The document discusses Government 2.0, which advocates for more participatory democracy through empowering citizens to participate in government decision making, making public data transparent and reusable, and supporting community-led initiatives. Government 2.0 is important for science journalism because it changes who funds, collects, analyzes and reports on scientific data and findings, as well as how scientific findings are published and inform policy. Over 281 open data catalogs have been released in the last four years worldwide and 59 countries have joined the Open Government Partnership, showing Government 2.0 is a global movement not bound to any particular ideology.

1. Government 2.0
What is it & why it is important
to science journalism
Craig Thomler
Government 2.0 advocate
Managing Director
Delib Australia
@CraigThomler
http://eGovAU.blogspot.com

2.  More participatory democracy (Participation)
Bringing citizens 'inside the tent’ via digital techniques.
 Citizen-centric philosophies (Collaboration)
Empowering citizens to be active participants in
government decision-making & supporting communities
to ‘do for themselves’.
 Democratisation of data (Transparency)
Releasing public data (including publicly funded science
data) in reusable formats under open copyrights to inform
and enable new insights, better decisions and policy.
 Community-led initiatives
From individuals, NGOs, media & companies.
Government 2.0 includes...

4. It changes the
power equation
Why Gov 2.0 is important

5. Over 281 open data catalogues
worldwide (released in last four years)
Gov 2.0 is Global
Sources: data.gov & census.okfn.org

6. 59 countries in the Open Government
Partnership
Gov 2.0 isn’t ideological
Source: opengovpartnership.org/

7. Because it changes:
• Who funds scientific research
• Who collects the data
• Who analyses the data
• Who reports scientific findings
• How scientific findings are published, and
• How science becomes policy
Why is Gov 2.0 important for
science journalists?

17. Government 2.0
What is it & why it is important
to science journalism
Craig Thomler
Government 2.0 advocate
Managing Director
Delib Australia
@CraigThomler
http://eGovAU.blogspot.com