Political Inclination of MySpace users: 0

Filed under Online Campaigns, Web, online activism
Written by Arif on 13th Dec -07

Seems like the MySpace folks are working to build a case against the idea that MySpace users are politically disengaged.  A recent survey

. . .revealed a few key facts: that MySpace’s young user base is more politically engaged and active than the U.S. population at large, that they tend to be politically independent, and that they plan to vote in the 2008 election.

Read the rest - it is quite interesting at MySpace touts early success with political polling initiative

Does your database know which side of street you’re on? 0

Filed under Database
Written by Arif on 12th Dec -07

One of the biggest challenges organizers face with a database is generating good, usable lists for organizers to use when talking with people door to door.  Setting aside (for now) the challenges related to quality of information on the lists, I’m interested in how you all deal with the other challenges related to generating good lists:

  • how do you generate lists so that your organizers and canvassers don’t have to go back and forth across streets because your database printed the street numbers consecutively?
  • How do you decide what information to include on the sheets?  Do you have a standard set of information that is on every sheet?
  • Do you train people on using the sheets?  How?  What does your training include beyond talking through the at the door rap?

We’re in the middle of a COaTI right now, and as a result, I’m talking with lots of groups about their database questions and challenges.  These types of questions come up pretty often, so I thought I’d kick them out to all of you to see if we can start a broader conversation about what it takes to really integrate a database into community organizing work.