New Media Awards 2007 Atos Origin

Hansard Society

http://www.digitaldialogues.org.uk

Nominated in Modernising government award category.

The Hansard Society is an independent, non-partisan educational charity, which exists to promote effective parliamentary democracy. It focuses on three main areas:
1. Citizenship Education – educating people of all ages about parliamentary democracy and how it works.
2. Strengthening the Democratic Process – examination and identification of practical options to stimulate debate leading to improvements in the quality of parliamentary democracy, through research, commissions, forums, seminars and public meetings.
3. Encouraging Participation – encouraging engagement and participation of people in the democratic process by a range of activities including the use of interactive communication technologies, provision of public information, conferences, and publications.

1 nomination from readers

  • The Digital Dialogues initiative encourages central Government departments, agencies and ministerial offices to pilot ways of using emerging media (blogs, forums, webchats) to engage citizens.

    The Ministry of Justice (formerly, the Department of Constitutional Affairs) commissioned the Hansard Society to oversee the project in December 2005. Since then, 18 case studies have been piloted and evaluated across central government, using mostly open source software. Examples include David Miliband MP’s blog and that of the Food Standards Agency’s Chief Scientist; the Law Commission and Party Funding Review deliberative forums; and Phil Woolas MP and Ruth Kelly webchats. These case studies provide practical examples of how technologies can be incorporated into formal democratic engagement processes and structures.

    In addition to piloting technologies and techniques, the project has surveyed those involved to develop an understanding of user expectations and experiences of online engagement. Responses to the surveys offer unique insights into the behaviour, attitudes and background of users, which will assist Government to shape future public participation exercises.

    The Hansard Society and the Ministry of Justice have made an excellent contribution to the eDemocracy field through the Digital Dialogues Project. Their innovative work in this area is at the forefront of activity to modernise government.

    Nominated by Stephen Ward, 25 May 2007