Galvanising the Galvanising the Fourth EstateFourth Estate

The National Forum e-Petition The National Forum e-Petition sitesite

Graham YoungGraham Young

Executive DirectorExecutive Director

The National ForumThe National Forum

1717thth August, 2005 August, 2005

Why is the fourth estate Why is the fourth estate fourth?fourth?

Newest comerNewest comer In modern times the fourth has In modern times the fourth has

become firstbecome first Communities rarely form around Communities rarely form around

government consultationsgovernment consultations Communities that form around Communities that form around

politicians are called political partiespoliticians are called political parties Media organisations invariably form, Media organisations invariably form,

or form from, community.or form from, community.

What is the National ForumWhat is the National Forum

Media organisation formed to use the Media organisation formed to use the ‘net for explicitly democratic ‘net for explicitly democratic purposespurposes

Town SquareTown Square Shopping Centre of IdeasShopping Centre of Ideas Producer’s Co-opProducer’s Co-op eDemocracy projecteDemocracy project

The National ForumThe National Forum

230,000 site visits per month230,000 site visits per month 70,000 individual readers per month70,000 individual readers per month 700,000 page views per month700,000 page views per month 8,000 people on regular email lists8,000 people on regular email lists 16,000 profiles.16,000 profiles. Australian population 20 millionAustralian population 20 million

ConceptConcept

Any of us should be able to enter the Any of us should be able to enter the site and engage with, and/or act site and engage with, and/or act upon, political information as it suits upon, political information as it suits us, and to whatever level suits us.us, and to whatever level suits us.

Meeting in the middle

A problem or need Discussion/Debate Resolution of the discussion

into a proposition or series of propositions

Determination of a majority position on the proposition

Consent of the governed Action

Community

Government

StagesStages Passively consumePassively consume – entry level of – entry level of

complexitycomplexity InvestigateInvestigate – research tools and – research tools and

information should be readily available – information should be readily available – more detailed level of complexitymore detailed level of complexity

DiscussDiscuss – forums and one-to-one discussion – forums and one-to-one discussion potentially with authors, researchers, potentially with authors, researchers, legislators etc.legislators etc.

OrganiseOrganise - hook-up with others to influence - hook-up with others to influence outcomesoutcomes

InteractInteract with the institutions of democracy with the institutions of democracy

MethodMethod

Posted poll Posted poll http://http://petitions.nationalforum.com.aupetitions.nationalforum.com.au

Poll also in the form of a Poll also in the form of a parliamentary petitionparliamentary petition

Sponsored by members – Rights Sponsored by members – Rights Australia and Marise PayneAustralia and Marise Payne

Supported by articles: Supported by articles: http://http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?articlearticle=3514=3514

Method cont.Method cont.

Supported by forum debate: Supported by forum debate: 119 comments 119 comments on Georgiou article on Georgiou article alonealone

Allowed votes for (Allowed votes for (6,0516,051)and against ()and against (3939) and comments.) and comments.

Viral marketing – emails to subscription Viral marketing – emails to subscription lists, advertising script, draft emaillists, advertising script, draft email

Validated email address and created Validated email address and created profilesprofiles

Linked signatories to electoratesLinked signatories to electorates

Method cont…Method cont…

Petition tabled in SenatePetition tabled in Senate Each MHR received an email with a Each MHR received an email with a

merge file of their constituents and merge file of their constituents and their responsestheir responses

Reported back to signatoriesReported back to signatories Followed-up with signatories on Followed-up with signatories on

responsiveness of MPsresponsiveness of MPs

ResultsResults

Government compromised. Poll, Government compromised. Poll, particularly results, must have played particularly results, must have played a parta part

A related petition involving another A related petition involving another politician - Anna Burke - to follow.politician - Anna Burke - to follow.

Metric introduced as “carrot and stick” Metric introduced as “carrot and stick” to encourage MPs to respond.to encourage MPs to respond.

Sponsors and others have contact Sponsors and others have contact details and tools to continue details and tools to continue conversation.conversation.

Theoretical considerations - Theoretical considerations - MorrisettMorrisett

Widespread and effective access to decision-Widespread and effective access to decision-makersmakers

provision of relevant and timely informationprovision of relevant and timely information interaction within and between interaction within and between

institutionally, politically or geographically institutionally, politically or geographically distinct networked communitiesdistinct networked communities

access to various positions in relation to access to various positions in relation to policy issuespolicy issues

the capacity to register choices, and the capacity to register choices, and awareness of the implications of different awareness of the implications of different choiceschoices

Morrisett cont.Morrisett cont.

evidence that such deliberations evidence that such deliberations have informed actions by governing have informed actions by governing institutions or elected institutions or elected representatives in relation to those representatives in relation to those issuesissues

Theoretical Considerations - Theoretical Considerations - ColemanColeman

Aesthetics (Culture of Sobriety)Aesthetics (Culture of Sobriety) MetricsMetrics

Fourth Estate the Enfolding Fourth Estate the Enfolding EstateEstate

Internet blurs boundaries between Internet blurs boundaries between media and publicationsmedia and publications

Vast bulk of the Internet is concerned Vast bulk of the Internet is concerned with “vanity publishing”with “vanity publishing”

Communities form more readily around Communities form more readily around media than organs of government.media than organs of government.

Some part of the democratic disconnect Some part of the democratic disconnect to do with perception that politics to do with perception that politics exploits, rather than is part of, exploits, rather than is part of, community.community.