Do we have an EU Online Public Space?

Do we have aEuropean Online Public Sphere? Mathew Lowry, GOPA-Cartermill @mathewlowry mathew.blogactiv.eu

We do have an EU Public Sphere TheBrussels Bubble (#bxlsbbl)

If …• you know – what EUR-LEX is – how to navigate EUROPA• you’ve already forgotten – what „subsidiarity‟ means – what the EESC is – how many Presidents there are• … then you’re in the Brussels Bubble – Communities no longer bounded geographically

So what‟s a Bubble?• “a community of Community people who share a of Interest common interest or passion” Antiques Science• Professional and/or Personal interest Hi Fi• Commonly: EU Affairs – Knowledge, Jargon Butterfly – Personal networks collecting – Groupthink? “Everyone‟s Interested in Something”

Putting things in perspective #bxlsbbl!

The EU online public sphere emerges … The EurogeeksBrussels Bubble Bloggers

Facebook to the rescue!Social media will – reconnect the EU to its citizens – revitalise democracy – solve the energy crisis – bring world peace – repair your fridgeDon‟t vote for it, LikeTM it! Like a EuroCrat today!

BloggingPortal.eu: mapping the EU Online Public Sphere • 950+ blogs • EU-oriented posts – Categorised – Rated – Disseminated onwards • Volunteer

… and grows somewhat The Eurogeeks Brussels Bubble Bloggers Social platform denizens

A subset of the Brussels Bubble• Community of Interest• EuroGeeks – Speciality: EU Affairs – Social media• Smaller than the Brussels Bubble• Talking to themselves

Bridges in the Blogosphere

EU Online Public Sphere• Infrastructure: carries the conversation• Media landscape: – Sustainable & Independent• Not created by decree• Ecology: emerges when conditions right – participants get something out of it – in return for putting something into it• Faces vicious cycle (chicken & egg) problem

Many ways to build bridges

Everyone‟s interested in something Outreach: Europe Joining specialist conversations National conversation on a specialist topic

Everyone‟s interested in something Europe Curating & Convening cross-EU conversations National conversation on a specialist topic

Networks Help• Building bridges on existing relationships easier – access national-level communities of interest – bring EU expertise• So is the EESC well placed to – Convene, Stimulate & Facilitate – Cross-EU conversations on EU policies?

THANKS FOR YOUR TIMEmathew.blogactiv.eu@mathewlowrymlowry@gopa-cartermill.com

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Do we have an EU Online Public Space?

by Mathew Lowry

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