The IRMA Community
Newsletters
Research IRM
Click a keyword to search titles using our InfoSci-OnDemand powered search:
|
Local Governments and Social Networking: Do You Speak Our Language?
|
|
Author(s): Gerald A. Merwin (Valdosta State University, USA), J. Scott McDonald (University of Texas at El Paso, USA), Keith A. Merwin (Merwin & Associates, USA), Maureen McDonald (WDE Consulting, USA)and John R. Bennett (Valdosta State University, USA)
Copyright: 2012
Pages: 15
Source title:
Public Service, Governance and Web 2.0 Technologies: Future Trends in Social Media
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Ed Downey (State University of New York, College at Brockport, USA)and Matthew A. Jones (Portland State University, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-0071-3.ch006
Purchase
|
Abstract
This chapter argues that Web 2.0, a valuable tool used to expand government-citizen communication opportunities and bring citizens as a group closer to government, widens a communication opportunity divide between local government and its citizens. Web 2.0 access is almost exclusively English-language based, benefiting that segment of the population and leaving others behind, especially the fastest growing language minority, Spanish speakers. While local governments continue to take advantage of the ability to interact with citizens through social networking (Aikins, 2009; Vogel, 2009), McDonald, Merwin, Merwin, Morris, & Brannen (2010) found a majority of counties with significant populations of citizens with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) did not provide for the translation needs of these citizens on their Websites. The chapter finds that Web 2.0-based communication is almost exclusively in English and that cities are missing opportunities to communicate. It concludes with recommendations based on observations of communities employing Web 2.0 to engage non-English speaking populations.
Related Content
|
.
© 2023.
|
|
.
© 2023.
|
|
.
© 2023.
|
|
.
© 2023.
|
|
.
© 2023.
|
|
.
© 2023.
|
|
.
© 2023.
|
|
|