“Citizen sites are developing as new forms of bridge media, linking traditional news with forms of civic participation," said J-Lab director, Jan Schaffer, author of the report.

The report was based on in-depth interviews of 31 different sites and a 60-question, online survey that targeted 500 citizen sites that could be identified in the fall of 2006 and generated 191 responses.

Here are a few figures:

73%, of the survey respondents, pronounced their sites to be a ‘success,’ based largely on the impact in their communities.

*  82% said they provided opportunities for dialogue.
    * 61% said they watchdogged local government.
    * 39% said they helped the community solve problems.
    * 27% said they increased voter turnout.
    * 17% said they increased the number of candidates running for office.


For more details, take a look at the news release, or even at the actual report’s chapters.

Source: J-Lab – Knight Citizen News Network