Letters.

I found the article "Know the Competition" in the Oct-Nov. 2002 issue of CW and the research it described very appropriate to the marketing efforts we undertake through corporate communication.

For communication departments working to make the transition from being considered "the print and PR shop" of the company to strategic partners in the company's business plan, this area is a serious challenge. Often communicators have to do a lot of digging to find out where this information is already being gathered internally, are considered "minding someone else's business" when we ask questions or find we simply have to duplicate efforts by trying to gain information that is not accessible for either reason!

I hope this article can be followed up by a hands-on article describing practical ways to bridge this gap.

LINDA NORRIS

Communications Manager

Canam Steel Corp.

Point of Rocks, Md., USA