[KY Citizen Media Project at the 2007 RSS Meeting]

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.

[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!