submitted to the database, native language texts will automatically be sent to a translation service, which will translate the texts into English. The texts which are selected to be included in the newsletter (6 times per year, 10 pages) will also be translated into German and be part of the newsletter. The brief summaries of the selected texts will also serve to compile a multi-language outline. All correspondents will receive the translation of their texts to check whether it is correct and they can send their proposals for correction to the translation service. They can signal their approval of the translation in the database. If they do not do so (e.g. for reasons of time) the entry will stay visible in the database, but without the note of approval.
The main language of the network is English.

New Correspondents
New permanent correspondents can only join the network, if they cover an area which no other correspondent is working on. The decision on admission is taken by the InfoNet editor or the steering group. New freelance correspondents, too, must cover a new area / special field.

InfoNet Editor
Dr. Michael Sommer, eMail: sommer@akademie-klausenhof.de
Correspondents: See list partners/members