Political agenda Offline#
Political agenda series#

Younger people were more likely to participate in the online activity than to attend the town hall meetings, though this did happen in some instances, for example, in the context of support for specific political parties (Greens and Sex Party).

Examining why this might be so will be an important element of the next stage of the project

Political agenda Offline#

There was some evidence of its drawing in citizens for the first time, and of some cross-over between online and offline interactions (web based voting and town hall meetings), but the cross-over was limited. The OurSay intervention engaged mainly those citizens already engaged in political activity, both online and offline.The agenda was not changed by the experience of citizen activism While the media paid attention to the town hall events themselves, frequently reporting the proceedings comprehensively, they did not pursue the issues raised there but merely reported - as conventional journalism requires - the responses of the candidates.There were other examples, including a suggestion that corruption at both state and local government level is a 'sleeper' issue in the electorate The most significant example of this was mental health policy and services - the subject of passionate debate in almost all electorates studied, both online and offline.

The OurSay intervention did make public issues that were not part of the dominant party political and media agendas.

Political agenda series#

The questions that attract the most support were put to the candidates at a series of public meetings in August and September. University of Melbourne researchers used the project to test whether the use of social media to detect a 'Citizens' Agenda' can be used to improve civic engagement, and alter how journalists report politics. The Citizens' Agenda enabled voters to post questions on the OurSay website, and vote for the questions others contributed. The impact of this process was then analysed.

It involved asking citizens (through social media, meetings, publications and broadcasts) what issues they wish candidates in their electoral district to address – and then having those candidates address these issues at a public form reported on by the media. It assessed the potential of new media technologies for promoting civic participation, and promoting forms of journalism practice that extend and enhance democratic engagement amongst diverse population groups. The Citizens’ Agenda is a practice-based research project conducted in the lead up to the 2013 federal election. The citizens' agenda: exploring ways of improving political news coverage and increasing political engagement