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