1 May 2008

Introducing CanberraVotes.com

1 May 2008 | Jonathon Reynolds

The “Canberra Votes” website (http://CanberraVotes.com) is a personal project in which I will attempting to document (on the public record) issues that appear to be of concern to the community in the lead up to the ACT Election in 2008.

Rather than competing with RiotACT and main-stream media, I believe that the “Canberra Votes” site can be complementary to the role that media outlets play. For example RiotACT is highly dynamic, with multiple contributors and multiple people providing (generally informed) opinion, there is no way that any one individual could hope to compete with that level of involvement and content.

What I hope to do with “Canberra Votes” site is present some of the issues and stories in a more raw format, events as they actually occurred, before the mainstream media has had a chance to put their own interpretation on them by cutting down the issue to a 10 second video or audio grab or the personal interpretation that an individual may have had of a particular event.

Whilst the comments system on RiotACT works reasonably well for garnering public opinion – the site has more than its fair share of party hacks, issue bigots and $#!+stirrers who can and do otherwise detract from the serious role that RiotACT plays in filling the local news void. Unfortunately these detractors often hide behind a protective cloak of being able to use pseudonyms and I suspect would be far more measured and reserved if they actually had to identify themselves openly.

Ultimately hope to do with the “Canberra Votes” site is enable commenting on the stories. Instead of allowing individuals to hide behind pseudonyms, ensure that the people making these comments are prepared to verify their identity (by name and suburb) for the opinions they wish to express. I see this as no different to the “letters to the editor” section in a newspaper, and is actually a requirement under the ACT Electoral Act for any political commentary.

If you have an upcoming meeting regarding a major issue affecting the community in the run up to the 2008 ACT Election and would like it covered, to the best of my ability (time and work commitments allowing), I’d be happy to attend and cover the event. Alternatively if there are other individuals prepared to cover events I’d like to hear from you.

Please feel free to contact me at contact{at}canberravotes.com

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Pandy6:20 pm 03 May 08

Jonathon likes to run away from the truth. Soon he will not be responding to anything you say.

eh_steve5:44 pm 03 May 08

@jonathon,

I said that is where you possibly became acquainted with them, nothing more.

Rather than addressing the one sidethought I put in brackets, you should address the bulk of the post.

Jonathon Reynolds4:26 pm 03 May 08

@eh_steve

eh_steve said :

However it is clearly influenced by your agenda, (I notice the WCCC have advocated light rail in the past, perhaps this is where you first became acquainted with them)which I think is fine, however you really should let readers know that stuff.

I think you need to get your facts straight with regard to WCCC support for light rail:
http://www.wccc.com.au/oldsite/Minutes/WCCC%20jul%2002%20min.pdf

eh_steve1:16 pm 03 May 08

Thankyou for addressing those points. Thanks also for pointing out the legislation.

It is indeed a good thing that you put your name to your posts. I think a point you do need to address, as mentioned before, is the way you try to present your message on the site. You should state your affliliations, so that the reader who is less acquainted with you than RA readers understands your bias. Hving the bias isn’t the problem, it should just be acknowledged.

I mentioned this same point when you were on the front page of the Chronicle as ‘concerned Gungahlin Resident’ Jonathon Reynolds, discussing an issue in Holt.

Canberravotes will be a good insight into goings on that the average Canberran would never be aware of, and an excellent use of New Media. I can see you’ve put a fair bit of hard work into it, and kudos for that. However it is clearly influenced by your agenda, (I notice the WCCC have advocated light rail in the past, perhaps this is where you first became acquainted with them)which I think is fine, however you really should let readers know that stuff.

Pandy11:37 pm 02 May 08

Ohh another fellow traveller I see. Jonathon can show a bit of honesty. I know he wont respond to me, but at least two other people have called him a card carrying liberal.

NathanaelB8:53 pm 02 May 08

Pandy, give it a break will ya?

Pandy7:39 pm 02 May 08

No denying you are a Liberal member. Going to use the telephone numbers to do a bit of push polling eh?

Jonathon Reynolds3:44 pm 02 May 08

To answer a few queries and questions:

If a video of a meeting or event is covered with just the minimal post production editing required to get it online I believe that is about as close to neutral or unbiased as you can get. It may in fact make for spectacularly boring viewing in the eyes of some.

The reason for copying and pasting description material from groups own material is that the event is then explained or expressed in that groups own words.

I am happy to issue an open invitation to all and sundry to be able to comment on stories posted on the site. It is not a matter whether or not you may be a “party hack” or a particular “issue bigot”. The crux of the matter is the individual has to be prepared to be publicly identified. Those making those comments will do so in their REAL name not hide behind the anonymity of some pseudonym.

Similarly, if people wish to accuse me of being biased or a “party hack”, so be it – they are free to do so, but I least I am prepared to put my real name to my opinions.

I am still working on an effective process to verify the identity of people who wish to comment. Using the white pages and verifying identity via a return phone call to their published address/phone number is one simple method that will cater for most individuals. I’m sure if other people have an unlisted number and are desperate enough to want to be able to leave comments they will be able to prove their real identity somehow.

For the CanberraVotes.com website – electoral matter appearing as comments on a website in response to a published story could be interpreted as “Letters to the Editor” under section 293 of the ACT Electoral Act. Feel free to make your own interpretation of the relevant portions of the ACT Electoral Act: http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/1992-71/default.asp

NathanaelB3:01 pm 02 May 08

Some people may have concerns about any political bias here – and with only a single person behind this site, asking for political neutrality is absurd. Personally, I think it’s a good idea – the community needs it; and it will be up to the individuals to sort through the information as it’s published to determine the facts and form their own opinion. But at least the information will be made available. That’s better than nothing – you have to agree?

arsebandit2211:14 am 02 May 08

Hey Jonathon

Don’t you think you are being a hypocrite. You have your own personal views and you are a member of the Liberal Party so therefore by definition you are a party hack.

Your views and what you allow on your site will obviously be biased. Not saying which way as we all know that you change parties to suit your own agenda.

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