Title: Open Data is Civic Capital: Best Practices for "Open Government Data"
Author: Joshua Tauberer
Publisher: Joshua Tauberer
Date published: 20/07/2009
Date accessed: 22/07/2009
Type of information: research document
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
This document is a best practices guide for governments embracing the notion of "open data". It discusses why open government data is beneficial to society, i.e. how it is civic capital, and what kinds of technological considerations must be made when making government data open. The document is intended to be read both by web managers, who may wish to skip the final Recommendations section, and by government web developers.
...
Open government data is a valuable public resource for its ability to fuel innovation in areas far beyond the mandate or resources of government. Several examples were listed above that benefit public health, safety, business and the economy, and especially civic engagement, transparency, accountability, public trust, and digital inclusion. These benefits come from the ability for computers to sort, search, and transform data into new purposes that can't often be predicted before they are discovered.

Contents:
Introduction
Open Data as Civic Capital
How Open Data Is Useful
Recent Trends within the United States Government
Trends on Other Countries
Why Data Format Matters
Machine-Processable Information
The Ramifications of Data Formats
Best Practices
A Path to Achieving Best Practices
What is Open Government Data?
On The Openness Process
Related Guidelines for Web Pages & Databases
Conclusion

Title: Audit of learning-related media literacy policy development
Pages: 82 pp.
Publisher: Ofcom and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF)
Date published: June 2009
Date accessed: 22/07/2009
Type of information: government report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
Ofcom and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) commissioned this audit to map learning-related public policy development across the United Kingdom that impacts on the promotion of media literacy...

Media literacy is a learning outcome, conceived in public policy terms by Ofcom as a set of inter-related competencies that enable people to access, understand and create communications in a variety of contexts. These competencies can be learned and developed throughout a persons life, and they are relevant to young and old...

Many of the basic competencies associated with media literacy develop in the course of everyday life without the need for directed learning. Nonetheless, media literacy can be further developed and enhanced through channels under-pinned by public policy, including compulsory and post-16 education, vocational training and skills development, and informal learning and participation.

This locates the promotion of media literacy within a broad and dynamic policy context, which is further extended by policy drivers to tackle social exclusion and the risks posed by the internet, including identity theft, online fraud and child exploitation...

The interim report calls for a further step change in approach to media literacy promotion, through development of a National Media Literacy Plan that takes account of changes in the availability and use of digital technology since 2003...

Because media literacy is a learning outcome it has obvious relevance to policy agendas dealing with the delivery of education, skills development and informal learning.

Title: Digital Britain: The Final Report (pdf, 3mb)
Author: Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Pages: 245 pp.
ISBN: 9780101765022
Publisher: UK Government
Date published: June 2009
Date accessed: 17/06/2009
Type of information: government publication
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf, MS Word)
Abstract:
The Digital Britain Report is the Government's strategic vision for ensuring that the UK is at the leading edge of the global digital economy. It is an example of industrial activism in a crucial growth sector.

The report contains actions and recommendations to ensure first rate digital and communications infrastructure to promote and protect talent and innovation in our creative industries, to modernize TV and radio frameworks, and support local news, and it introduces policies to maximize the social and economic benefits from digital technologies.

The report provides actions and recommendations to promote and protect talent and innovation in our creative industries, to modernise TV and radio frameworks and support local news, and introduces policies to maximise the social and economic benefits from digital technologies.

The Report is one of the central policy commitments in the Government's Building Britain's Future plan and draft legislative programme.

Digital Britain measures include:

* A three-year National Plan to improve Digital Participation
* Universal Access to today's broadband services by 2012
* Next Generation fund for investment in tomorrow's broadband services
* Digital radio upgrade by the end of 2015
* mobile spectrum liberalisation, enhancing 3G coverage and accelerating Next Generation mobile services
* robust legal and regulatory framework to combat Digital Piracy
* support for public service content partnerships
* a revised digital remit for Channel 4
* consultation on funding options for national, regional and local news

See also:
* Digital Britain: The Final Report (MS Word, 356kb)
* Report sections
* Consultation on legislation to address illicit peer-to-peer (p2p) file-sharing
* DCMS - Community radio consultation seeking views on changes to the current licensing regime
* Digital Britain Impact Assessments (pdf, 1,5mb)