Sessions at SXSW Interactive 2012 about Legislation

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Saturday 10th March 2012

• SOPA Media Coverage Dissected

  by Kim Hart, Brian Stelter, Jake Bialer and Stacey Higginbotham

  How did print and online coverage of SOPA impact the public's understanding of this proposed legislation? What outlets were most aggressive in tacking this story? If the blackout had not occurred, would this story have gained the attention it eventually did? Also, how will proposed legislation such as SOPA impact the media -- and how does this potential impact color various media outlet's coverage?

  • Legislation
  • Media
  • Online news
  • Print

  At 12:30pm to 1:30pm, Saturday 10th March

  In Salon C, AT&T Conference Center

  Coverage audio clip

Tuesday 13th March 2012

• Senate Committees Push Boundaries on Social Media

  by Conor Kenny and Steven Polunsky

  The bulk of social media and Web 2.0 use in Congress and state legislatures has until now largely been composed of personal tweets and posts by legislators and staff, pushing communications out without engaging in true conversations with constituents. Innovation in this area has lagged the private sector.One Texas Senate committee is changing that. Charged by Chairman John Carona to “push the envelope so hard it’s no longer stationery,” the Business and Commerce Committee is moving out with social media. They began by examining the legislative process and identifying each point where lobbyists and advocates have special access to information or legislators, then looked for technologies that would level the playing field, open the process to the public, or help generate consensus. As a testbed, the committee is currently tackling a tough issue –payday lending – and they’ll tell you what they’re doing, what’s worked and where they think Gov2.0 is going.

  • Government
  • Innovation
  • Legislation
  • Open Government
  • Politics
  • Social Media

  At 5:00pm to 6:00pm, Tuesday 13th March

  In Salon B, AT&T Conference Center

  Coverage audio clip