Published: April 24, 2008 11:28 pm            

Forum constituency has to take action to have a real voice

Those of us in the media business have had to deal with a lot of changes over the years as we’ve embraced the Internet and adjusted products and content to meet the demands of an online community.

It’s safe to say the dynamics of communication in Enid have been changed due to the News & Eagle’s Web site, Enidnews.com. The Internet offers interactivity, but it also offers anonymity. We provide reader comments and reader forums where online readers get a chance to “have their say” on news stories or issues, and they can do it anonymously.

There are good and bad aspects to this, but it is the world of the Internet and providing this access serves a niche. It’s also a form of gathering the news.

It’s fascinating to me that because of Enidnews.com, a new constituency has been formed — the forum community. It’s a constituency many want to dismiss because of their anonymity; however, they’ve taken a first step and come out from behind their computers to address issues they think are important in the city of Enid.

A group of about 20 people — most of them Forum participants — met together Wednesday night to talk about their displeasure with the Enid city commission and their desire to start a recall of city commissioners and the mayor.

I’m not going to address the validity of that effort. Instead, I want to talk about the opportunity this provides for a whole new group of people to become involved in and more informed about their city government.

I have sometimes chastised the forum users for complaining or knee-jerk reactions to city actions. Sometimes, the forum people are well informed about what they’re talking about; but other times they haven’t been.

By calling a meeting, getting together personally and meeting each other and starting a discussion, they have become accountable now, and they are stating publicly they are willing to effect a change.

This newspaper regularly publishes stories about what goes on at the city commission meetings. We attend nearly every commission meeting and study session. Many times there is no one else or very few other people at those meetings. The regular meetings are televised, but the study sessions are not. Many readers may complain about an action or a decision of the city, but the rubber really meets the road when those readers are willing to take some kind of action to make a change — by writing a letter or calling their commissioner or by attending a meeting and asking to have their say.

While this group has taken a first step in getting involved in effecting change in the city, they have to do more if they want to really be a constituency that will be heard. They discussed forming a watch group to attend city commission meetings. That’s an excellent idea.

Not only should they personally attend city commission meetings, but they should also attend the study sessions where future issues are discussed. Many items come up during the study session, and it’s a time where ideas for future ordinances are formed.

Those who feel strongly they can make a contribution to the city should consider running for their ward’s city commission seat or serving on one of the advisory boards. Three ward seats will be up for election this year, and it’s an excellent opportunity to take even a further step for the betterment of the city.

This is also an opportunity for city commissioners to get more input on their decisions. I know many commissioners and city staff have been frustrated by the anonymity provided by the forum and reader comments. Well, now they know there are real people behind those pseudonyms, and those folks have taken the first step to being accountable.

Yes, this is an opportunity in many ways. I hope members of the forum constituency do take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about what goes on at the city level. They likely will find out there’s more going right than there is wrong.

But, if they really want a voice, now is the time to prove it.



Allen is managing editor of the Enid News & Eagle. She can be reached at 548-8163 or by e-mail at editor@enidnews.com.