This document discusses how online tools can support democracy and civic participation. It provides examples of how social media and the internet have been used in Brighton & Hove to raise awareness, share ideas, and give voice to communities on issues. While many now use these tools, there are still groups who are offline, such as some elderly, unemployed, and low-income individuals. The document encourages listeners to start by observing online conversations, then to begin participating through blogging, social media, and providing feedback to local governments.
2. About Me
• Founder of SCIP, 1995
• IT Services
• Training
• Web Design
• Databases
• Community projects:
– Raise awareness
– Build new ideas
– Share learning
3. About This Session
• Are you following your MP on Facebook? Do you
remember how young Iranians used Twitter to tell the
world what was happening during last year’s presidential
elections?
• Online tools are becoming more and more important in
supporting people’s participation in public life,
strengthening communities and building democracy
• We will discuss how you can use these tools to influence
and get your voice heard.
4. Some Questions
Has the internet helped democracy work better in
Brighton & Hove?
• What’s happening?
• What’s working?
• Who voice[s] are we hearing?
• Is it better than before?
• What can we do next?
6. Who uses the Internet?
• Young People
• Older People
• Wealthy People
• Poor People
• People With Disabilities
• Geographic Communities
• Communities of Interest
• Government
• Business
• Individuals
• Your Colleagues
• Your Volunteers
• Your Friends
• Your Family
• Your Funders
• Your Partners
• Your Customers
• Your Competitors
• Your Suppliers
7. Who doesn’t use the Internet?
• 10 million adults have never used the internet of which
4 million are also socially excluded [PWC 2009]
• Of the 4 million, 39% are over 65, 38% are unemployed
and 19% are families with children.
• 70% of people living in social housing aren’t online –
which is 28% of everyone not online
[Oxford Internet Survey 2007]
• 70% of people over 65 have never used the internet
[ONS 08]
9. Social Media and Web 2.0
Web 1.0
• 1990s
• Websites
• One-way
• Online reflecting offline
• Advertising
• Shopping
Web 2.0
• 2000s
• Networks + community
• Interactive
• New ways of doing things
• Conversation
• PR
• Transparency
10. How can the internet contribute
to democracy?
• E-democracy aims for broader and more
active citizen participation enabled by
the Internet, mobile communications,
and other technologies in today's
representative democracy, as well as
through more participatory or direct
forms of citizen involvement in
addressing public challenges.[2]
• Clift, S. (2004). E-Democracy Resource Links from
Steven Clift - E-Government, E-Politics, E-Voting
Links and more. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from
Publicus.Ne-t Public Strategies forthe Online
World: Publicus.net
11. It’s all about local
• Local people
• Local forums
• Local issues
• Local processes
• Local politicians
• Local communities
12. It’s all about global
• Global issues
• Global communities
• Global solutions
• Global politics
13. Brighton & Hove
• Email-based forums
– Self-organised, active citizens
• Special interest groups
– Addressing public challenges
• Decision-making processes
– More representative democracy?
• Blogging
– Whose voice are we hearing?
• Twitter
– Are youlistening?
28. Step 2:
Look and Learn
• Who is doing what?
• How much time do
they put in?
• What do they get
out of it?
• What works?
• What do I prefer?
29. Step 2:
Look and Learn
• Clients
• Colleagues
• Competitors
• Search on Twitter
• Use LinkedIn Groups
• Who follows who?
• Who blogs?
• What do they say?
30. • 20 minute steps
– Check out who’s doing what
– TweetDeck
– Tidy up your LinkedIn profile
– Research your competition
– Post a blog entry
– Read a book – online or offline
– Review your plans
– Measure results
Image from Flickr.com by Leo Reynolds
Step 3: Find the time!
31. • Start with where you are now
• Set achievable goals
• Think ‘internet first’ when planning your campaigns
Next Steps
32. eDemocracy in Brighton & Hove
Useful links
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edemocracy
• Stevenclift.com
• Facebook/Lewes Road Community Say No to Tesco http://bit.ly/br6pZP
• www.consult.brighton-hove.gov.uk
• http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bh
• www.scip.org.uk/sciplist
• http://brightonpoliticsblogger.wordpress.com/
• http://newsfrombrighton.co.uk/brighton-politics/the-whos-who-of-brightons-political-
twitterati/
• www.getinvolvedinthecity.org.uk/news-and-events/take-part-free-events/
• www.slideshare.net/scipmark/100922-edemocracy-in-brighton-and-hove
Mark Walker, www.scip.org.uk www.twitter.com/scipmark
mark@scip.org.uk 01273 234049
Editor's Notes
** Background to Regional Champions – 5 mins
This presentation has been developed by a group of the regional ICT Champions
Some more figures from recent surveys
A lot of these people fall into groups that we as third sector organisations are working with
A CHOICE ?
We could pack up and go home after drawing the conclusion that these people are not using the internet so we don’t need to change or service delivery to reach these people with new media. They are happy outside of the circle and we are happy to work with them like that.
OR
We could look at ways to bring these groups inside the circle and more effective in our work and drive down social exclusion through increased digital inclusion by looking at these tools and ideas?
These are the people front line organisation in OUR sector see and are seeking to support every day. We have a responsibility as LIOs to lead by example.