Grassroots efforts
Built upon Internet tradition of working together & sharing
Strong human & social values
Understanding of technology and its implications before others do
Community Online Presence genuinely reflects the community:
- wide range of sources
- provides many perspectives
- community-generated info as
well as "official" info
- getting to know others in the
community in ways not possible otherwise (poetry, personal stories...)
Community Training provides awareness & skills to those who otherwise
would not have the opportunity
- community-wide
- focused one on one to specific groups (eg., Seniors, low-income
single moms, disabled, minorities)
Public access helps ensure all can participate regardless of ability to own a computer
Boards, volunteerism helps engage members of the community at different levels of participation
CN People: Committed to CN Values, Hard-working, Persevering, "visionary", aware of pros AND cons of technology
CN doesn't realize the value of its services, and doesn't price them accordingly
Difficulty developing sustainable organizational & business models (note: commerical projects are also struggling with developing business models for this new medium)
Difficulty working together as a "movement"... egos sometimes get in the way
Difficulty clearly articulating what CN is, why it's important
Low levels of cross-promotion to print, radio, TV audiences
Official sources & experts sometimes favored
Many in CN still clinging to the view that ANY commercial activity is "wrong" and would "sully" the CN's values
Being homegrown gives a CN tremendous advantage over others trying to capture the "local content market" CN people know their community, are closer to the real politics, can position themselves to be a conduit and facilitator of communication
Political: people are dissatisfied with government; welfare-> work;..
Economic: people want to improve their personal & community economic options
Social: people want to improve their personal & community social conditions
Technological: growth of Internet, becoming new mass medium
Demographic:
Legal:
Political: Laws always lag behind social and technological realities
Economic: Commercial sector is "intruding" in CN's domain... skimming the cream with eg., so-called community online services, but not providing any of the other Soul services a CN provides
Social:
Technological: Steep learning curve; disparity of capabities among the general public, and among CN movement itself
Demographic:
Legal: IRS now subjecting CN's 501(c)3 status to scrutiny... in jeapordy?