citizen participation

Citizen participaton is needed at any level of government. It is a founding principle that helps develop and manifest our goals and practices. It is commonly expressed that citizen participation is low, there ahave been increases and the numbers rise usally when we have elections of some type, particularly presidential. Although voting is always seen as a strong component of particiaption in our government, there should be more engegment at other levels to help capture the essence of a long self standing idea, "...a government for the people, by the people.".

I believe the easiest way to engage our publc is by motivating our youth to be politically active. They eventually will be our policymakers and administrators, so it is important to reach them. This particular segment of particiants is a unique and evolving group, so it is important to stay ahead of the curve on relevant issues and use technology to distribute information and inspire change.

The most common way youth are reached is by media, in particular television, by using public service announcements. This can trend can be seen reletaviely early with the marketing of armed services recruiting. The use of public service announcements was used in the 1980's and 1990's to reach young adults, teens, and children. I remember as a youth messages of local issues, such as police and fire safety were placed in cartoon episodes. Large scale campaigns to prevent smoking/tobbacco use became regular televison segments. The trend seemed to at least be informative and did reach the target population effectively.

As we become emerged in this technological heavy society, it seems logical that the relevant issues confronting government will need to presented to our youth in a similar way as in the 1980's and 1990's. The accessibilty of computers and tech savvy devices are in the hands of most of our youth, so these different media d social networking outlets we have been exploring in our class will be the connectivity to participation. These cyberspaces are an innovative and quick use of space to reach many, so it seems that the evolution of public service announcements will be internet based. While searching for information I could integrate into this post I came across a public service announcement that addresses youth particiaption and is posted on youtube, "CNN Broadcasts PSA on Youth-Led Change" (YOUTUBE.COM CNN 2008). I believe it originally aired on CNN, BUT it is now accessible online. This type of outreach will inevitably evolve into other forms of media and networking to reach and engage citizens to partiiapte in issues and government oriented goals

The use of public service announcements in previous form and combined in the future with current technology is based in the essential citizen participation concepts. For citizens, public service announcements educate, allows for people to become active in the issue, connects them to governement ( Irvin & Stansbury 2004). For governement, it allows for education, ligitamy for decisions, connectivity to public (Irvin & Stansbury 2004). The benefits to reach the public far outweigh the distractions it can cause, because inevitably it froms the framework of the genral goals that evryone involved wants and needs. This also gives credibilty to all parties olved becasue they have a buy in and have a voice in the process. Irvin and Stansbury explain, (that public participation can)..."emphasize the particiaption process as a transformative tool for social change," (p.64 2004)

"CNN Broadcasts PSA on Youth-Led Change"
The links are not working for me---PSA on youth is on youtube.com---