On Friday afternoon I am on a panel at the League of Women Voters National Convention that reacts to the Knight Commission report Informing Communities: Sustaining Democracy in the Digital Age. In doing my homework I came across this in the report, which makes a great checklist for communities which want to be truly “informed communities”:
- People have convenient access to both civic and life-enhancing information, without regard to income or social status.
- Journalism is abundant in many forms and accessible through many convenient platforms.
- Government is open and transparent.
- People have affordable high-speed Internet service wherever and whenever they want and need it.
- Digital and media literacy are widely taught in schools, public libraries and other community centers.
- Technological and civic expertise is shared across generations.
- Local media—including print, broadcast, and new media—reflect the full reality of the communities they represent.
- People have a deep understanding of the role of free speech
and free press rights in maintaining a democratic community.
- Citizens are active in acquiring and sharing knowledge both within and across social networks.
- People can assess and track changes in the community’s information health.
are they saying this IS happening ??
“Digital and media literacy are widely taught in schools, public libraries and other community centers. ”
Because it’s not…it must be their DREAM