Jump to first page Democracies Online Building Civic Life on the New Frontier Presentation by Steven L. Clift [email protected] Copyright 1997

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Democracies OnlineBuilding Civic Life on the New Frontier

Presentation by Steven L. Clift [email protected] Copyright 1997 http://freenet.msp.mn.us/people/clift

This presentation is available online at:http://www.e-democracy.org/do/library/

Democracies OnlineBuilding Civic Life on the New Frontierhttp://www.e-democracy.org/doCopyright 1997, Steven Clift

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Conclusion

In their own communities, it is time for people to build “civic life” both online and off-line through the use of the information technology and networks.


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Tamara B. in Minneapolis Headlines New York Times

and Minneapolis StarTribune National Arts Newsletter Traffic Report Overdue Parking Ticket

Reminder Women’s Ice Fishing Network Personal Messages from

Family and Friends

Tale of Twin Cities 2005E-mail In-box


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Tale of Twin Cities 2005E-mail In-box

Mick S. In St.Paul St. Paul Pioneer Press

Headlines Neighborhood Press Stories Bus Arrival Time Update Parent’s School Discussion City Issues Forum Neighborhood Safety

Committee Messages Personal Messages from

Family, Friends, and Neighbors


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Local Community Use of the Internet Flips Expectations Upside Down

Expectation: The Internet is global and allows individuals to gather based on special and unique interests.

New Emphasis: The Internet is also local and helps people build community and democracy in the common interest.

We must swim upstream to grow stronger.

Tale of Twin Cities 2005E-mail In-box - Geography Matters


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Putting Pen to Paper: Electronic Democracy, Write On!

3 Actor Scenario Government Private Sector

(Media) Citizens

Who has the power?

Who sets the agenda?

2 Communication Tools Paper Pens

Unlimited Supply of Paper for All

Only Government and Private Sector have Pens and therefore ...


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… and therefore the ability to be heard, communicate, organize, set the agenda, and have power.

“Citizen-based electronic democracy” is about getting “pens” to the people.

Ability to distribute messages to groups is key, must move beyond the World Wide Warehouse.

Putting Pen to Paper: Electronic Democracy, Write On!


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Democracy Online Today

Current Democracy Online Contributions

What is missing?

Political Organizations

Private SectorGovernment

Media and Commercial

Content


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Current interests use the Internet to further their interests, they must to survive.

Where do the current interests interact online?

Where will citizens and interests within democracies interact online?

To move from one-to-many toward many-to-many communication, we need the ...

Democracy Online Today


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Democracy Online with an Interactive Public Commons

We must build them one at a time!

Democracy Online Future


Private Sector

Government


Content

CivicParticipation

Center


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Contributions to Democracy Online

Government Provide Extensive Information

Online with User-Focused Systems and Public Access Points

Make “Democracy” Information Fully Available - “Open Government”

E-mail to/from Public E-mail Information Dissemination Use Interactivity and Collaboration

Externally/Internally Regulatory Factors and Support Local - More Direct Involvement

Government


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Media and Commercial Content Provide News and Information Ensure Availability of Political and

Community News at National/Regional/Local Levels

Highlight and Cover Other Democracy Online Resources and Events - Calendars, Co-Sponsor

Provide Interactive Online Spaces, but Collaborate with Other Efforts

Fight One-Way Mentality and Pure Advertising “Eye-Ball” Focus


Content


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Private Sector Provide User Connectivity,

Increase Bandwidth, Lower Costs, and Bring More Users

Provide and Develop User Tools Provide Technical Support Embrace Open Standards Make Information Tools beyond the

WWW, like E-mail Lists, Push Channels, WWW Conferencing Available to Community Organizations, Citizen-based Online Democracy Efforts, and Individuals

Provide Funding to Civic Efforts (as should the other sectors)

Private Sector


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Political Organizations Provide Information About

Positions, Candidates, Advocacy Efforts, Involvement Opportunities

Use Tools Strategically to Further Your Cause

Involve Organization and Supporters Directly in Online Interactive Spaces

Don’t Use IT to Only Increase the Level of Political Protest Aimed at Representative Democracy

Enhance Participatory Democracy



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Citizens in the Online Commons Commit Time to Participate Use and Analyze Information Produce and Share Own

Information, Ideas, and Opinions Communicate Respectfully and

Responsibly Help Others Learn Start/Volunteer with Citizen-based

Online Democracy Efforts and Community Networks

Work with Others to Use Tools For Public Good at all Levels

CivicParticipation

Center


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Minnesota E-Democracy Building Civic Life

CivicParticipation

Centers

Minnesota E-Democracy has been building an interactive “Public Commons” since 1994.

We have learned a few lessons, we’d like share our experiences and learn from yours.

Here is how we are using the Internet to improve participation in democracy in Minnesota.


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Background Started in 1994 Mission “… to improve participation

in democracy in Minnesota through use of information networks.”

World’s first election-oriented WWW site

Non-partisan Issue Neutral Non-Profit Volunteer-based Small Board Donated Infostructure

Activities Election Efforts

1994, 1996, 1997, 1998!

MN-POLITICS E-Debates MN-FORUM Citizen Participation Media Guide Promote Interaction In-Person Events



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• World-Wide-Web is a “Pull” Medium

User decides to visit WWW site each time

Min

nes

ota

E

-Dem

ocr

acy

htt

p:/

/ww

w.e

-dem

ocr

acy.

org

Users may:

Join MN-DEMOCRACY

Join MN-POLITICS

Read MN-POLITICS Archive

Visit election year pages

Read about project

Send comments to board

Follow WWW links to candidates, political parties, media sites, other interactive sites

Questions: How do we get users to come back? How do we build an interactive community?

