Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How was the Commission created? What was the impetus for creating it?
A: The idea to initiate a commission on the information needs of communities developed during the Aspen Institutes annual Forum on Communications and Society (FOCAS) 2007 in Aspen, Colorado. While making recommendations during a roundtable discussion, several thought-leaders mentioned the importance of taking a fresh look at the issues of news and society from the perspective of communities across the nation. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Aspen Institute developed the idea and decided to collaborate on the project. The Aspen Institute and the Knight Foundation have been working together since 1999 stemming from a project on the future of journalism and journalistic values. Knight was a senior sponsor of the FOCAS 2007 conference in Aspen where the idea emanated.
Q: Why did the Knight Foundation invest $2.3 million into such a broad, open-ended topic?
A: Quoting Alberto Ibargüen, president and CEO of the Knight Foundation: “We live in a democratic society built on the premise of an informed electorate – yet the very structure on which that democracy is built—the local election held in a geographically defined community—is more and more an uninformed decision. That concerns us.”
Q: Who are your Commissioners? When will they be announced?
A: The Commission will comprise 15 leaders with broad expertise and diverse perspectives. We have a few Commission invitations awaiting final details, so we will not release the names of the Commission members until all are confirmed. We anticipate this will happen within the next month.
Q: Why did you choose Ted Olson and Marissa Mayer as Co-Chairs?
A: The organizers wanted knowledgeable, fair, and forward-thinking leaders who are open to new ideas. Both are leaders whose qualities complement each other. Ted Olson is a wise and experienced constitutional attorney with extensive experience in first amendment law. Marissa Mayer, who heads the “user experience” for a major technology company, Google, has deep expertise in the ever-changing world of technology and user interaction.
Q: Why is Peter Shane the Executive Director?
A: Peter is a well-recognized expert in interdisciplinary approaches to democracy, with extensive administrative experience in organizing interdisciplinary inquiry. A law professor at Ohio State University Law School, Peter is an expert in e-democracy and the use of new information technologies to expand opportunities for the general public to participate in the formulation of public policy.
Q: How will you do your research and gather information?
A: The Commission will hold three or four in-person meetings and forums across the nation where they will hear from successful citizens, eaders and governments. They will gather public input and testimony via the internet and will also be discussing issues and recommendations virtually and electronically on an ongoing basis. The Commission will be aided by an Advisory Group composed of a diverse group of academics, policy makers, and community and business leaders, and will explore other ways to gain input from a diversity of sources.
Q: When is your first meeting? How often will the Commission meet?
A: The Commission is planning its meeting in late spring or early summer. The second meeting will be held in conjunction with the Aspen Institute Forum on Communications and Society (FOCAS) 2008 in Aspen, Colorado, August 9-12. Future public meetings will be announced at a later date.
Q: Who will inform your decisions? Will you ask for public input?
A: In addition to the knowledge base of the Commissioners themselves and an Advisory Group, the Commission will provide numerous opportunities and methods – including public meetings and the Internet – to collect general public input to inform its decisions and recommendations. Click here to send us your comments.
Q: Are your recommendations directed to Congress? The FCC?
A: The recommendations will be aimed at fostering community self-governance through the use of information resources. As such, the Commission’s recommendations may call for action by private firms, governmental bodies, the non-profit sector, or citizens generally. There is no preconception as to what the recommendations will be or to whom they will be directed.
Q: Are you working with the FCC?
A: No.
Q: Is the government involved in the creation of this Commission?
A: No.
Q: The Commission will be non-partisan?
A: Absolutely. The Commission will have a diverse group of Commissioners who agree that citizen access to and use of information for democratic purposes is not a partisan issue.
Q: Who will your recommendations affect? Businesses? Media? Local governments?
A: The recommendations will aim to help citizens in communities gain better access to the information they need to govern themselves. Accordingly, they will affect all stakeholders in the democratic process.
Q: When do you plan to publish recommendations?
A: Early 2009 is the current goal.
Q: Will you collaborate with other interest groups? Organizations? Communities?
A: Yes. The only way to be well-informed is to reach out to other experts in the field who have tried things that work and don’t work -- we will all learn something new.
