Some Burlington city councilors are using technology to open up public meetings to a broader audience, a positive development for a city starved for evidence of more openness within city government.At least three councilors -- Ed Adrian, D-Ward 1, Karen Paul, I-Ward 6, and Nancy Kaplan, D-Ward 4 -- have been sending short text messages live from recent City Council and committee meetings via the online social networking service Twitter. The "tweets" are available to anyone with an Internet connection and a free Twitter account by becoming a "follower" of a particular councilor.Critics say sending text messages during meetings is a distraction for city councilors who should be focused on the business at hand. Photographers then television crews, too, were called a distraction when they began covering government meetings.
No one is saying councilors should become full-time reporters, but working to keep constituents informed and engaged should be one of the key items in any elected representative's job description. In this regard, think of tweeting meeting updates as another way to reduce the barriers to participating in local government.Twitter updates can be especially useful for people who are away from their televisions or computers because the messages can pop up on many cell phones. A real-time report on what is happening in city meetings can be an invaluable tool in keeping residents informed, especially of unexpected or eagerly anticipated developments.
Twitter has its limitations. The messages coming out of the meetings are short -- limited to 140 characters and spaces -- and you often have to read a series of tweets to understand the subject and context. And the tweets are no substitute for actually attending a meeting, or even reading a news story or other fuller accounts of the proceedings after the fact.Think of Twitter as an addition to, rather than a replacement for, media that have been around a little longer serving a different purpose.Offering yet another option that allows busy city residents to keep up with what's happening in City Hall is a welcome advancement toward a more open and accountable government.
No one is saying councilors should become full-time reporters, but working to keep constituents informed and engaged should be one of the key items in any elected representative's job description. In this regard, think of tweeting meeting updates as another way to reduce the barriers to participating in local government.Twitter updates can be especially useful for people who are away from their televisions or computers because the messages can pop up on many cell phones. A real-time report on what is happening in city meetings can be an invaluable tool in keeping residents informed, especially of unexpected or eagerly anticipated developments.
Twitter has its limitations. The messages coming out of the meetings are short -- limited to 140 characters and spaces -- and you often have to read a series of tweets to understand the subject and context. And the tweets are no substitute for actually attending a meeting, or even reading a news story or other fuller accounts of the proceedings after the fact.Think of Twitter as an addition to, rather than a replacement for, media that have been around a little longer serving a different purpose.Offering yet another option that allows busy city residents to keep up with what's happening in City Hall is a welcome advancement toward a more open and accountable government.
No comments:
Post a Comment