Something has to attract each user to our site.

Cit

izen


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Print Out for Lt. Governor

SecondaryNetworks

Around Capitol/City Hall

External Networks


Newspaper/Radio Stories

• MN-POLITICS -E-mail Lists are a “Push” Medium

Political Party

Report

erCitiz

en #

1

Governor’s Staff

Citizen #2

Candidate

Rese

arch

er

Local Official

Legislative Staff

Student

List Manager

Citizen

#400

Craz

y Per

son

400 +

MN-POLITICSE-List Server Holds AddressesMessages Sent to 400 DirectlyCopy sent to WWW Archive

Direct Receivers/Senders

User subscribes once Commitment madeMay post via e-mail


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MN-POLITICS Examples Candidates for Governor

and Tobacco Money Lawson Software Citizen Legislative Report Snow Emergencies Event Announcements Opinions Other

MN-POLITICS Facts Started in August 1994 Largest Regional Political

E-mail Forum Scope limited to MN

Politics Has Critical Mass for

Participation ~10-15 Posts Daily On WWW: http://www.e-

democracy.org/mn-politics

Mick Souder, List Manager



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MN-POLITICS Lessons Trusted Neutral Host and Facilitation Essential Emphasis on Many-to-Many Communication Geographic Base of Forum Promotes

Community Rules and Guidelines Important

Posts not previewed, rules enforced after complaint - manager/board roles

Two posts per day per person limit Must sign posts with full name

“Public Meetings” With 400 People - Sooner or later the Media and Politicians Show Up

Interface with “Real” Politics Key to Success Balancing Expectations - Opinions vs. “Juice” More ...



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MN-POLITICS Lessons - Continued Message Volume Should Be Constrained, but

Need to Avoid Topical Censorship of Opinions MN-POLITICS Provides Self-Generating Content

- Something is Always Happening E-mail is Powerful and A Very Personal Medium Need to Promote Respectful Communication Need More Online Spaces - Resource

Limitations Comments on WWW Conferencing, News Community Conferencing - Forum Naming Part of Our Larger Communications Plan - MN-

DEMOCRACY, ANNOUNCE, MN-FORUM ...



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Minnesota E-Democracy Information Plan

MN-DEMOCRACY - Major Announcements - 1300 Members

MN-POLITICS300 Members

MN-POLITICS-ANNOUNCE

Moderated Announcements

600 New Members - Estimated

Launch Fall 1997

MN-FORUMEvent Hosts

MNPAModerators

MN-FORUM - Co-Sponsored Organized Special Events on SelectedTopic/Guests Via E-mail with Use of WWW, Membership increases with each event, Launch w/ MN State Senate Virtual Hearing

Ideas

MNPA General Submissions

MN-POLITICS -DIGEST 100 Members

E-Democracy Board

Important Role

MNP Manager


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Minnesota E-DemocracyMore Information

Visit Minnesota E-Democracy on the WWW: http://www.e-democracy.org

Articles and Papers: http://www.e-democracy.org/intl/library

Join the MN-DEMOCRACY announcement-only list for updates

Follow the Democracies Online Effort: http://www.e-democracy.org/do


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Conclusion

In their own communities, it is time for people to build “civic life” both online and off-line through the use of the information technology and networks.

Contacting Steven Clift [email protected] http://freenet.msp.mn.us/people/clift


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Democracies Online

Purpose An international partnership initiative to

promote the development and sustainability of online civic participation and democracy efforts across the world.

Goal To build a strong foundation for improving

democracy as democracies around the world converge with information networks.

WWW - http://www.e-democracy.org/do


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Timeline and Support The project will officially start with its first

year of activities once foundation funding is obtained. The start up and development phase will last through the year 2000.

Host The Center for Democracy and Citizenship

at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota will house the project.

Democracies Online


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Core Activities - Getting Started Democracy Notes - Twice Monthly Electronic

Newsletter Democracies Online Newswire Service - “Best-Of”

announcements. Peer Networks - Interactive online spaces for

“builders” from important “sectors.”

Possible Activities - Future Thoughts Virtual Conferences, DO Association, Democracy

Online World Summit, Presentation surrounding ITU meeting, Foundation-Joint Fundraising Effort 2000-2020?, Funding to Seed Local Efforts

Democracies Online


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Democracies Online

Dem

ocracies Online W

WW

Sitehttp://www.e-dem

ocracy.org/do/

Newswire ServiceModerated “Best Of”

Announcements4,000 E-mail Subscribers

DO Peer Networks

Multiple Democracy Peer Sectors

From 50 to 200 Members Likely

WWW and E-mail Forums

Democracy Notes

Twice Monthly E-Newsletter

Active Networking and Information Tool

10,000 E-mail Subscribers

Strategic Information Services and NetworksThe area of each box represents the proportional range of “users.”


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Democracies Online

Democracy Notes - Subscribe Now Send an e-mail message to:

[email protected]

In the body of your message, write:

subscribe do-notes Your Name


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In the next few years we will help shape the foundation for democracy in

the interactive information age.

What should we do today to improve our democracies tomorrow?

What must we do to help them survive?


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Future Slides

The following are slides that I will develop if I have time and would be used based on questions:

1. MN-FORUM Plan

2. E-Debate Example

3. Community Conferencing Prototype

4. Global Grid for Community Conferencing

5. Making the Internet a Communities Network - Geography Matters

6. Community Digital Broadcasts

Documents

Jump to first page Democracies Online Building Civic Life on the New Frontier Presentation by Steven L. Clift [email protected] Copyright 1997