Information for Change Conference Information is Power? Presentation by Steven Clift

Information is Power? No... but Organized information is strength Accurate information is essential. Up-to-date, new information is valuable.

Communication Communication is vital. Ongoing communication is organization. Intentional communication is strategic. Expanding communication is growth. Many-to-many communication is vibrant.

Therefore Intentional, ongoing, expansive, many-to-many communication within the context of organized accurate, up-to-date information is power.

I made this up Pre Internet Discovery Open Interest and Collaboration Let’s Get Some, Heal Dig Era Great Settling Great Phhffft! or Great Public Re-intermediation - Our Choice

Public Portal Move from thin directory, hard silo system toward "Yahoo-like” information and service directory. Government/ Non-Profit Service SILOS Thin Directory Government/ Non-Profit Service Silos with Standards-based Cooperation Public Portal Database - Distributed Work

Government/ Non-Profit Specialty Sites Integrated Public Service Move from web-only portal, to integrated, distributed, public service information system with full access through multiple technologies. Public Portal Frequent Information Service Transactions Multi-tech Access Telephone - IVR Service Desk - via Staff Kiosk Tele Dir Blue Pages Print Versions Web - Public Access Web - Home/Work DTV - Info Broadcast

Info Syndication - Digital TV Community Information Syndication Schools Police Community Organizations Neighborhoods Cultural Groups Universities Local Government State Government Federal Government Public Radio Public Television Public Access Cable Etc. Non-commercial public service information in a given area. Internet Studio Distributed studio aggregates “best-of” community content for “syndication.” Requires community- based, multi-stakeholder mediating organizations and partnerships. Timely submission of community information to standards-based database system that includes digital text, images, audio, and video. Distribution Channels 1. Digital Broadcasting - Information to be universally broadcast in the “public interest.” 2. Online Syndication - Non-exclusive distribution through commercial web sites Competitors provide value- added access via high traffic area sites. 3. Multi-tech Access - Including telephone and text to speech options provided by the “studio.” 4. Other?

Internet Developments Public Sector - Non-Profits Private Sector - Media Infrastructure Content General Content Community Interaction Community Interaction Commerce

Minnesota Public Internet? Public Sector - Non-Profits Private Sector - Media Infrastructure Content General Content Community Interaction Community Interaction Commerce Public Internet?

Let’s Interact What can we do together that would not happen otherwise, but we want to exist? The most democratizing aspect of the Internet is the ability for people to organize and communicate in groups. If the world is run by those who show up, lets make it so people can show up from their homes.

World-Wide-Web is a “Pull” Medium User decides to visit WWW site each time Minnesota E-Democracy 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. Citizen

Civic Discussion Forums Candidates Secondary Networks Civic and Issue Groups Your Personal Network Media Political Party Reporter Citizen #1 Campaigns Citizen #2 Candidate Researcher Supporters Elected Officials List Manager Citizen #150 Lurkers FolksFolks group server sends posts direct to many people and to web. Send/Receive “Public Sphere” You subscribe once Commitment made May post via Student

Wired Government Government/ Politicians Institutions Wired Citizens 1 Citizens Disconnected within Geographical Area/Democracy Citizens Semi-Wired Islands Citizens 2 Citizens x Citizens 500 Interconnected Major Flows minor

Interactive Public Commons Wired Democracy Government/ Politicians Citizens 1 Citizens 2 Citizens x Citizens 500 Non-Profits/ Civic Groups Commercial/ Media Sites

Minnesota Forum Capitol Forum - Virtual Committee Rooms for policy announcements and discussion Communities Forum - Information exchange and dialogue for geographic and diverse communities Commons - Public problem-solving and experience Sharing across state

Interactive Public Space Features could include: –Announcement list to all members –Ongoing opt-in discussion space via /web/newsgroup system –Related shared links directory –Calendar for related in-person events –Directory of external online events hosted by MN Forum partners

Information is Power Let’s do it. If we organize our diverse “best of” public service information and build in complementary interactive public commons then information will truly become power. Steven Clift,