[Winona Online Democracy] Long-time Winona Daily News editor and editorialist Adolph Bremer (RIP) once wisely cautioned against demanding the last word in a disagreement. I think he was right, and that's why I'm reluctant to respond to Randy Schenkat's recent letter to the editor and some of the things written on Winona Online Democracy (WOD) since news about my study of it was published. Still, I feel that a few points demand making.
First, a question: Has anyone read the study? If not, maybe people should read it before they analyze or criticize it. Second, Mr. Schenkat in his letter and Duane Peterson in a WOD posting are wrong when they write that I have not made any suggestions as to how WOD can improve. In a May 12, 2004, column in the Winona Daily News summarizing survey research I did of WOD "lurkers," I included this URL: http://av.smumn.edu/schild. Anyone who went to that site and read that study would know that I devoted about a page to suggestions about how WOD might address some of the shortcomings and concerns that had been brought up by its subscribersnot by me. Those suggestions include: o imposing stricter limits on the frequency with which subscribers could post messages; o managing the list more actively to promote more balance in ideological or partisan opinion; and o experimenting with an "equal time" feature in which the "other opinion" could be more actively sought out or presented. Regarding Ruth Charles' statement on WOD that "Maybe there is a problem with the research methods in understanding the impact that WOD can have," let me say this: Both surveys I conducted of WOD subscribers were posted on the list itself, so if the surveys had grave shortcomings, I'm surprised they weren't pointed out right away. Besides the surveys, all my research about WOD quotes extensively from comments made on WOD by WOD subscribers. The other major element of my research has been statisticalcounting and categorizingand nobody has told me my numbers are wrong. As far as my having been both a researcher and a subscriber, I'm not the only one for whom that's truebut I am the only one who's been criticized for those dual roles. Also related to Ms. Charles' remark is my final point: The standard I've kept foremost in mind in studying WOD is the first sentence of its mission statement: "The goal of Winona Online Democracy is to empower, inform, and engage the citizenry by creating an ongoing community-wide discussion of local public issues." I mention this to make clear that I'm not evaluating WOD according to my terms, but to its own terms. And I think the numbers make clear that a group dominated by as small a number of people as dominate WOD has not achieved a community-wide discussion. _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
