of a communication network. A message sender can attach a user-selected profile to a publicly-broadcasted message. A message viewer can read the publicly-broadcasted message only if the viewer's profile matches the sender's profile attached to the message. When a sender profile and viewer profile match, a communication channel is established between the sender and viewer. The sender's and viewer's profiles are registered on an open directory to which all parties, even parties unknown to each other, have access. The open directory structure is used in creating a header file, also referred to herein as a "stamp," that is attached to messages or requests generated by the users. The selection of categories to be included in the header file is a procedure that is independent from the creation of the message. The header file can be combined dynamically at the point of sending the message by a message sender or at the point of searching messages by a message viewer. The messages may include text, graphics, audio or video. The broadcasting of the messages may occur via the Internet, radio, satellite, cable, and wired or wireless telephone networks.