acting as a watchdog
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Acting as a Watchdog. What is a watchdog?. A watchdog is an individual or group (generally non-profit) that keeps an eye on a particular entity or a particular element of community concern, and warns members of the community when potential or actual problems arise. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas
Acting as a Watchdog
Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas
What is a watchdog?
• A watchdog is an individual or group (generally non-profit) that keeps an eye on a particular entity or a particular element of community concern, and warns members of the community when potential or actual problems arise.
• A watchdog may operate on the local, state, federal, or global level, and may deal with any issue or range of issues.
Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas
You can decide what kind of watchdog to be by
considering: • Your resources• Your philosophy of activism• What or whom you’re watching • Whether you have opponents and who they are • Your goals• Whether you’re the best individual or
organization to take action
Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas
Among the areas you might choose to monitor
are:• Government. • Corporations and business. • Media. • The environment. • Human rights. • Hate groups. • American freedoms and civil rights. • Public safety. • Consumer affairs. • The general public good.
Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas
Why act as a watchdog?• Self-interest. • To defend those with little political or economic power, and help them
learn how to gain and use that power. • To keep citizens aware of what is happening in their community and
their world. • To maintain power in the hands of the community, rather than of
those who have money or power or connections. • To prevent bad consequences that could cost the community
economically or socially. • To promote social justice and social change. • To maintain democratic ideals. • Simple justice.
Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas
Who can act as a watchdog?
• Agencies or organizations concerned with a particular issue. • People affected by an issue or condition, or organizations that represent
them. • Professional organizations. • Organizations that represent the general public interest. • Agencies, organizations, and individuals concerned with the economic
consequences of policies, practices, and actions. • Those who are members of minority groups or represent minority
interests, and want to make sure they aren’t discriminated against, and that their concerns aren’t ignored or forgotten.
• Those concerned with the maintenance ofdemocratic ideals.
Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas
When should you act as a watchdog?
• When you’re seeking to institute or change laws or regulations. • When a new project or venture is starting or about to start, and
you have doubts about its impact. • When you believe the public interest is threatened. • When an entity or individual – government or a government
official, a corporation or industry, a police department, a human service program, etc. – has proven untrustworthy in the past.
• When you receive information about actual, planned, or likely harmful or questionable actions or practices.
• When democracy is actually or potentially under attack. • When simple justice demands it.
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How do you act as a watchdog?
• Do your research• Learn everything you need to know to be able to
explain and discuss the background and history of the issue(s), situation(s), and entities that you’re concerned with.
• Gather the facts about the current state of the issue, and/or about the current policies and practices of the entities you’re concerned with.
• Build a network and cultivate sources.
Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas
How do you act as a watchdog?
• Decide what you’re going to do with the information you have• Nothing. • Go public. • Use it as a lever. • Take official action.
• Keep up your watchdog stance for the long term