We presented a paper at the 2007 RSS meeting in California. The title of the paper was "Building Community through the Internet: A Case of the Kentucky Citizen Media Project (KCMP)".
Building Community through the Internet:
A Case of the Kentucky Citizen Media Project (KCMP)
ABSTRACT
Relying on such theories as community communication ecology and social capital, this study aims to build a theoretical and analytical framework that can empirically test the effects of the Internet on local communities in terms of social capital, such as social networks, trust, and reciprocity; civic knowledge and skills; leadership; and community engagement. Specifically, this study will initiate a citizen media through the Internet in Robertson County, Kentucky, which has no local media outlet but does have a Wi-Fi wireless network system. The Kentucky Citizen Media Project (KCMP) embedded in this study will train local residents to become citizen journalists who can report community issues and problems from their perspectives, which in turn may lead to public discussion and civic engagement. In doing so, the KCMP will develop and institutionalize the online ‘community information commons’ that can be applied to and/or replicated in other local communities, especially rural ones lacking local media outlets.
Key words: The Internet, community communication ecology, social capital, The Kentucky Citizen Media Project (KCMP), civic knowledge and skills, leadership, and community engagement.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Friday, February 02, 2007
[2007 SRSA Meeting] CCIG Debut
CCIG presents its research regarding U.S. farmers' markets and their new communication technology use at 2007 Southern Rural Sociological Association Meeting, February 3-6, in Mobile, AL.
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
CCIG's first research project has been accepted for presentation to the annual meeting of the Southern Rural Sociological Association, February 3-7, Mobile, Alabama, 2007.
Seungahn Nah, Kathryn Ellis, Donna Hancock, Jesse Horn, Randy Weckman
The Internet and Farmers’ Markets:
The Impact of Structural Pluralism on the Internet Adoption by Farmers’ Markets
Abstract
Community structural pluralism, defined as the degree of diversification within the community, has been of importance to the relationship between structural features and their impact on community organizations’ activities. Relying on the theory, this study examines how community structural pluralism can affect the Internet adoption by U.S. farmers’ markets. Data were collected using secondary data analyses from various sources, such as Marketing Services Branch of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and US Census. Then, community structural pluralism index was created by a summary of the 50 U.S. states’ rank position on three characteristics, such as population, per capita income, and percent of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher educational level. The result reveals that farmers markets in more pluralistic states have a greater ratio of Websites than ones in less pluralistic states. This study confirms the theory of community structural pluralism and its impact on the adoption of new communication technologies by community organizations.
Key words: Community structural pluralism, the Internet, and farmers’ markets
Seungahn Nah, Kathryn Ellis, Donna Hancock, Jesse Horn, Randy Weckman
The Internet and Farmers’ Markets:
The Impact of Structural Pluralism on the Internet Adoption by Farmers’ Markets
Abstract
Community structural pluralism, defined as the degree of diversification within the community, has been of importance to the relationship between structural features and their impact on community organizations’ activities. Relying on the theory, this study examines how community structural pluralism can affect the Internet adoption by U.S. farmers’ markets. Data were collected using secondary data analyses from various sources, such as Marketing Services Branch of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and US Census. Then, community structural pluralism index was created by a summary of the 50 U.S. states’ rank position on three characteristics, such as population, per capita income, and percent of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher educational level. The result reveals that farmers markets in more pluralistic states have a greater ratio of Websites than ones in less pluralistic states. This study confirms the theory of community structural pluralism and its impact on the adoption of new communication technologies by community organizations.
Key words: Community structural pluralism, the Internet, and farmers’ markets
Monday, September 18, 2006
Literature: The Internet, Farms, and Farmers' Markets (FMs)
1. Thomas, B., Sparkes, A., Brooksband, D., & Williams, R. (2004). Internet adoption by farmers' markets and small farming enterprises in south-east Wales. Outlook on Agriculture, 33(1), 39-47.
2. Blattman, C., Jensen, R., & Roman, R. (2003). Assesing the need and potential of community networking for development in rural India. The Information Society, 19, 349-364.
3. Hinrichs, C. C., Gillespie, G. W., & Feenstra, G. W. (2004). Social learning and innovation at retail farmers' markets. Rural Sociology, 69(1), 31-58.
4. Gabriele, F. I. (2004). Internet use and farmers: How did the Internet modify the buying habits in the Americas? Brandeis Graduate Journal, 2. August 14, 2006 Data retrieved from http://www.brandeis.edu/gradjournal.
5. Govindasamy, R., Italia, J., & Adelaja, A. (2002). Farmers' markets: Consumer trends, preferences, and characteristics. Journal of Extension, 40(1). September 18, 2006 from http://www.joe.org/joe/2002february/rb6.html.
* Reports
1. Pew Internet & American Life Project (2004). Rural areas and the Internet. August 16, 2006 Data retrived from www.pewinternet.org.
2. Pew Internet & American Life Project (2006). Internet penetration and impact. August 19, 2006 Data retrived from www.pewinternet.org.
3. National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (2005). Farm computer usage and ownership. August 16, 2006 Data retrieved from www.nass.usda.gov.
1. Thomas, B., Sparkes, A., Brooksband, D., & Williams, R. (2004). Internet adoption by farmers' markets and small farming enterprises in south-east Wales. Outlook on Agriculture, 33(1), 39-47.
2. Blattman, C., Jensen, R., & Roman, R. (2003). Assesing the need and potential of community networking for development in rural India. The Information Society, 19, 349-364.
3. Hinrichs, C. C., Gillespie, G. W., & Feenstra, G. W. (2004). Social learning and innovation at retail farmers' markets. Rural Sociology, 69(1), 31-58.
4. Gabriele, F. I. (2004). Internet use and farmers: How did the Internet modify the buying habits in the Americas? Brandeis Graduate Journal, 2. August 14, 2006 Data retrieved from http://www.brandeis.edu/gradjournal.
5. Govindasamy, R., Italia, J., & Adelaja, A. (2002). Farmers' markets: Consumer trends, preferences, and characteristics. Journal of Extension, 40(1). September 18, 2006 from http://www.joe.org/joe/2002february/rb6.html.
1. Pew Internet & American Life Project (2004). Rural areas and the Internet. August 16, 2006 Data retrived from www.pewinternet.org.
2. Pew Internet & American Life Project (2006). Internet penetration and impact. August 19, 2006 Data retrived from www.pewinternet.org.
3. National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (2005). Farm computer usage and ownership. August 16, 2006 Data retrieved from www.nass.usda.gov.
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