Liz talks to Steven Clift from e-democracy.org at the Personal Democracy Forum Conference 09
I met Steven at the Participation Camp (#PCamp09) while I was in NYC but recorded this interview when we met again at the Personal Democracy Forum Conference (#pdf09).
This interview covers the following issues and questions:
- Steven talks about his most recent project – Neighbourhood to neighbour engagement.
- Steven talks about how local authorities get involved within this online neighbourhood.
- Citizen to citizen engagement and value.
- Does the local authority make themselves known as an authority to the public within the online community?
- Mix of email and online forum.
- What are the main tools that you use? Groupserver.org
- People need to choose their own technology.
- What does it mean to you to have an open government?
Essay mentioned by Steven in this interview can be downloaded here : Sidewalks for Democracy.
A little bit about Steven Clift… http://www.stevenclift.com
Clift Highlights* Helped create the world’s first election-oriented web site in 1994 and current host of active citizen-based online Issues Forums – E-Democracy.Org* Inducted as an Ashoka Fellow, the premier international network of social entreprenuers, in November 2006.* Public speaker with hundreds of presentations across 26 countries* Editor of DoWire.Org – the Democracies Online Newswire e-mail announcement list. Started in 1998, DoWire now reaches over 2750 e-democracy/e-government/e-politics practitioners and experts in over 80 countries* Global media source on e-democracy with hundreds of appearances and interviews including a recent interview on BBC World television* Produced extensive research on “E-Government and Democracy” for the United Nations 2003 World Public Sector Report* Leading Global E-democracy Best Practices research effort through March 2005 for the UK Local E-democracy National Project* OECD E-Government Project Advisory Group Member in 2002-2003* Co-Editor, G8 Democracy and Government Online Services Publication* Twice listed on the list of the “25 Who Are Changing the World of Internet and Politics” by PoliticsOnline.com* Consultant on e-democracy for the Markle Foundation from 1998-2001. Included the creation of an online Presidential campaign debate in 2000* While employed with the Office of Technology/Department of Administration in the State of Minnesota 1993-1997 he was the Government Online Project Coordinator (managed the first web portal) and staffed then served as the Executive Director of the Government Information Access Council
- Helped create the world’s first election-oriented web site in 1994 and current host of active citizen-based online Issues Forums – E-Democracy.Org
- Inducted as an Ashoka Fellow, the premier international network of social entreprenuers, in November 2006.
- Public speaker with hundreds of presentations across 26 countries
- Editor of DoWire.Org – the Democracies Online Newswire e-mail announcement list. Started in 1998, DoWire now reaches over 2750 e-democracy/e-government/e-politics practitioners and experts in over 80 countries
- Global media source on e-democracy with hundreds of appearances and interviews including a recent interview on BBC World television
- Produced extensive research on “E-Government and Democracy” for the United Nations 2003 World Public Sector Report
- Leading Global E-democracy Best Practices research effort through March 2005 for the UK Local E-democracy National Project
- OECD E-Government Project Advisory Group Member in 2002-2003
- Co-Editor, G8 Democracy and Government Online Services Publication
- Twice listed on the list of the “25 Who Are Changing the World of Internet and Politics” by PoliticsOnline.com
- Consultant on e-democracy for the Markle Foundation from 1998-2001. Included the creation of an online Presidential campaign debate in 2000
- While employed with the Office of Technology/Department of Administration in the State of Minnesota 1993-1997 he was the Government Online Project Coordinator (managed the first web portal) and staffed then served as the Executive Director of the Government Information Access Council
I found these slides which were posted not too long ago (10th July 2009) on Steven’s website for the “Free Social Media in Public Life Seminar in Minneapolis at the National Civic Summit”. Since my readers are mostly interested in the role of social media in public life, I thought I’d slip this in as a bonus.
So, hope you guys have found this useful!
🙂
Liz xxx…. Follow me on Twitter @Liz_Azyan

Liz Azyan is interested in the ways new kinds of social data and technology introduce challenges and opportunities to society. Get involved with Liz’s latest project here.
Comments
Twitter Comment
@cheeky_geeky You should see this: (#pdf09) [link to post] This is good stuff Gamers/Government #gov20 via @Liz_Azyan
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rt @Liz_Azyan Convo w/Steven Clift, who coined the term in 1994″e-democracy” @ #pdf09 & #pcamp09 [link to post] More on #gov20
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Steven Clift @democracy talks about Neighbourhood E-Participation with Liz at #pdf09 n #pcamp09 [link to post] #googlelocalgov
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Twitter Comment
Steven Clift @democracy talks about Neighbourhood E-Participation with Liz at #pdf09 n #pcamp09 [link to post] #googlelocalgov
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Twitter Comment
Steven Clift @democracy talks about Neighbourhood E-Participation with Liz at #pdf09 n #pcamp09 [link to post] #googlelocalgov
– Posted using Chat Catcher