scholarly journals Council Press Offices as Sources of Political Information: Between Journalism for Accountability and Propaganda

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Vanessa Rodríguez-Breijo ◽  
Núria Simelio ◽  
Pedro Molina-Rodríguez-Navas
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Public Debate ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Political Information ◽  
Political Leaders ◽  
The Public ◽  
Selection Of

This study uses a qualitative approach to examine what political and technical leaders of municipalities understand transparency and public information to mean, and what role they believe the different subjects involved (government, opposition, and the public) should have. The websites of 605 Spanish councils with more than 100,000 inhabitants were analysed and three focus groups were held with political and technical leaders from a selection of sample councils. The results show that the technical and political leaders of the councils do not have a clear awareness of their function of management accountability or of the need to apply journalistic criteria to the information they publish, defending with nuances the use of propaganda criteria to focus on the actions of the local government, its information, the lack of space dedicated to public debate and the opposition’s actions. In relation to accountability and citizen participation, they have a negative view of citizens, who they describe as being disengaged. However, they emphasize that internally it is essential to continue improving in terms of the culture of transparency and the public information they provide citizens.

Social media responsiveness in the public sector: A study of social media adoption in three functional areas of local government

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Seigler
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
The Public ◽  
Organizational Influences ◽  
Online Social Media ◽  
Social Media Tools ◽  
Similar Path ◽  
Functional Areas

Based on the importance of citizen participation and the collaborative potential of online social media tools, this study tests four proposed influences on administrators who are deciding whether or not to adopt these tools to engage citizens. A survey of 157 department managers from large U.S. cities shows that 82% report using some form of social media to engage citizens and that perceived organizational influences and administrator preconceptions have the strongest impact on the respondentsʼ decision to adopt social media. Possible explanations for the results are that the use of online social media in the public sector may be following a similar path of adoption as earlier forms of e-government or managers may be operating in a rational environment when deciding whether or not to adopt online social media tools.

PP414 Improving The Accessibility Of Scottish Medicines Consortium Advice

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (S1) ◽  
pp. 36-36
Author(s):  
Miranda Pierre ◽  
Jackie McCormack ◽  
Jennifer Dickson ◽  
Lindsay Lockhart ◽  
Noreen Downes
Keyword(s):  
Public Information ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
User Perspective ◽  
The Public ◽  
The People ◽  
Healthcare Improvement ◽  
The Press ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
Selection Of

IntroductionThe Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) provides advice on which new medicines should be accepted for routine use by the NHS in Scotland. To help increase the accessibility of the advice, SMC produces public information summaries, which have been published on the SMC website since 2018. We conducted an evaluation to investigate if the public summaries are achieving their purpose and subsequently help inform improvements from a user perspective. The objectives were to determine how the public summaries are being used; what users like and what could be improved; and if they have achieved a greater understanding of decisions.MethodsThe first stage of the evaluation involved surveying patient groups (organizations that represent the interests of patients, families and carers) to investigate how they use the public summaries. We then conducted workshops with patient groups and Public Partners (members of the public that volunteer with Healthcare Improvement Scotland) to gather perspectives on the content, language and layout of a selection of public summaries.ResultsThe survey responses (n = 14) illustrate that the public summaries are being used in a variety of ways. The majority (n = 10) of patient groups reported using the public summaries to help explain SMC decisions to the people they support.The workshops highlighted that participants found the public summaries clear and helpful. In general, patient groups felt the level of detail and language used in the public summaries improved their understanding of SMC decisions compared to other sources of information, such as the press release or Detailed Advice Document.There were a number of suggested improvements, including changing the layout (so the SMC decision appears first) and providing definitions for some technical terms. Where actionable, these recommendations have been implemented.ConclusionsWorking in partnership with patient groups and Public Partners has enabled SMC to further strengthen public summaries, and patient engagement more broadly. Improvements have ensured that SMC's decisions are communicated clearly, helping to increase accessibility.

Georgia rural hospital authorities as “shadow governments”

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-112
Author(s):  
Mary Eleanor Rawlings Wickersham ◽  
Robert Yehl
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Private Interests ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Special District

Purpose The tenuous financial viability of many of Georgia’s rural hospitals has driven increased scrutiny of the hospital authorities (HAs) that own and govern them. HAs are a type of “special district” established in state law to allow for specialization of function, while evading statutes that can limit local government borrowing and multi-year contracts. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a case example to introduce transparency and accountability in one local Georgia hospital and expands to include a descriptive analysis of transparency measures in 29 rural Georgia HAs. Findings Findings indicate that, like many other special districts in Georgia and the USA, Georgia’s rural HAs often act more like private entities than the public organizations they are. The lack of transparency demonstrated in this sector limits access to public information and reduces opportunities for citizen engagement, a necessary component of representative institutions. Research limitations/implications This case study is limited to Georgia HAs; however, the data support the lack of accountability and transparency found in many special district governments. Originality/value The lack of transparency in all of the organizations reviewed in this study demonstrates blurred lines between between public matters and private interests and raises questions of transparency, a key value in democracies.

