Community Information Needs in a Digital Age

Local officials and their communities are confronting an information revolution in the way news and information is created, shared and received. The Institute for Local Government’s 6th Annual Symposium featured Professor Peter M. Shane, speaking on the topic of Informing Democracy: Local Leadership and the Changing Information Needs of Communities. This thought-provoking presentation got to the heart of what constitutes informed local democracy in the digital age.

Professor Shane served as executive director to the Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy and was the lead drafter of its recent report, "Informing Communities: Sustaining Democracy in the Digital Age" (see pod at right).  Professor Shane also teaches at Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law.

Available are an audio podcast (at right) and video clips of segments of the symposium presentation.

As there were technical difficulties in video recording the symposium, we have selected segments (see below) that provide key pieces of information from Prof. Shane's presentation.

The symposium was held on September 16th, 2010 in conjunction with League of California Cities’ Annual Conference. The Institute is grateful to the Knight Foundation and Comcast for their generous support of this event.  To learn more information about 2011 sponsorship opportunties contact Kelly Plag, Director of Communications and Development at 916-658-8231 or go to www.ca-ilg.org/SymposiumSponsorships.