http://citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/blogs/webmaster Musings and updates from the Citizenship Foundation's website manager. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:37:31 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I'm looking for a meticulous editor to spend two days editing existing web pages in line with a given style guide. Ideally you should be based in Birmingham (UK) so I can work closely with you and assist with inevitable technical issues. The work needs to be completed within the next two ... http://citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/blogs/webmaster/2010/03/03/freelance-editor-sought/ It seems that every day the internet is giving us new ways to test the relationship between the citizen and the state. In a recent article for the BCS'* Savvy Citizens website I argue that we should be exploiting these new tools to encourage a more responsible and effective civic ... http://citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/blogs/webmaster/2010/03/03/using-the-internet-for-effective-citizenship/ There has been a lot of noise lately calling on local authorities to embrace social media. Clearly this is only useful if it's an effective way to engage with citizens, and if the authority learns from it to improve that engagement. A number of tools they can be used to ... http://citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/blogs/webmaster/2010/02/16/council-monitor-assisting-the-online-reputation-management-of-local-authorities/ According to new research, most young people aged 14-25 would be likely to vote in an election and would be more likely to if they could do so online. However, they don't see social networking as particularly useful for furthering a cause, favouring instead an email to their Member of ... http://citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/blogs/webmaster/2009/11/30/oung-people-dont-value-the-political-power-of-social-media-but-they-would-vote/ I've just become aware of a book (yes, a book) of Twitter celebrities. If there was a charity edition, who would you like to see in it and why? I'll start off with @RealHughJackman, for donating $100,000 to charity via Twitter. Who else? http://citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/blogs/webmaster/2009/11/05/who-would-you-put-in-a-directory-of-twitter-charity-celebrities/ On Tuesday I shall be attending the Digital Engagement Event, wearing my Citizenship Foundation hat and (probably) banging on about the importance of critical reflection. I'm going to try live blogging on CoverItLive (time and energy permitting), so keep your eyes peeled. http://citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/blogs/webmaster/2009/10/01/digital-engagement-event-live-coverage/ There is a lot of exciting work being done in regards to using technology for civic engagement. Most of it though seems to be about access to information, more efficient and effective public services, and enfranchisement of citizens to hold decision-makers to account. These are all laudable of course. But there ... http://citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/blogs/webmaster/2009/08/19/putting-critical-reflection-onto-the-digital-engagement-agenda/ I have been developing a draft Twitter strategy and policy, based on Neil Williams' draft strategy for government departments. Although a long way from finished, I am releasing a very early draft now because Neil's has received prominent media attention. My version is already substantially different from Neil's, and I still have ... http://citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/blogs/webmaster/2009/07/28/twitter-policy/ Web accessibility can be an inexact science, and another unwelcome addition to work pressures for those who are not directly responsible for websites. But if we are to encourage and enable civic engagement, we must be as inclusive as possible: and that means being as accessible as possible. A few months ... http://citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/blogs/webmaster/2009/06/30/beginners-guide-to-web-accessibility/ Re-tweeting is the act of forwarding a message on Twitter. But it can result in distorted messages being incorrectly attributed to people. Accidentally altering meaning when forwarding messages is nothing new; so why is it different with Twitter? Pitfalls of editing Tweets (that is, messages on Twitter) have a maximum length of 140 ... http://citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/blogs/webmaster/2009/05/01/be-careful-how-you-retweet-someone-elses-integrity-may-be-at-stake/