Citizen-Assisted Performance Measurement? Reassessing Its Viability and Impact

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 716-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
David N. Ammons ◽  
Patrick M. Madej
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Performance Measurement ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Government Performance ◽  
Ongoing Support

Citizen-assisted performance measurement (CAPM) was a hot topic just a decade or so ago, promoted by enthusiasts as a useful coupling of the performance measurement and citizen participation movements. The idea of engaging citizens in the design of local government performance measures retains some ongoing support today based mostly on normative assumptions and testimonials. A careful review of the premises of CAPM and empirical evidence from CAPM projects, however, reveals weaknesses in the premises and few surviving measures from CAPM projects. The authors’ findings support the view that citizen efforts would more beneficially be directed upstream of performance measurement, with citizens engaged as focus groups to offer views on their local government’s performance objectives and priorities rather than as designers of performance measures.

scholarly journals Evaluación ciudadana del desempeño de la Gestión Pública Municipal

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Graciela Delgadillo ◽  
Jorge Castillo
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Public Management ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Government Performance ◽  
Public Performance ◽  
Nuevo Leon ◽  
The Public ◽  
Nuevo León ◽  
The Impact

Key words: Access to public information, citizen’s perception, local government, public performance evaluation, public services effectivenessAbstract. This article presents the result of a study whit the objective to identify and measure the impact of the factors that the citizens uses to evaluate the public management performance in a specific territorial and temporary space in the sphere of action of local government. With a sample of 250 Mexican citizens that normally live in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico conformed by 126 (50,4%) women of between 23 and 73 years with a mean of 43 years old and 124 (49,6%) men of between 18 and 71 years with a mean of 38 years old,the most important findings allowed to identify the factors that mainly influence the evaluation that the citizen does about the local government performance are: the effectiveness of the public services, the honesty of the public workers and the accountability just only linked to the access of public information. The study also offers evidence that confirm variation does not exist between men and women in their way of local government performance evaluation.Palabras clave: Acceso a la información pública, desempeño de la gestión pública, efectividad de servicios públicos, gobierno municipal, percepción ciudadanaResumen. Este artículo presenta los resultados de un estudio cuyo objetivo fue el de identificar y medir el impacto de los factores que utiliza el ciudadano para evaluar el desempeño de la gestión pública en un espacio territorial y temporal especifico referido a la esfera de acción del gobierno municipal. Con una muestra de 250 ciudadanos mexicanos que habitualmente residen en Guadalupe, Nuevo León, México conformada por 126 (50.4%) mujeres de entre 23 y 73 años con una media de edad de 43 años y 124 (49.6%) hombres de entre 18 y 71 años con una media de edad de 38 años, los hallazgos más importantespermitieron identificar que los factores que mayormente influyen en la evaluación que el ciudadano hace sobre el trabajo que realiza su gobierno municipal son: la efectividad de los servicios públicos, la honestidad de los servidores públicos y la rendición de cuentas referida solo como el acceso a la información pública. El estudio ofrece también evidencia de que noexiste variación en la forma en que los hombres y las mujeres evalúan el desempeño de la gestión pública municipal.

scholarly journals Governance problem in Citizen Participation in the district Municipality of San Martin de Porres

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (36) ◽  
pp. 17-26
Author(s):  
Renzo González Flores ◽  
Emperatriz Dina Flores Leiva
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Direct Relationship ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
San Martín

This research explanation of governance and its problems in the participation of citizens in decision-making in the Municipality of San Martin de Porres through the rules and management and decision-making instruments which prevent it. The methodology there is a qualitative approach, system of relationships between governance and citizen participation. The results report that the management instruments prevent real citizen participation in a municipal mandate. In addition, a municipal mandate must be meticulous in making decisions in relation to the collaboration of the authorities and the civil community. In conclusion, there is no direct relationship between local government and citizen participation; this shows that there is no real governance.

scholarly journals Strategical communication as a method

2005 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 19-37
Author(s):  
Pål B. Horsle
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Information Policy ◽  
Government Information ◽  
Strategic Communications ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
The Public ◽  
Selection Of

This article presents a way of thinking and planning strategic communications step by step. But even though the term step is used, the process must not always follow the sequence shown here. Often it may be necessary to go backwards and forwards to adjust the steps in relation to each other. This applies not least to the choice of target groups, the determination of sub-objectives, the selection of the main procedures and the level of ambition. But regardless of the sequence, no step should be omitted. The overall focus is effectiveness in order to what extent objectives is reached. This article is based upon my experience and as responsible for exercising approximately 50 strategies primarily within the public sector, in addition to use of The Norwegian Central Government Information Policy. Which is as a fact the only public information policy in the whole world which is implemented. Of this reason this article could be interpreted rather normative than empirical theoretic.

