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AdvancedTo Blog Or Not To Blog
According to David Sifry, founder of Technorati (a blog tracking web site), over 100,000 blogs are created each day. Fifty-five percent of all blogs are considered "active" with at least one post in the last 3 months. [Note: I just created 15thWardSTL.org's Technorati Profile]
One month ago, the first articles were posted on Alderwoman Jennifer Florida's wordpress blog. After the first public notice was posted as a comment on 15thWardSTL.org by an anonymous reader, I wrote an article announcing it to my readers. That article has had over 260 unique visitors, many of whom I assume also followed the link to the blog. It has also been documented on Urban Review St. Louis (which gets a much higher readership).
So, what is one to do with all this web traffic? Apparently not much. It has been three weeks since the last post.
The "blog" is a great tool for the savvy politician. This new medium allows him or her to update constituents by posting timely information, to control rumor, to solicit feedback, to promote issue-based discussion, and to maintain a public record of communication - all without spending a single dime. But you've got to USE it!
In order to effectively use this medium, a readership has to be consciously built. There are three ways of doing this:
- "Scoop" the Competition. As an alderwoman, Jennifer Florida has access to a lot of information that her constituents do not. Development news, grant applications, police and safety alerts - these all represent information that should be distributed to the constituents in as broad a manner as possible, including the web. Timely announcements build readership by encouraging people to check back often.
- Promote Discussion. A small percentage of readers will want the opportunity to comment on what they read. Many many more simply read others' comments. My web stats indicate that a large percentage of readers check back at articles they have read previously, I assume to scan the comments and my responses. Requiring readers to register through a relatively arduous process stiffles this discussion and discourages people from revisiting the site.
- Consistency. Long stretches without activity will result in audience abandonment. Unless there is consistent activity, readers will become bored. It could be as simple as setting a schedule (new updates every Tuesday and Friday) or a goal of three new articles per week (some weeks there will be one, other weeks there will be five). I find it hard to believe that NOTHING worth reporting to her constituents has gone on in the past three weeks.
To be honest, I'm not positive Jennifer Florida is actually the one responsible for creating the blog and posting content. It wouldn't particularly bother me if this was the case, as long as she remains actively involved in promoting and writing for the site. Setting up a blog and posting are not hard to do, but for someone who is not familiar with the medium, there would be a learning curve to overcome. In my opinion if the most recent news is over a month old, a blog quickly loses effectiveness, and could even become a liability - it starts to look like nothing is being done!
I hope that the Alderwoman and her technical assistant if she has one start using the blog to its full potential.
At some point I'd like to see some depth of thought coming from the aldermen but for now I'll gladly settle for the simple updates you mention. Anything they would communicate is more than they are doing now.
- Steve Patterson/Urban Review
http://urbanreviewstl.com
I agree that updates on Alderwomen Florida’s site would be nice. I realize in an open blog there are a number of people who would resort to personal attacks rather than presenting their views. The blog can be misused. Nevertheless, Alderwoman Florida has an opportunity to explore the nature of democracy, to connect it with her daily activities and public meetings.
By extension public hearings should especially utilize the blog. The northside, southside transit study by EWGCC is a perfect example. They had 3 hearings a few weeks ago, and that’s it until the next time. It would be an important evolution of democracy to conduct ongoing blogs that discuss transit issues. This would validate that they really want citizen participation and public hearings are not just for show. The outcome is that citizens would have real input into the decision making process.(It is a wonder that there is not a blog for this already)
Politicians may resist blogs, thinking that they could dilute the power to do as they please; they have a natural tendency to grasp power.
The irony is that any politician and/or government agency that successfully utilizes blogs to establish new standards for democracy will become true leaders, for the voice of the people is their voice.
Ultimately Jennifer Florida is probably afraid of the blog. It will hold her accountable. It will mean she will have to listen to diverse opinions. But in the end it will make her a better politician. And the people of the 15th ward and the City of St. Louis will benefit.
Blogs can be great tools, but they are still new to be used in public forums. What I mean to say is that while it may be good for politicans and agencys to use blogs, it may not be recognized as an 'official' outlet. Like when you see those class action lawsuit 'ads' in the paper.
