1. Ross Ferguson, eDemocracy Programme Director Hansard Society CoE, Strasbourg [April 23, 2007]

2. Digital Dialogues - Overview Independent review Hansard Society (independent, non- partisan political literacy charity) Commissioned by Department for Constitutional Affairs Began December 2005 www.digitaldialogues.org.uk

3. Digital Dialogues - Overview How might government use ICT to engage citizens in the policy process? Promote awareness of online engagement technology and techniques; Embed online engagement theory and skills in central government; Evaluate a series of case studies in order to benchmark administrator and user demographics, attitudes and behaviours.

4. Digital Dialogues – Case Studies PHASE 1 Department for Education and Skills online survey site; David Miliband MP ministerial blog [ODPM]; Department for Work and Pensions Welfare Reform forum; Department for Communities and Local Government forum; Department for Communities and Local Government webchats; Food Standards Agency forum. PHASE 2 Law Commission Forum - http://forum.lawcom.gov.uk; Planning Portal Forum - www.planningportalforum.net; European Youth Parliament/FCO Forum - www.eyptalk.net; FSA Chief Scientist Blog - www.fsascience.net; ONS Small Area Geography Policy Review Blog - www.onsgeography.net; Department for Transport Road Safety Webchat - www.dft.gov.uk/roadsaftey/webchat; Party Funding Review Forum - http://forum.partyfundingreview.gov.uk; Party Funding Review Webchat - http://chat.partyfundingreview.gov.uk; Family Courts Forum [general public] - www.familycourtsforum.net; Family Courts Forum [young people] - www.ofcf.net; DCLG Forum - http://forum.communities.gov.uk; David Miliband ministerial blog [Defra] - www.davidmiliband.defra.gov.uk; Downing Street Webchats - www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page11047.asp.

5. Digital Dialogues – Methods Attitudinal, behavioural and demographic data (managers and users) Process observation Some content analysis Site analytics Pre- and post-activity surveys Semi-structured interviews Media monitoring

6. Digital Dialogues – 5 User Trends 1.Political engagement [majority new participants to government policy process] 2.Participation rates [high spectator rate; fewer participants] 3.Knowledge and skills [political literacy fragmented] 4.Perceptions of community [connections between users weak] 5.Perceptions of moderators [users want more deliberative input from policy officials]

7. Ross Ferguson, eDemocracy Programme Director Hansard Society r.a.ferguson@lse.ac.uk www.digitaldialogues.org.uk www.hansardsociety.org.uk