Let's be an online book club of sorts and ask Hugh some questions and
share our own reactions to the two important documents he shared. I
personally need a week to read these, so I'll come back with some
questions then.
Hugh, could you give us some context on your project and how it came about?
General info:
http://is.gd/c3tBX
Below are the two introduction paragraphs to help everyone better
determine whether they want to download the full articles.
1. London’s digital neighbourhoods study: typology of local websites - 13 pages
http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/London%20Councils/LondDigNeighTypology%20%283%29.pdf
Introduction
The citizen-led local online ecosystem is becoming
richer and more varied. Understanding the impacts
and implications of the sites within this ecosystem
requires some framework against which each one
can be calibrated and understood.
This paper presents the first version of a typology to
describe the variety of citizen-led local internet
spaces. Whilst the primary focus of the London
study is citizen-led webspaces, this typology would
be incomplete if it did not include some that are
owned by commercial organisations.
From our review of approximately 160 local sites in
London we have identified eight types. Six of
those can be described as citizen-led sites, typically
set up with a civil purpose. The remaining two
types are run on a commercial basis.
These are early days in the development of
neighbourhood websites. As our research review
indicates, there have been very few studies of
specific local sites and the movement barely
registers in the local government world. Many sites
are growing and changing rapidly. It follows that
any classification has to be subject to ongoing
revision. Our intention here is to facilitate further
study and development by providing a language
against which each site can be assessed and
described.
2. London’s digital neighbourhoods study: the research context - 38 Pages
http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/London%20Councils/LondDigNeighResearchContext%20%282%29.pdf
Introduction
The London digital neighbourhoods study
explores the ways in which people
communicate online using locally-based
websites, and whether that communication
has an impact on their civic engagement. It
can be informed by, and has the potential to
contribute to, distinct sets of knowledge
including social networks and social capital,
the development of community online
networks, and the connection between online
interaction and civic engagement.
While there appears as yet to be only a small
literature on local interactive websites, the
literature on the other three areas of enquiry
is substantial. This paper is not intended to
offer a comprehensive review of these
literatures, but draws on some key examples
from each field in an attempt to situate our
study in relation to existing knowledge.
On May 12, 2010 2:42 PM, "Steven Clift" <<email obscured>> wrote:
Ooops, that is my fault.
Here is Hugh's note:
London-based Networked Neighbourhoods has just published two
background papers in its study of citizen-led local websites.
The first is an initial typology of the kinds of site that can be
found, and attempts to distinguish and relate them according to
purpose and interactive style.
The second is a more extended paper which attempts to summarise
existing knowledge about community networks, online and social
capital, and the engagement of online participants in civic issues.
Since preparing these papers we've carried out a number of interviews
and focus groups. We now begin analysing our survey data and directing
our attention to the implications of our findings for local council
officers and elected.
Download the papers on the Networked Neighbourhood website - http://is.gd/c3tBX
Steven Clift
Ericsson, Minneapolis
Info about Steven Clift: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/stevenclift