CMC Magazine December 1, 1995 / Page 11
| FEATURE |
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by Amelia DeLoach (deloaa@rpi.edu)
This message comes to you from Amelia DeLoach, a
writer and Link Editor for Computer-Mediated
Communication Magazine, who is researching an
article on the impact that the online medium is
having on the legislative process and decision
making at the national level. If you are not
familiar with CMC Magazine, here are a few facts
about the magazine:
* It focuses on the act of, social implications
of, and possibilities of communication made
possible by the Internet and World Wide Web.
* It is the oldest sustained monthly Web
magazine and was founded by John December.
* It is a niche publication that appeals to
approximately 5,000 academics and other
intellectuals.
* CMC Magazine is located at URL:
http://www.december.com/cmc/mag/index.html
The questions below outline specific information
I need in order to do an complete and accurate
article. However, if you have any additional
observations or insights about how email, the
Internet, or the World Wide Web has affected
lobbying, opinion making, decision making, etc.,
please include that as well. (If talking to me
would be more convenient than writing a lengthy
response, please call me--Amelia DeLoach--at
(518) 274-4640.)
Thank you for your time.
____________________________________________
1. If you are a staffer, please include your
name and which senator or representative you
work for.
2. How many messages do you receive each
day/week/month? How do the number of email
messages compare to the number of letters and
phone calls you receive? (Include whatever
breakdown is the most convenient for you. If
it’s difficult to pinpoint a number, please
say so but do give some indication as to the
amount of email you do receive.)
3. What have been the issues/legislation
prompting the larger email responses? (Please
include any numbers you have on hand to back
up your answer.) Also, did the pro and con
responses tend to be balanced in number or
did one position dominate? In your opinion,
why or why not. Did the medium have some
affect on the position?
4. Has email caused your office to receive more
feedback on issues than before Internet usage
became more prevalent? If you can recall when
email usage became a common way to contact
your office, please note this.
5. Do email messages tend to be in a form-letter
style or do they tend to be individually
composed? How does this compare to the snail
mail letters and phone calls you receive?
6. What affect do the demographics of the
average” online user have on how their
opinions and positions are perceived and
weighed?
7. What impact--in your opinion--has email,
the Internet, and the World Wide Web had on
the decision-making and legislative
processes? In addition, how do you foresee
the online medium affecting these processes,
and even the nature of democracy, in the
future?
____________________________________________
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