Community Forum Explores "Meeting the Public's Information Needs in Silicon Valley"

Are Silicon Valley citizens getting the information they need in order to solve community problems, coordinate civic activity, maintain public accountability, and foster the human connectedness that is the backbone of both community and democracy?

Center Senior Fellow in Government Ethics Judy Nadler will join other Silicon Valley leaders in governance, media, and civic activism September 8 in a discussion sponsored by the Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy. (www.knightcomm.org)

The commission is conducting a year-long study to identify the information needs of communities in a democracy, assess how and whether those needs are being met, and recommend steps to improve the fulfillment of those needs.

In addition to reviewing research on information access and trends, including media developments, new technology, and innovations in civic and government communication, the Commission is soliciting testimony from national experts and holding community forums to hear from local citizens and practitioners about the "information ecosystems" in their communities.

The Commission will issue a report in 2009 offering recommendations for achieving the news and information environment that democratic communities need in order to thrive.

Roundtable contributors offering informed perspectives are listed below. To view the full meeting agenda, click here.

1. Richard Adler, President, People & Technology, Institute for the Future

2. Jim Bettinger, Director, John S. Knight Fellowships for Professional Journalists, Stanford University

3. Chava Bustamante, Staff Coordinator, SEIU Local 1877

4. Emmett Carson, CEO and President, Silicon Valley Community Foundation

5. Muhammed Chaudhry, President and CEO, Silicon Valley Education Foundation

6. Linjun Fan, Albany Today blog

7. Matt Hammer, Executive Director, People Acting in Community Together

8. Raj Jayadev, Founder, Silicon Valley De-Bug

9. Mike McGuire, Research Vice President, Gartner

10. Judy Nadler, Senior Fellow in Government Ethics, Santa Clara University

11. Chris O'Brien, Project Manager, The Next Newsroom Project, Economics Reporter and Columnist, San Jose Mercury News

12. Linda O'Bryon, Chief Content Officer, KQED Public Television

13. George Sampson, News and Program Director, KLIV Radio Station

14. David Satterfield, Managing Editor, San Jose Mercury News

15. Amra Tareen, AllVoices.com

16. Kim Walesh, Chief Strategist, City of San Jose, CA

17. Holmes Wilson, Co-Founder, Participatory Culture Foundation

WHEN: Monday, September 8, 9AM-5PM

WHERE: Google Headquarters, Building 43, Tunis Room, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California. Click here for an interactive map. For driving directions and parking, click here.

RSVP: Members of the media and public who wish to attend MUST RSVP no later than September 5, 2008 with name and affiliation. Email: erin.silliman@aspeninstitute.org or call (202) 736-5818.

WEBCAST: The meeting will be webcast live and available for future viewing on www.knightcomm.org.

September 2008