1. Dissemination Working Group
Istat Dissemination and Information Strategy
Valerio Tiberi
Central management for the  dissemination of statistical literacy and information
Luxembourg - 10/11 November 2005

2. Multi annual dissemination strategy: official documents
A management approved document produced in 2003, which inspired the 3-year strategic plan
The Annual Editorial Plan, the operational tool for governing the new dissemination policy
The Press Release Editorial Plan, that completes the offer on the communication side

3. The Annual Editorial Plan: steps
It is the result of three months activity, coordinated by the Permanent
Editorial Committee (a task force representative of each production unit):
Formal communication to the directors of the production units to state instructions, recommendations, deadlines
Proposals are submitted in a database
Sustainability of the proposal is evaluated and eventually a bilateral negotiation step brings in final adjustments
The provisional plan is transmitted for approval to the top management (chief of department and president) to become operative
A regular monitoring of the plan realization is carried out

4. Multi - annual strategy: the most important objectives
Electronic first: publications are disseminated first on the Internet (free of charge) and afterwards on paper
Making easier to find statistical information on line: all Istat databases and warehouses, as well as most recent releases, statistical tables and pdf publications are available for free on the Istat new web site
Improving the integration of contents and meta-information: metadata should be directly linked to the relevant data
Moving from a product oriented policy to a service oriented one, extending the range of the “value added services”, as tailor made data files and anonymous micro data sets
Process innovations aim at producing integrated output databases, understood as comprehensive processes embracing editorial production, the preparation and maintenance of navigation and extraction tools and the operation of the service centre for the users

5. Istat new web site
A completely revised version of the Istat web site has been officially presented to the press and the public as a whole
The Istat web site 3 (third version) has a new graphic format (its colours reflect the so called “corporate identity”), an easier organisation of the statistical sectors and a new system of sound and sensible search facilities
A new Content Management System has been set up

6. Istat new web site Logo Main tool bar Latest news and next releases
Browsing by product
Fast access
Browsing by topic

7. Istat web site: future developments
The integration process towards a portal architecture, in line with the Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange (SDMX) system
Massive investments in metadata systems, such as SIDI, the surveys documentation system, which are expected to progressively deliver visible results on the web site by 2006
An English version of the site should be available in 2006

8. Data bases already available in English
ConIstat, economic short terms indicators
Coeweb, foreign trade statistics
Demo, social indicators
Handicap in figures
……moreover we provide an EN short version of all Istat press releases

9. Short term database: an example of extraction

10. Dissemination media beside the Internet: paper publications
Istat is decreasing the number of printed publications,
nevertheless they continue to have a role as an alternative
and well defined channel.
They should serve the following uses:
documentation and reference
one-off look-ups
analysis
statistical literacy

11. Dissemination media beside the Internet: digital off line supports
CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs will also have an intermediate and
complementary role:
giving access to the information of the paper publication in a digital processing format (txt, tsv, csv, xls) and to a bigger bulk of statistical tables
giving access to large and detailed quantities of data, e.g. Census databases or foreign trade statistics, even if they are already available on line
a “snapshot” of the databases on line, with at least part of the functionality (navigation and extraction tools) developed for the web, could facilitate the job of the service centres

12. Specific user groups: facilities
Press releases are delivered on a regular basis and addressed to media operators
Specific tools are designed for students; many different actions aimed at schools and universities
Special treatment (discounts on some tailor–made products) for the members of National Statistical System (statistical offices of public bodies)

13. Respondents
A specific section of the site is addressed to respondents: general information as well as detailed information for specific surveys are available in order to support, easing the burden

14. Respondents: The web site page for businesses and institutions