The Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a DemocracyThe Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a DemocracyINCD_24d12fb8-07fd-48a8-8cbd-f8650afea818Systems for creating and sharing information that simultaneously enable individuals to lead their lives effectively and foster positive social outcomes for the community as a whole_3c736587-03fe-430c-a91a-50dfdb359ea3To help meet the information needs of communities in a democracy_26e9e776-0bee-455f-b9c1-04b6cfe263e1Information AccessAssuring that individuals have access to quality information_0bb5fe71-9a87-4354-8a68-7bd9e21768161Assuring quality information requires that communities increase transparency and ease of access to social data for everyone. It also calls for key intermediaries to discover, gather, compare, contextualize, and share information on behalf of individuals. The Commission seeks recommendations that would make more and higher quality information available to local communities. How can society strengthen the capacity of intermediaries to assist communities in using information effectively?Individual CapacitiesStrengthening the capacity of individuals to engage with information_d50c9f97-1ec3-4799-b5e6-7f1006c2c8e92Attending to capacity means getting people access to the tools they need, but also developing their skills to use tools effectively. Communities need to consider multiple issues: How has technology ruptured traditional information flows? How has technology introduced powerful new forms of access? What does it take to empower individual citizens to be full and effective participants in the new world of information creation and dissemination? The Commission seeks effective use of existing technologies, and education at all levels and in multiple settings that will enable people to be more effective producers and consumers of information.EngagementPromoting individual engagement with information and the public life of the community_4ba770b3-b6c7-46cf-8f86-f380eac57f413Promoting individual engagement with information and the public life of the community. Promoting engagement means generating not only opportunities to engage, but motivation to engage. The Commission seeks recommendations for engaging young people more deeply in the lives of their communities and enabling communities to capitalize on the creativity and technological skills of the young. The Commission is also interested in recommendations to foster local community activism around access to information as a public need.2009-04-162010-02-08http://www.pbs.org/engage/publicinput/white-paperArthurColman (www.drybridge.com)colman@drybridge.com