We talk frequently about "Web 2.0" here at Sunlight. (Yes, we know that's a "buzzword" but it's a handy way of describing the new "read-write" culture of today's Web.) We think a lot about what it means for how Congress presents itself to and interacts with the public. Sunlight's fascinated by (some might say obsessed) with how the interactivity and transparency potential of the Internet can change the relationship between lawmakers and their constituents. How citizens can use the Internet to hold lawmakers more accountable for their votes, their earmarks, who they meet with, and what they say when debating legislation. (To wit, see what Rep. George Miller announced yesterday.) We use Web 2.0 "criteria" for our grant making, making sure that organizations we fund use the Internet in creative, interactive, and as a two-way street in their overall strategy. Even the databases we fund (arguably very Web 1.0 tools) have to be developed with the capacity to be exported in formats that others can use to mash different data sets together.

It's no longer - the web as a publishing vehicle (that is, "write only") — it's the web as social network, the web as the networked public sphere, the web as…well, you fill in the blank.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to a meeting recently of mostly corporate executives, many of whom were learning about the Web 2.0 world for the first time and trying to figure out how it was going to affect their companies. (A colleague pointed out that corporate America may adopt the Web 2.0 "slogan" as a marketing ploy but not actually engage in the kinds of activities it implies). It was fascinating to be a presenter there, new as I am to this world, to demonstrate the many ways that Sunlight is using the new tools in its work. From helping to create the first XMLs for campaign contribution data through the National Institute on State Money and Politics, to establishing the Congresspedia wiki, the use of social wisdom on our sites Congresspedia and OpenCongress.org; the distributed research projects of Congress As Family Business to the "cool" tools like Popup Politicians, I realized that we have some useful experience in this world.

I really thought that this chart presented at the conference (ALERT, it's hard to read on the web so it would be best if you could print it out and blow it up as we have done here in the office, and please note that it's 8 MBs!) captured many of the concepts and activities that are the hallmark of the new ways we work on the web.

0 Comments

As David All and I have written, the rules governing member Web sites are not fit for the 21st Century Web. If the rules were enforced with any regularity, instead of used as a scarecrow to keep members from innovating, then some of the best practices by members on the Web wouldn't be happening. Case in point: Rep. George Miller (D-CA).

Today, George Miller announced a new campaign, called "Ask George," calling on citizens to send videos, through video sharing sites like YouTube, to Miller's office regarding the War in Iraq. Miller's office describes "Ask George" as a "distributed, virtual town hall". Miller also suggests that participants in this conversation "tag" their videos "askgeorge" so that his office can go and find the questions. This way, Miller is the one going out to seek the conversation rather than the citizen or constituent who is usually the one seeking out the congressman.

This is exactly the type of activity that allows members to communicate more effectively with their constituents, and Americans in general, about the issues that matter. As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) asks people to send YouTubed questions for him to answer, to which he responds in kind. Miller's use of YouTube to engage in a conversation with citizens goes a step further though. He has worked with Splash Cast to create a Facebook application for the "Ask George" campaign and will be hosting an "Ask George" Facebook page for citizens to discuss with the congressman, and amongst each other, the War in Iraq.

This is by all accounts the first time that a member of Congress, in their official capacity, has gone to a social networking site to connect with citizens. The innovative use of social networking and video sharing sites by Miller's office is astounding considering the restrictions that members are told they have to abide by. It's time for more members of Congress to start communicating and connecting to people online as George Miller is. The barriers created by congressional Web use rules will cease to exist if members and their staff simply ignore them.

George Miller is one member of Congress leading the way in using Web 2.0 technologies to connect with constituents and citizens. This only enhances his ability to do his job. It's time for more members to lead with him.

0 Comments