Downsides of local sites

Some of us are working to persuade local and central government of the merits of local sites and we're keen to get in front of some of the problems and downsides that might emerge, such as capture by specific interest groups, misleading or dangerous information, domination by doom-mongers etc. It's already too easy for council officers to justify non-involvement and decline to offer even the most modest support.

Here's one clear take on the way it can go, from an article about Sheffield Forum, written by John Peterson and published hard copy in Now Then Sheffield, a free magazine for the city. (Thanks Martin). (The Now Then blog is here):

'Conjecture uttered as fact seems to find its way onto the pages of SF with remarkable frequency with the potential to unfairly affect businesses, property prices in areas being denigrated and all kinds of social relations. On this point there are also a huge number of postings regarding issues of race and multiculturalism. Many of these take a highly negative view and are dressed up in that much-loved Yorkshire idiom of 'plain speaking'. Some are obviously active campaigns for far right groups such as the BNP, others are genuinely held (if sometimes ill-thought-out) opinions of forum users.'

Things that anyone responsible for a local site may fear, I suspect, without always knowing quite what is needed to keep them from happening. We need to be bringing these and other negative aspects (actual or perceived) to the surface, and examining them, the better to understand how to pre-empt or eradicate them. All eyes turn to Talk About Local to play an important leading role (no pressure guys).

 

Comments

[Alan Stanton]

'Conjecture uttered as fact”. “Areas being denigrated?” “A huge number of postings regarding issues of race and multiculturalism. Many of these take a highly negative view.”

Add in a short attention span and an unwillingness to recognise any facts which contradict the writers’ prejudice, and you have a pretty accurate description of a lot of existing print media - the “Daily Mail” for example. The letters pages of some local newspapers are not that different. Although this may be “balanced” by the papers’ rehash of press releases from local councils, political parties, and other interest groups.

Investigative journalism and reporting what’s really going on round here? I’d guess there’s hardly any; and less all the time. (See Clay Shirky’s videos about newspapers.)

Citizen journalism? Sure, if it’s a thousand pictures of earthquake damage. But investigating possible corruption in local property deals is a lot harder.

From my small unscientific sample, it looks to me that local websites, like local interest and pressure groups, are essentially organic. They are about groups of people organising around enthusiasms. So it’s normal for them to fluctuate. They grow and they shrink.

What support and involvement do you envisage from local councils? Advertising? An expectation that sites should post Council press releases?

Take Clay Shirkey’s three-stage model. Senior council officers - and most councillors – still have the one-to-many model of communication. Some of them have grasped the value of stage 2: many-to-one. Residents answer back. But only as long as the councillors and senior officers are still in control.

The idea of stage 3: more and more residents taking part in online conversations with one another can be very scary.

Sensible local council officers do read and learn from local websites. They may offer and post helpful advice on factual issues.

Of course, for learning to take place, council staff need access. Unsurprisingly, the command-and-control culture in many local councils means senior officers follow the example of the Chinese Government. Some make it a disciplinary offence for staff to access social media websites. Others eagerly shell-out for blocking software.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanstanton/4020053357/

[Kevin Harris]

Alan, thanks for your detailed response. I know you've contributed to a lot of discussion on HOL and appreciate your experience on this. The role for local councils as far as I'm concerned is to enable and facilitate local sites, allow their independence, and to not obstruct them, which does happen apparently. Some people developing sites seem to have very clear perceptions of their potential contribution to local social capital and sense of belonging: that's of value to councils, they just need to work out how they relate to what's going on.