Connecting citizens and local governments? Social media and interactivity in major U.S. cities
TL;DR: This study examines the use of social networks and other interactive tools in the 75 largest U.S. cities between 2009 and 2011 and finds that one-way “push” strategies (Mergel, 2013a) predominate, although there are some signs of greater openness toward dialogue with citizens.
About: This article is published in Government Information Quarterly.The article was published on 2013-10-01. It has received 361 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Social media & Open government.
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TL;DR: Some initial research findings about the effect of different communicational strategies on citizen engagement are provided, which are very important factors in order to improve the effectiveness of e-participation offerings.
351 citations
Book•
01 Jan 2003
215 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide an initial assessment of Facebook use by Western European municipalities considering two aspects: citizens' engagement and municipalities' activity, i.e., data collected from Facebook data.
Abstract: The objective of this article is to provide an initial assessment of Facebook use by Western European municipalities considering two aspects: citizens’ engagement and municipalities’ activity. Data...
151 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a large and representative survey of Dutch citizens (N = 4,492) was conducted to test whether and how social media use affects perceived legitimacy for a major social media platform, Twitter.
Abstract: Social media use has become increasingly popular among police forces. The literature suggests that social media use can increase perceived police legitimacy by enabling transparency and participation. Employing data from a large and representative survey of Dutch citizens (N = 4,492), this article tests whether and how social media use affects perceived legitimacy for a major social media platform, Twitter. A negligible number of citizens engage online with the police, and thus the findings reveal no positive relationship between participation and perceived legitimacy. The article shows that by enhancing transparency, Twitter does increase perceived police legitimacy, albeit to a limited extent. Subsequent analysis of the mechanism shows both an affective and a cognitive path from social media use to legitimacy. Overall, the findings suggest that establishing a direct channel with citizens and using it to communicate successes does help the police strengthen their legitimacy, but only slightly and for a small group of interested citizens.
147 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the potential of social media and mobile technologies to foster citizen engagement and participation in urban planning and find that wider engagement only materializes if virtual connections also manifest themselves in real space through concrete actions, by using both online and offline engagement tools.
Abstract: This editorial explores the potential of social media and mobile technologies to foster citizen engagement and participation in urban planning. We argue that there is a lot of wishful thinking, but little empirically validated knowledge in this emerging field of study. We outline key developments and pay attention to larger societal and political trends. The aim of this special issue is: 1) To offer a critical state-of-the-art overview of empirical research; and 2) to explore whether social media and mobile technologies have measurable effects on citizens' engagement beyond traditional mobilization and participation tools. We find that wider engagement only ‘materializes’ if virtual connections also manifest themselves in real space through concrete actions, by using both online and offline engagement tools. Another requirement is that planners do not seek to marginalize dissenting voices in order to promote the interests of powerful developers
144 citations
Cites background from "Connecting citizens and local gover..."
...Changing the relationship between citizens and government is often cited as a goal for digital government, also referred to as e-government, and new tools and social media have the potential to improve interactions with citizens through dialogue (Mossberger et al., 2013: 351)....
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...The networking approach emphasizes a dialogue, whereas engagement invites co-production of content without necessarily engaging contributors in dialogue (Mossberger et al., 2013: 353)....
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TL;DR: This publication contains reprint articles for which IEEE does not hold copyright and which are likely to be copyrighted.
Abstract: Social network sites SNSs are increasingly attracting the attention of academic and industry researchers intrigued by their affordances and reach This special theme section of the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication brings together scholarship on these emergent phenomena In this introductory article, we describe features of SNSs and propose a comprehensive definition We then present one perspective on the history of such sites, discussing key changes and developments After briefly summarizing existing scholarship concerning SNSs, we discuss the articles in this special section and conclude with considerations for future research
14,912 citations
TL;DR: A classification of Social Media is provided which groups applications currently subsumed under the generalized term into more specific categories by characteristic: collaborative projects, blogs, content communities, social networking sites, virtual game worlds, and virtual social worlds.
13,932 citations
Posted Content•
TL;DR: This paper was the first initiative to try to define Web 2.0 and understand its implications for the next generation of software, looking at both design patterns and business modes.
Abstract: This paper was the first initiative to try to define Web2.0 and understand its implications for the next generation of software, looking at both design patterns and business modes. Web 2.0 is the network as platform, spanning all connected devices; Web 2.0 applications are those that make the most of the intrinsic advantages of that platform: delivering software as a continually-updated service that gets better the more people use it, consuming and remixing data from multiple sources, including individual users, while providing their own data and services in a form that allows remixing by others, creating network effects through an "architecture of participation," and going beyond the page metaphor of Web 1.0 to deliver rich user experiences.
7,513 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the rhetoric and reality of e-government at the municipal level and concluded that e-Government has been adopted by many municipal governments, but it is still at an early stage and has not obtained many of expected outcomes (cost savings, downsizing, etc.) that the rhetoric of eGovernment has promised.
Abstract: Information technology has become one of the core elements of managerial reform, and electronic government (e-government) may figure prominently in future governance. This study is designed to examine the rhetoric and reality of e-government at the municipal level. Using data obtained from the 2000 E-government Survey conducted by International City/County Management Association and Public Technologies Inc., the article examines the current state of municipal e-government implementation and assesses its perceptual effectiveness. This study also explores two institutional factors (size and type of government) that contribute to the adoption of e-government among municipalities. Overall, this study concludes that e-government has been adopted by many municipal governments, but it is still at an early stage and has not obtained many of expected outcomes (cost savings, downsizing, etc.) that the rhetoric of e-government has promised. The study suggests there are some widely shared barriers (lack of financial, technical, and personnel capacities) and legal issues (such as privacy) to the progress of municipal e-government. This study also indicates that city size and manager-council government are positively associated with the adoption of a municipal Web site as well as the longevity of the Web site.
1,894 citations
Book•
01 Jan 2004
TL;DR: The most widely debated conception of democracy in recent years is deliberative democracy - the idea that citizens or their representatives owe each other mutually acceptable reasons for the laws they enact Two prominent voices in the ongoing discussion are Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson In "Why Deliberative Democracy?", they move the debate forward beyond their influential book, "Democracy and Disagreement".
Abstract: The most widely debated conception of democracy in recent years is deliberative democracy - the idea that citizens or their representatives owe each other mutually acceptable reasons for the laws they enact Two prominent voices in the ongoing discussion are Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson In "Why Deliberative Democracy?", they move the debate forward beyond their influential book, "Democracy and Disagreement" What exactly is deliberative democracy? Why is it more defensible than its rivals? By offering clear answers to these timely questions, Gutmann and Thompson illuminate the theory and practice of justifying public policies in contemporary democracies They not only develop their theory of deliberative democracy in new directions but also apply it to new practical problems They discuss bioethics, health care, truth commissions, educational policy, and decisions to declare warIn "What Deliberative Democracy Means," which opens this collection of essays, they provide the most accessible exposition of deliberative democracy to date They show how deliberative democracy should play an important role even in the debates about military intervention abroad "Why Deliberative Democracy?" contributes to our understanding of how democratic citizens and their representatives can make justifiable decisions for their society in the face of the fundamental disagreements that are inevitable in diverse societies Gutmann and Thompson provide a balanced and fair-minded approach that will benefit anyone intent on giving reason and reciprocity a more prominent place in politics than power and special interests
1,729 citations