ask bristol and viewfinder. ask bristol set up as e-panel in january 2005 ongoing dialogue rather...
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Ask Bristol and Viewfinder
Ask Bristol
• Set up as e-panel in January 2005 • Ongoing dialogue rather than one-off and one-way
consultations• Discussions analysed and feed into consultation
alongside other methods• Analysis report distributed to all registered
members• Good demographic participation from 25-50 age
group
Viewfinder
• Piloted from Department for Constitutional Affairs/Ministry of Justice e-innovations fund – went live in January 2007
• Aimed initially at young people – attracting the under 25s to council’s consultations
• Worked with Bristol Young People’s forum to develop the project
Objectives
• Can some of the popularity of UG websites be transferred to council consultations?
• Are people comfortable using video technology to engage with the council and each other?
• Encourage participation from those who don’t get involved in traditional methods, particularly young people
• Humanise the consultation process
About the site
• Website built and hosted by Public-I
• Uses open source technology so low cost
• A Beta site so able to continually change and improve in response to feedback
• Incorporated with other consultation tools – ‘Ask Bristol’ one website for people to feed in to decision makers in the way THEY choose
Influencing decisions
• Included in reports, but decision makers can also view the feedback
• Outcomes can then be fed back on the site in an easily accessible way
• Viewers absorb information without having to read lots of text
What we have learned
• Good way to feed out information but regular communication needed to keep involvement
• Vox popping good way to go out and seek views of those who may not frequently take part in consultations
• Many people have chosen the ‘text’ route
• Has encouraged people who don’t normally participate – including young people
What next?
• Has potential to grow
• Need to keep publicising it and draw people in with interesting topics
• Need clearer step by step instructions and video on how to make and upload your own film clip
• Continue feeding out information on Consultations via video and vox popping where appropriate
• Not intended to replace traditional methods
Video introductions to Video introductions to consultations and video vox-consultations and video vox-
poppingpopping
Opportunities from the WWW
• Previously – relied on the media to produce / distribute video
• Today – videos are cheap to make. Technology easy-to-use
• Internet - quick and easy way for us to distribute
• New opportunities for direct communication and engagement
Opportunities from the WWW
• More measurable – visitors, views, who • More time to communicate video – 2
minute slot on local TV news• Content can be shown across different
websites• Watch what you want, when you want
Video direct communication
• Webcasting • Video on council website• Video introductions to some council
consultation • Video vox-popping• BSL videos
Webcasting
Video on council website – domestic violence
BSL videos
Explaining the issues – Bristol Partnership site
Video introductions to consultations
Video vox-popping
Why produce video introduction to issues?
• Media rich world • Short films e.g. you-tube surging in
popularity • Videos - wealth of information • Need to appeal to hard-to-reach /
young people • More impactful • Not at the whim of a video editor from
a traditional media outlet • Literacy
Let’s take a look
Filming and editing:Nathan Eisenstadt
Video introductions - lessons learnt
• Sound is critical – get it right first time • Video editing skills are essential – more
difficult than recording the footage• Storyboard – very clear on your
message • Allow half-a-day to collect the footage • Brief the presenters• Don’t make it too long
Why video vox-pop?
• Can stimulate other people’s views • Greater impact to hear people in their
own words • Hook people into a consultation • Can illustrate / support other research
e.g. survey results • Can highlight new issues
Let’s take a look
Video vox-popping – lessons learnt
• Consider location, time of day • Good spread of people• Easier at their own home • Video interviewing is a skill – relax the
interviewee, encourage them to speak• A lot of reluctance – easier with older
people!• Legal issues - security / privacy issues • Time consuming - be prepared for
rejections
Final thoughts
• Video vox-popping – not an end in itself • Useful in attracting comment • Firmly qualitative research – needs to
be presented as such • Useful in illustrating findings from
traditional research e.g. questionnaires • Potentially high impact with decision
makers – needs to be used professionally
Contacts
• www.askbristol.com