Using social software to strengthen community ties
Laura N. AndersonRutgers University SCILS598 Fall, 2008
Northern Jersey shore 1 hour from NYC/Philadelphia Commuter train to NYC 2.77 sq. miles Population 6000 70% have post HS education Median income $118,000 Predominately white, married, age
45-54 (www.epodunk.com)
Included• Borough officials• Community
stakeholders• Local businessmen• Members of
organizations• Teachers • Church members
Process• Environmental scan• Needs assessment• 5 yr action plan• Goals, objectives,
strategies• Assessment &
revision
Committees formed 9/5/08 Research conducted Conclusions reported by each
committee in form of needs assessment 11/1/08
Residents lacking connection to community
Not engaged Diminishing trust in public officials Need to reach residents where they
are (online) (Chang & Kannan, 2008)
Research indicates citizens willing to interact with government online (Horriga
[Pew], 2004)
GOVERNMENT RESIDENTS
Informed / engaged constituency
Efficient, inexpensive dissemination of information
Interaction with citizens Citizen feedback Benefit of the “wisdom of
the crowd”
(Chang & Kannan, 2008)
Easy access to information Ability to be informed Provide feedback Engage in discussion &
debate Forum to interact with
officials and other residents
Changes how government and constituents interact
Internet is now most effective way to reach constituency • More people use internet than read
newspapers• 50% of adult residents in community use
internet (Horrifan [Pew], 2008)
Social software can foster dialogue with constituents (Reece, 2006)
Governments use wikis, blogs and social networks to provide:
• Information and education • Forum for interaction with constituents• Networking opportunities for residents• Platform for sharing ideas/experiences (Wyld, 2007)
Social Software
Enga
gem
ent
Incr
ease
s
(Chang & Kannan, 2008)
Our Town Blog• Interactive and collaborative town blog • Engage residents • Promote communication between residents and
Borough • Strengthen ties between residents and Borough
Advantages of blog• Inexpensive• Easy to create, use & update• Can incorporate various media formats photos, audio,
video, I M• Offers officials one on one conversation with
constituents • Provides “a human face to … organizations” (Budd , 2005)
To provide by 12/1/08, a collaborative forum for the interchange of ideas and a resource for public information
To increase by 3% by 12/31/20101. Public awareness of Borough activities, events
and programs 2. Community involvement in Borough
committees, activities and events 3. Satisfaction and trust of Smallville residents in
their municipal officials
Create a community blog by 12/1/08 which will • Promote awareness• Engage residents• Provide platform for sharing ideas,
resources and experiences • Encourage collaboration (wiki)• Build new networks and reinforce old ones• Draw in younger constituents
OBJECTIVES STRATEGIES
1. Two-way communication
2. Create platform for sharing experiences
3. Promote awareness4. Engages residents5. Allow resource/Idea
sharing educating public
6. Encourage collaboration
1. Interactive Mayor’s Corner, Meebo us widget, survey
2. P TA MySpace Page, Historical Society Wiki
3. Site itself, Interactive Calendar
4. Video, audio, photos5. Delicious Bookmarks,
websites, news6. Historical Association
Wiki
Take a Look
http://ljnanderson.blogspot.com/
Google Analytics to assess traffic on blog
Survey on blog to assess whether blog improves residents sense of connection to Borough
Sign in sheets at meetings and activities to assess participation
Polling to determine residents’ satisfaction with public officials
Action Plan contemplates an evaluation every 5 years to determine progress toward goals
Revisions to action plan to be made as necessary
“ …it will become more … common for … public officials to become bloggers themselves. In fact … those public officials who do not blog may become suspect as to why they do not use this new technology as a communications medium to connect with… their wider constituencies.” (Wyld, 2007)
By using social software the Borough can
Improve the sense of connection residents feel toward their town• Engagement• Collaboration• Communication• Education
Restore trust in public officials
Reference List
(2007). Little Silver, New Jersey. Retrieved December 6, 2008, from http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=18358.
Budd, Andy (2005). Blogging in government. Retrieved December 6, 2008, from http://www.andybudd.com/archives/2005/09/blogging_in_government/index.php.
Chang, Ai-Mei and Kannan, P.K. (2008). Leveraging Web 2.0 in Government. Retrieved December 6, 2008, from http://www.businessofgovernment.org/main/publications/bog/chang_fall08.pdf
Horrigan, John B. (2004) [Pew]. How Americans get in touch with government. Retrieved December 6, 2008, from http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_E-Gov_Report_0504.pdf.
Horrigan, John B. (2004) [Pew]. Home Broadband 2008: Adoption stalls for low-income Americans even as many broadband users opt for premium services that give them more speed. Retrieved December 6, 2008 from http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Broadband_2008.pdf.
Reference List (Con’t)
Reece, Bryan (2006). E-Government literature review. Journal of E-Government, 3(1): 69–110.
Wyld, David, C. (2007). The Blogging Revolution: Government in the age of Web 2.0. Retrieved December 6, 2008, from
http://www.businessofgovernment.org/pdfs/WyldReportBlog.pdf