NCOC asks: Can Facebook replace face-to-face?

by Julia Rocchi on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 11:36

It’s T minus 5 days until the Annual National Conference on Citizenship comes around again, this time with a focus on civic participation “beyond the vote.” And this year, their first panel features a topic near and dear to any social citizen’s heart: how online tools can lead to greater civic engagement.
 
Moderated by Joe Trippi, and featuring William Galston from the Brookings Institute and Sean Parker from Facebook, the panel explores the question, “Can Facebook replace face-to-face?”
 
They won’t be talking e-democracy, e-government, or changes in governance, but rather how online tools help (or don’t help) mobilize, inform, and connect citizens on important issues. Points include:
  • What are the differences, if any, that information technology has already made in a demonstrable way for civic engagement?
  • What has information technology not changed (or not changed yet)?
  • What barriers to entry has online engagement overcome, if any, and how has it changed public dialogue as a whole?
  • Where/when/how can online engagement compete with and possibly overcome old school mass media and hierarchal campaigns?
Over the next couple days, we hope to introduce the panelists and their viewpoints to you. Plus, we’ll be posting video of the panel after 9/22 so you can see the action firsthand.
 
In the meantime, please feel free to post your burning questions here – you might just have the perfect point of discussion for the panel!
 
Want to be there in person? Here are the details:
 
WHAT: Annual National Conference on Citizenship
WHEN: September 22, 2008 from 9 a.m. to noon
WHERE: Inside the National Archives.
WHO: Sandra Day O’Connor (Keynote Speaker), and government, business, nonprofit, and academic leaders.
WHY: NCOC is discussing national civic participation “Beyond the Vote,” and releasing the 2008 Civic Health Index.
RSVP: Space at the conference is limited and fills fast. If you are interested in helping build an active and engaged citizenry, please RSVP by e-mailing David B. Smith at to reserve your spot.
 
Want to read more? Check out these resources:
 
Real Change Happens Off-line, by Sally Kohn
 
Online and Off, Millennials Redefine Civil Rights Activism, by Tanene Allison
 
Millennials & Activism at Daily KOS
 
Hat tip to David Smith and Kari for their help with this post!

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