Voter-Funded Media: January contestants

SFU January 2008, the Voter-Funded Media Contests is almost over. The four entries, two from the same person it seems, are promising starts if nothing else. Voter-Funded Media (VFM) is an idea with its roots in economics—perhaps the reason behind the business-centred interest so far. See Mark Latham’s page for a more detailed explanation (www.votermedia.org/sfu/HowSFUCanChangeTheWorld.pdf). This blog article will look at what VFM is, and complete with links to the entries that have been presented so far.

Basically, a group is responsible for keeping its leaders in check. However, most average people do not wan to put in the adequate time and effort to do this—something Mr. Latham described to me as the “free-rider” problem. Media is supposed to do this research for us but in many cases mainstream media may have its own agendas—then who is left to police the police?

There is the problem. Is VFM the solution? Well, as it has only recently been applied to the microcosmic worlds of UBC (www.votermedia.org/ubc) and now SFU, we may just find out.

I have just finished voting. This is not a simple task for the technologically moderate type such as I. If you are thinking of voting yourself, be sure to read the instructions (www.votermedia.org/sfu/howtovote.html) carefully, and you will save yourself some time.

The entries for the first month (January) in what should be a monthly contest at SFU, have been a non-commercial radio station 90.1FM (www.cjsf.ca), a fairly coherent and promising blog (www.instantblogsfu.blogspot.com) run by what seem to be two fairly intelligent number geeks—Johnny and Patrick—and two half-started sorta kinda pages; the first barely qualifies as anything other than wasted webspace as it stands (www.sfuvfm.blogspot.com) with little more than a link to this unidentified person’s real page (www.sfupolitics.blogspot.com).

As a volunteer at CJSF I would be fairly biased to judge it as anything less than an 8 out of 10. Keep in mind I am a highly critical, often pessimistic sort. Anyone else in my place would probably just give it a straight 10. CJSF radio is a great media on its own right. Is it what voters are looking for in terms of accessible news regarding SFU issues? Not always: It has larger community, international and artistic aims as well. As much as the diversity of programs at this station is what I love about it, I’m not sure if that will go for or against it in this particular competition, especially once election times start rolling around.

The instant blog site, on the other hand, has a clear simplicity going for it that appeals to me. Most of the information I already know, but I can imagine there are others out there who are not quite aware, but are those people going to vote? I’ll save that for another blog. Patrick and Johny Bring up some relevant issues: Is the new GSS part of the CFS? Consultations on Student Space Renovations, Business Admin Student Society Elections, 2008 SFSS Elections Announced, and the Voter-Funded Media (VFM) Contest. This blog also has some great links to the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS), the Graduate Student Society (GSS) at SFU, the SFSS Independent Electoral Commission, and the GSS Elections & Referenda page.

Then we find the sfupolitics blog. This site has a long copy + pasted version of Chris Sandve's Exit Report, and another copy + pasted item, likely from some SFSS site about the upcoming Election Announcement. Its only good point that I can see is the helpful links to the Independent Electoral Commission Site, The yet-unrevamped-but-long-promised-to-have-been SFSS Site and Titus Gregory's Student Union Site

Finally, we come to the empty sfuvfm page. By default, this will win a prize, but it seems wrong somehow. This individual has clearly just started a page, put in the appropriate link, and left it to sit.

It took some time for me to wrap my head around the whole VFM idea. I am now entered for next month's contest, however I take issue with a number of things: First, as the Creator Mr. Latham said himself, there is a "chicken in the egg problem... where people aren't entering since not enough people know about it, so they aren't voting, and because they aren't voting, people aren't entering." I guess apart from making it my personal mission to get the word out, public participation in this contest will likely have as much turnout as Student Union elections. Another problem is related to this last one; By default, the two last entries I mentioned directly above this paragraph will receive prizes. It seems the way the SFU competition is set up, there should be a voting option in the negative range as in -1 (this entry should not be given anything).

In light of all this, I will do my most dandy to stay optimistic for now. Admittedly, the less people find out about this next month, the better chance I have to win. This is the nature of the beast so far. I look forward to seeing it progress through election times.

Chiao for now, 3lise