Posted on 08/25/2003 8:04:54 AM PDT by AAABEST
Southwest Florida residents who used to air their grievances against local government on the radio airwaves have moved their forum to the Internet.
Local talk radio used to be the forum of choice, but former listeners and some civic activists say Web sites provide a more democratic forum to express their frustrations and exchange ideas.
Two Web sites launched this summer with the intent to provide local residents that forum with even greater anonymity than radio.
SpeakOutSWFLA.com launched three weeks ago. (The Web address was incorrect in a story in Saturday’s paper.) FloridaSOUNDOFF.com launched in June.
The online forums have taken off even as the Lee County School District is preparing to launch a call-in television show.
“This is my version of giving parents and community members an ability to express what they’re thinking,” said Darlene Jursinski, co-founder of SpeakOutSWFLA.com. “Even if it’s negative, it should tell the school board, county and government that some people have ideas and maybe they should be addressed.”
Jursinski founded the site with Liz McGrath, co-founder of Parents and Students for Safe & Sensible School Start Times.
The Citizens Action Group founded FloridaSOUNDOFF.com, said member John Grasmeier.
That Web site claims it’s the first of its kind in the area, and members include several government watchdogs and gadflies who talk about issues of importance to Southwest Florida, Grasmeier said.
“They need a place where they don’t have to leave their house,” he said. “The Internet affords us the opportunity to be able to meet in a public square environment.”
SpeakOutSWFLA.com’s most popular topics so far relate to the Lee County School District.
The site last week criticized the district for releasing a draft community annual report with budget percentages on a pie chart that didn’t correspond to the size of the slices.
School board members and Superintendent James Browder said Friday the document was just a draft to be corrected when the final version comes out Thursday, Sept. 25.
Jursinski used to chair the district’s advisory council.
McGrath was a frequent caller on talk radio, especially during the school start-times controversy last year. Her group sued the board in a case related to start times and received a $20,000 settlement.
The idea for the site is several years old.
McGrath said she unsuccessfully tried to launch a Web site with now-district Communications Coordinator Marie Dinon, who is not involved with the current site.
Jursinski said she previously tried to get some time on the radio for a local community talk show and eventually agreed to the Web site.
“We wanted it to be like a news site,” McGrath said. “We’re working hard, trying to change the stories and do something a little different. To turn on the radio is easy; not everyone goes on the computer. It’s worth the shot.”
The site has guest opinions written by elected officials. State Rep. Bruce Kyle, R-Fort Myers, wrote the first opinion to explain his support for single-member district elections for the school board and county government.
School Board Chairwoman Jeanne Dozier wrote the second opinion — a rebuttal to Kyle.
Lee County Sheriff Rodney Shoap has the third opinion, which is scheduled to run today.
Cape Coral resident Kathleen Cherasia said she knows about Jursinski’s and McGrath’s Web site, but she’s mixed about her opinion since the site attacks the school district.
“They have a right to express their First Amendment rights,” she said. “I want to work through the district. My mission is to unify the district, not divide it.”
Grasmeier of FloridaSOUNDOFF.com said his site’s members want to scrutinize local government.
“We have citizens there who do their own little investigating,” he said. “We needed a place for the community to get together.”
Members include former frequent talk radio callers and Taxpayer Action Group representatives. Cape Coral resident Sam DuPont is registered at both Web sites and finds them useful for exchanging ideas.
“I thought a forum like that in our area was needed,” DuPont said. “I think public officials are probably reading this. Maybe for the first time they’re getting the straight talk from people and how people really feel.”
DuPont said radio became less attractive when local talk radio stations WINK 1200-AM/WNOG 1270-AM lost hosts that encouraged public debate.
“This ... had grown out of the fact that talk radio had failed to address the needs that it was addressing in the past with (hosts) Rich King, Les Humble and Josh Knauer. They were very open-minded to people calling in,” he said.
Humble is now slated to host the school district’s television call-in show.
FReepers are helping to make the board interesting. I didn't think it would get this much activity this soon.
WebSites are fine, but they cannot replace talk radio. Too often discussion threads are easily distracted, and can easily become a “preaching to the choir”situation. The Talk Radio Airwaves are very important in reaching potential converts, in expressing passion and sincerity, and in reaching those who are not on-line such as older people. I hope conservatives are not abandoning talk radio to the liberals – it would be a mistake, IMHO.
Actually I hadn't noticed that. UGH! I've fixed it now but it's been like that for a few weeks. Thanks for the heads up.
I talked to Sarah Foster on that a while back, but I don't have the best handle on Terri's situation. If you like, post something on SOUNDOFF and keep it bumped.
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