05 November 2009
Conference shows social media debate has moved on
Arun Marsh
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Councillors concerned about dipping their toes in the water of social media are running out of excuses following the publication of a new guideline document on engaging young people in democracy.
Launched at a conference this week, the LGiU booklet, Social Media: youth participation in local democracy, contains information on the whys and hows of using tools such as Facebook and Twitter to engage with, not just young people, but anyone who may not communicate with their council via traditional methods.
Some of the audience, made up largely of council officers, members and consultants, admitted that they did not use social networking sites at all.
However, a straw poll conducted in the morning confirmed the majority spent between 5-10 hours on the sites per week.
Many were new media evangelists at their organisations struggling against a combination of risk aversion and a lack of understanding of what social media can offer.
Heads across the room nodded when the subject of time wasting was brought up by IDeA improvement strategist, Ingrid Koehler, as one of her 10 local government social media myths.
But, as she pointed out, often it is not social media that wastes time, but bad people management, and a ban on certain sites may not make staff any more productive if their work or manager isn't motivating them.
For Dominic Campbell, founder of FutureGov and conference panellist, the event marked a move on from previous social media conferences, which have largley focussed on explaining the tools and how to use them to further the aims of councils.
'Today was particularly promising as it moved beyond the "what is Twitter?" debates to a far more intelligent discussion around the role of technology and the web in reconfiguring public services and local democracy,' enthused Dominic.
He was also impressed by the guide released at the event.
'It provides a useful resource for councils looking to share the key concepts and knowledge on social media and the web, fast tracking organisations past the "what is it" debate into the "how can it add public value" conversation.
The panel explored how councils can use social media beyond communications teams and into other departments.
For his part, Dominic looked at the opportunities for children's services which included improving the data available on a child in care and also an easy way of keeping a record of which professionals have been in contact with a child, which tied in with the Safeguarding 2.0 project.
But one lesson from a panel of councillors was that social media does not have to be for everyone and coercion would not have desirable results.
'We have one councillor at Wandsworth that still wont use e-mail, that doesn't mean he's a bad councillor,' said panellist James Cousins.
'But it would be pointless to make him sit through a town hall workshop on social networking.
'Better to let those who are keen or interested lead the way and then, once their good examples are in place, let the rest follow.'
Or as 'tweeted' by @totalplace the 'Pull of enthusiasm more effective than push of obligation for encouraging cllrs to get involved in socmed'
Search Twitter.com for #smc09 to read all tweets about the event.
 |
| Andy Sawford presents in front of a display of all tweets relating to the event |
Launched at a conference this week, the LGiU booklet, Social Media: youth participation in local democracy, contains information on the whys and hows of using tools such as Facebook and Twitter to engage with, not just young people, but anyone who may not communicate with their council via traditional methods.
Some of the audience, made up largely of council officers, members and consultants, admitted that they did not use social networking sites at all.
However, a straw poll conducted in the morning confirmed the majority spent between 5-10 hours on the sites per week.
Many were new media evangelists at their organisations struggling against a combination of risk aversion and a lack of understanding of what social media can offer.
Heads across the room nodded when the subject of time wasting was brought up by IDeA improvement strategist, Ingrid Koehler, as one of her 10 local government social media myths.
But, as she pointed out, often it is not social media that wastes time, but bad people management, and a ban on certain sites may not make staff any more productive if their work or manager isn't motivating them.
For Dominic Campbell, founder of FutureGov and conference panellist, the event marked a move on from previous social media conferences, which have largley focussed on explaining the tools and how to use them to further the aims of councils.
'Today was particularly promising as it moved beyond the "what is Twitter?" debates to a far more intelligent discussion around the role of technology and the web in reconfiguring public services and local democracy,' enthused Dominic.
 |
| Dominic Campbell studying Twitter while applauding political blogger Iain Dale MP |
He was also impressed by the guide released at the event.
'It provides a useful resource for councils looking to share the key concepts and knowledge on social media and the web, fast tracking organisations past the "what is it" debate into the "how can it add public value" conversation.
The panel explored how councils can use social media beyond communications teams and into other departments.
For his part, Dominic looked at the opportunities for children's services which included improving the data available on a child in care and also an easy way of keeping a record of which professionals have been in contact with a child, which tied in with the Safeguarding 2.0 project.
But one lesson from a panel of councillors was that social media does not have to be for everyone and coercion would not have desirable results.
'We have one councillor at Wandsworth that still wont use e-mail, that doesn't mean he's a bad councillor,' said panellist James Cousins.
 |
| The panel of councillors and democracy experts |
'But it would be pointless to make him sit through a town hall workshop on social networking.
'Better to let those who are keen or interested lead the way and then, once their good examples are in place, let the rest follow.'
Or as 'tweeted' by @totalplace the 'Pull of enthusiasm more effective than push of obligation for encouraging cllrs to get involved in socmed'
Search Twitter.com for #smc09 to read all tweets about the event.
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