The Democracy Network
Center for Governmental Studies
The Center for Governmental Studies in
Los Angeles has created a new system of digitized, interactive multimedia political and
voter information. Called the Democracy Network, this new package of interactive video,
textual and audio information is designed for use on the next generation of broadband
cable, telephone and computer networks.
The Democracy Network is intended
ultimately to be available free of charge to elected officials, political candidate and
voters. It will be available in selected interactive televisions areas around the nation
and on the World Wide Web for the 1996 presidential elections.
The network's prototype contains a new Congressional
Issues feature with exclusive video materials from U.S. Senators Bob Kerrey, Tom
Daschle and Paul Simon, Speaker Newt Gingrich, Rep. Vernon Ehlers and the MacNeil-Lehrer
Newshour. Also included is an Elections demonstration feature with California
Gov. Pete Wilson, State Treasurer Kathleen Brown, ballot measure committees, TV and radio
stations and newspapers.
The Voting Information component of
The Democracy Network contains options such as:
A "click" on
"Elections" displays all the candidates and ballot measures: Governor, US
Senator, Congressman, state legislators, judges, city council, state and local ballot
measures, etc.
A "click" on
"Governor," for example, further displays: opening video statements by all
candidates along with statements on specific issues; videotaped endorsements from
individuals or organizations selected by the candidates; TV, radio and print commercials
supplied by the candidates; newspaper "truth boxes," commenting on the accuracy
of those commercials; print materials (newspapers and magazine stories, editorials,
research on election issues) on the candidate and campaigns; the top five campaign
contributors for each candidate; electronic bulletin boards for voters to leave video,
audio or textual questions for the candidates, with opportunity for the candidates to
reply; and access to "Project Vote Smart" [web side at:
http:/www.votesmart.org/] and other independent organizations with comment and
information on the candidates.
Benefits of The Democracy Network
The Democracy Network is intended
to encourage citizens to communicate with each other on political issues and participate
in elections; decrease political campaign costs for paid media; provide easy-to-use
multi-lingual governmental information and political materials to non-English speaking
audiences; and diminish the existing financial disparities between political candidates.
The system is also designed for use in schools as a tool to help teachers educate students
about the democratic process and community affairs.
Because the system will be largely
self-operating, elected officials and candidates will prepare their own materials (as they
have done for the initial prototype) and upload them into The Democracy Network
system. Participants can add new statements at any time, thereby creating an on-going
debate. The system can be upgraded yearly and is adaptable to fit most platforms (e.g.
cable or telephone company delivered video, broadband computer networks, CD-ROM or public
kiosks).
In 1995 and 1996, the Center plans to add
new components to The Democracy Network, including digitized versions of public,
educational and governmental (PEG) access channels, as well as information on current
issues, local governments and the courts. When completed, The Democracy Network
will thus include information on voting, information on issues, opportunities for town
hall discussion, information on government, information on courts and live feeds from news
organizations
The Center intends to place The
Democracy Network in working cable and telephone company interactive test beds for
further refinement. It also hopes to make The Democracy Network available via
high-speed coaxial cable computer networks, as well as on CD-ROMs and public kiosks. A
version of The Democracy Network will also appear on the World Wide Web by the Fall
of 1995.
For information, contact The Center for
Governmental Studies by: mail (10951 West Pico Blvd, Suite 206, Los Angeles, CA 90064);
phone (310-470-6590); or email ([email protected]).