Other than that, we (and I mean bloggers, readers, and politicians alike) cannot forget the computerless. Yes there are still many people out there that do not have access to a computer and many more that are afraid of the technology and just won't use one.
[15thWardSTL says: I am by no means suggesting that any Alderman stop communicating with constituents in "non-blog" ways such as community meetings, telephone, or writing. On the contrary, I am proposing that an effective communication strategy should embrace as many means as possible. Each one has its pros and cons.
Jennifer Florida is very good about responding to telephone calls in my experience, but that is not proactive communication. I can't attend community meetings due to conflicting commitments, so when new information is presented there by the Alderwoman, I don't get it.
There is an excellent computer lab at the Carpenter Branch library for anyone who doesn't own one. It is well used by people to check e-mail, and could be used to read an Aldermanic blog.]
No one is forgetting the computer less except the political establishment; unfortunately they are forgetting the people with computers also.
Blogs may be new, but not so new that numerous news outlets and other established businesses have managed to start blogs. As Steve points out above 100,000 new blogs are created each day. I can't give the political establishment a pass because blogs are new.
Whether the blogs are "official" or not does not matter. The government is accountable to the people they serve. Blogs are a tool that should come into wide circulation for the interchange of ideas between the citizens and government officials.
There is no longer any excuse for the secrecy now going on to determine a northside/southside transit line for instance. There should be daily postings of progress for discussion. Computer less people will be drawn into the process as they see the opportunity of have a voice. The blogs have the ability to strengthen democracy, something that is important when viewing the corruption, the overbearing influence of corporate dealmakers and the general incompetence of the decision-making the citizens of St. Louis have suffered over the years. Don't believe me, walk down practically any street of St. Louis for evidence of total incompetence.
Blogs won't necessarily solve these problems, but at least it will encorage decisions that are made for the good of the people rather than the benefit of a select few. That alone would be a big step forward.
[15thWardSTL says: I believe the word you are dancing around is "transparency". Our current decision-making system encourages developers and representatives to negotiate in secret - to make decisions behind closed doors. I thought that Jennifer Florida's blog was a step towards a more transparent process, and it still could be if used more effectively.
Blog communication by a politician would be regulated under Missouri's ethics laws, the same way a mailer or phone call would.]
Yes, transparency is it. That is a good word. Having watched the Jennifer Florida blog for, what is it, a month now?,Steve your comment is the only one posted. I would say it is another case of political expediency.
It is the usual fool the people tactic, pretend you are doing something, but not really.
Take her endorsment of Lewis Reed for instance. That would be great blogging material. I would like to know her reasons. It would be great to comment on them. I understand that Lewis Reed may be the best person for the job, but I have heard that elsewhere, from other people. Why will she not make the case? Certainly she doesn't expect people to vote for him because she says that we should. That is the old style politics that has caused St. Louis to decline for so many years.
People are demanding a new order. The communication must improve. The blog is a great vehicle to improve communication. Otherwise it is time to find new people to represent our voice.
Submitted by: Urban Review
Good analysis. As you are discovering a well researched and written blog does take considerable time. Still, a paragraph about something or announcement from a non-profit event takes very little time. Wordpress that she is using is a super easy interface --- as simple as sending an email.
I have to wonder if her colleagues at the Board of Aldermen pressured her into not keeping it up. After all, if she does a great job communicating to her constituents via the internet then every citizen will expect the same -- and we can't have that in St. Louis!
- Steve Patterson/Urban Review
http://urbanreviewstl.com
[15thWardSTL says: I find I have to consciously control the amount of time I spend writing and researching for 15thWardSTL or it spirals out of control. I don't have access to the same kind of information that Jennifer Florida does, however. We probably agree that the kind of critical analysis seen on Urban Review and 15thWardSTL.org is not required of a politician's blog. All that should really be expected are regular updates on the state of projects, meetings, and other general "state of the ward" type communication. Perhaps an opinion piece here and there. Leave it to the watchdog blogs to analyze and research.]