scholarly journals Trade Fair Fee as a Source of Income for the Budgets of Municipalities in Poland on Selected Examples

e-Finanse ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-48
Author(s):  
Cezary Szydłowski
Keyword(s):  
Public Information ◽  
Retail Trade ◽  
Trade Fair ◽  
Legal Regulations ◽  
Total Revenue ◽  
Total Income ◽  
Information Bulletin ◽  
The Public ◽  
Holiday Season ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract The public finance system in force in Poland provides for a trade fair fee (Polish - „opłata targowa”) as part of municipalities’ own revenues. The trade fair fee is collected from persons selling at marketplaces located in the municipality. It constitutes own income for the commune’s budget and is an archaic form of public tribute. According to the legal regulations in force in Poland, communes may waive the collection of the exhibition fee, however, there are still many communes collecting it. The assessment of income to the commune budget from the trade fair fee was carried out on the basis of a survey of income to the budget of selected 10 coastal communes in Pomorskie Voivodeship. The selection of coastal municipalities was determined by their specificity in terms of retail trade on markets and squares. This is because the holiday season attracts many tourists and entrepreneurs who sell the goods they offer in the mode of direct retail trade carried out on local markets, streets or squares (often located near the entrance to local beaches). The analysis of income from the fair fee was carried out on the basis of reports on the implementation of the budgets of communes and reports on the income of communes Rb-27s published by commune authorities on the pages of the Public Information Bulletin of a given local government unit. Verification of the revenue of the selected 10 municipalities from the fair fee for 2016-2019 revealed a very low share of the fair fee in the total revenue to the municipalities’ budgets (maximum 1.60% for the Łeba municipality in 2016). Moreover, the communes incur significant costs related to the collection of the trade fair fee, which are connected with the payment of commissions on the collected amounts up to 25% of the total income from the fee. The results of the research indicate that it would be reasonable for the authorities of the analysed communes to consider abolishing the trade fair fee in their area, as the revenue is small compared to the costs incurred. The liquidation of the market fee may attract more traders and improve the image of the commune as a facilitator of business activities involving trade in marketplaces.

scholarly journals Etika Aparatur Pemerintah Daerah dalam Pelayanan Adminsitrasi Kependudukan Masa Pandemi Covid-19 Di Kantor Dinas Kependudukan Dan Pencatatan Sipil Kabupaten Mempawah

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (01) ◽  
pp. 27-36
Author(s):  
Bima Sujendra ◽  
Nahot Sihaloho
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
The Public ◽  
Civil Registration ◽  
State Administration ◽  
Cover Up

Abstract: This study conducted a study of the Ethics of Local Government Apparatuses in Population Administration Services at the Mempawah Regency Population and Civil Registration Office during the Covid 19 Period. The formulation of the problem in this study is how the ethics of local government officials in the service of making Electronic ID cards at the Population and Registration Office Civil Society of Mempawah Regency during the Covid 19 period. The research method used by researchers is a qualitative approach, with data collection techniques through observation, interview documentation. The theory used to analyze in this research is the Indicators of State Administration Ethics according to Surjadi, which consists of Honesty, Fairness, Obedience to Rules, Responsibility, and Fairness. The results showed that the Honesty aspect was good; this was seen from the absence of illegal levies and did not cover up the complaints obtained from the community related to being unsatisfactory in providing services. The justice aspect is not good because there is still discrimination in providing services to the community. Aspects of Obeying the Rules are still not good; this can be seen from the apparatus that does not obey the regulations, namely the discipline of working hours. Aspects of Fairness and Property are still not good, and this can be seen from the lack of friendliness of the apparatus in serving the public who ask questions related to information on making and taking Electronic ID cards. The advice given by the researcher is that the Disdukcapil of Mempawah Regency is expected to increase awareness to be ethical in providing services by making SOPs related to being ethical in providing services during the covid 19 periods.

scholarly journals Collaborative Governance (Collaborative Study of Actors in Handling the Spread of Covid-19 in Indonesia)

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-60
Author(s):  
Kus Indarto ◽  
Susi Ratnawati
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Collaborative Study ◽  
Collaborative Governance ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
National Committee ◽  
Model Data ◽  
The Public ◽  
Inhibiting Factors ◽  
Descriptive Method

The purpose of this study is to analyze the collaboration of actors in handling the spread and the inhibiting factors in handling the spread of Covid-19 in Indonesia.Methodology: This study uses a qualitative approach, with a descriptive method. Data were obtained by studying literature, then analyzed by using interactive model data analysis. The areas studied are Gianyar Regency, Probolinggo City, and Padang City.The collaboration of actors in the Gianyar Regency involves the Indonesian Youth National Committee and the Youth Officers Unit to Fight Covid-19. The collaboration of actors in Probolinggo City involves the local government, academics, and the community. Meanwhile, the collaboration actors in Padang City involve academics, the public, the private sector, local government, and the mass media. And all can be said to go well. The collaboration of actors in the areas studied has been going well, although the actors involved are different.

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