#Senedd2011: Democracy in our networked age
29 March 2011
An event exploring the ways people want to access the democratic process will take place on 30 March at Cardiff’s historic Pierhead building.
Bloggers, online campaigners, journalists and the general public are invited to a series of talks and discussions on how best to use digital engagement tools in order to affect the law-making process in the National Assembly for Wales.
The Assembly is at the forefront of using technology in the democratic process with electronic voting in Plenary meetings, encouraging the use of online submissions of evidence to committee inquiries and streaming live broadcasts of all Plenary and committee meetings online via Senedd tv.
Speakers at the event include Andy Williamson from Hansard Society, Alison Preston from Ofcom, multimedia journalist Marc Webber and David Babbs from online campaigning organisation 38 Degrees.
“Digital technologies can play a role in nurturing the democratic culture that is emerging in Wales,” said Peter Black AM, Assembly Commissioner with responsibility for citizen engagement.
“How we adapt to these technologies is crucial as it will influence the very nature of our growing democracy.
“There are two equally dangerous paths - adopting any and every shiny new digital toy can cause severe problems if they fail or if people stop using them.
“On the other hand, failing to move quickly enough can leave a parliament disengaged from public conversations and increasingly irrelevant.
“Attention needs to be paid to how conversations can be coordinated across different platforms.”
Carl Morris is a Digital Media Consultant from NativeHQ, co-organisers of #Senedd2011: “This event at the Pierhead gives us all an opportunity to learn from each other and explore how our democracy can make the best of digital media.
“There is much potential to enhance the democratic process in Wales, from policy making to consultations, and from campaigning to holding our politicians to account.
“This goes beyond elections, it’s about the issues that affect citizens every day.”
A panel discussion including questions from the audience and through social media platforms will round off the day.
People can follow the event either in person at the Pierhead on Wednesday, or on Twitter using the hashtag #Senedd2011.
#Senedd2011 starts at 10.30 on Thursday 30 March at the Pierhead in Cardiff Bay.
Anyone wishing to attend is asked to book a place by emailing geraint.huxtable@wales.gov.uk or calling 029 2089 8201.
Further details about the event including speaker biogs are below:
Presentation 1 Andy Williamson, Hansard Society
Hansard will be giving a presentation discussing and comparing Parliaments around the world and how they are embracing technology in different ways to engage their electorates.
Presentation 2 Alison Preston, Ofcom's Senior Research Manager for Media Literacy / Iwan Williams, Head of Media, Brand and e-Democracy
- Ofcom’s work on eliteracy and edemocracy in Wales
- Representative from NAFW to chat very briefly about our Vote 2011 online campaign, show other ways the public can engage in the democratic process at the moment (e-petitions, Twitter) but then ask the question – what do bloggers/online communities want? More resources? More contact from the Assembly’s outreach team?
Presentation 3 – Marc Webber
Multimedia journalist Marc Webber will be discussing the use of technology by representatives in our communities – AMs, MPs, MEPs, councillors – this is such a new area of communication, are any of them using technology to its greatest ability?
Presentation 4 – David Babbs, 38 Degrees’ David Babbs heads up the online campaigning organisation 38 Degrees. It is driven by the belief that people should have the power in society and the online campaigns run by 38 Degrees claim to have helped save BBC 6Music and stopped Trident being renewed for at least 5 more years.
12 midday – Seminar groups
People attending the conference will split into four groups, and each group will go with each speaker to attend a seminar talking through aspects of their presentation, raising more points, discussing different aspects of their work in detail.
2pm Panel feedback – the speaker from each group will give a short (2 minute) presentation of the different themes raised in their seminar.
2.15pm Panel discussion – led by compere Matt Withers ( Senedd correspondent for Western Mail) , the panel discussion will open up to questions from the floor (and possibly from Twitter) for the speakers. 30 minutes is set aside for questions. Event is scheduled to end at 2.45.
ENDS