TALKS
Westminster University
Invited by the Westminster University – Department of Politics – to give talks to last year students of Politics in 2013 – 14 – 15.
The talks centred around the role of the Source Mag in local politics and the ability of it to generate critical mass, particularly with local issues which the magazine championed, in one case being pivotal in bringing a local campaign to mainstream media (BBC, Standard, Guardian and others).
Extract of notes:
“
I want to look at an issue that it’s of particular relevance to all and the role of the local press and specifically the so-called hyperlocal press. It’s about the physical space where we all move.
A case that we all witnessed: new building developments or the sale of public assets by the local authorities.
But first I want to refer to two terms that play a role in this process: advocacy and Public engagement
On advocacy:
And specifically:
Bureaucratic advocacy: people considered “experts” have more chance to succeed at presenting their issues to decision-makers and they use bureaucratic advocacy to influence the agenda.
Goes hand in hand with:
Lobbying (often by lobby groups) is a form of advocacy where a direct approach is made to the ones in charge of defining policy
On Public engagement
The tradition of a decision-making body getting inputs from those with less power is generally known as “consultation”.
The existing term it shares most in common with is participatory democracy.
Participatory democracy is: a process emphasizing the broad participation of citizens in the direction and operation of political systems.
One and the other, advocacy and Public engagement, are not bad words. Campaigning organizations (say to eradicate Malaria) will use both ways to achieve their goals.
The problem is when in politics, (and local politics) one is being emphasized with the prejudice of the other, and it is us, citizens who lose out.
“
