2002-10-01-皮尤-Digital_Town_Hall_17页_122kb

报告摘要

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE AT 4 P.M. (EASTERN) ON OCTOBER 2, 2002

Summary of Findings

Widespread Internet Adoption: 88% of local elected officials use the Internet/email for official duties. 90% use email weekly; 61% daily.
Citizen Email Contact: 79% receive citizen email; 25% receive it daily. 61% use email weekly to communicate with citizens; 21% daily. 75% handle all incoming email.
Value of Email: 73% say email helps understand public opinion; 56% say it improves relations with community groups; 54% contact citizens previously unheard from.
Limitations: Email is preferred over some methods but considered less significant than phone calls, letters, or meetings by most officials. It doesn't seem to usher a revolution in municipal affairs.
Communication Style: Officials often use email for convenience, blending official and personal accounts, especially in smaller cities. FOIA concerns regarding email privacy were noted by some.
Local Use: Internet/Web use for local needs remains limited awareness among citizens. City officials found email professionally helpful despite citizen preferences for traditional methods.
Effect on Politics: Email can improve responsiveness ("constituent contact"), facilitate outreach to local groups (especially daily email users), and act as a communication and engagement tool.
Conclusion: Despite limitations (ease of sending, verification issues, specific context), email is seen by some as a useful tool that reduces barriers to civic participation, though its impact on overall policy-making and debate on complex issues remains debated.