This document discusses transparency and Wikileaks. It argues that increased transparency does not always lead to better government and outlines Wikileaks' success in producing scoops compared to mainstream media. The document presents a theory of change involving rigorous research, media coverage, public pressure, and eventual policy changes. It stresses the need for freeing data, finding missing data, providing filters and context, and translating data into civic action and movement.

1. transparency:
from data to movement
ethan zuckerman
10/22/2010

3. photo by Esthr

7. photo by Hradcanska

8. photo by 517design

9. does increased transparency lead
inexorably to better government?

10. “Wikileaks has probably
produced more scoops in its short
life than The Washington Post has
in the past 30 years.”
- Rupert Wright in “The National”

13. theories of change

16. Do rigorous research
Get article in New York Times
Get senate hearings
State Department changes visa policy

17. Get article in New York Times
WELL THAT MAKES SEEMS LIKE I SHOULD OOH, LOOK! PICTURES
ME ANGRY DO SOMETHING TO HELP OF KITTIES!
images from Randall Munroe’s wonderful (and CC licensed) xkcd comic strip

18. Do rigorous research
Get article in New York Times
activate readers
Get senate hearings
who organize to pressure State
State Department changes visa policy

19. photo by Subcomandanta
Sometimes we need more data

22. photo by Kevin H.
Sometimes we need filters

24. sometimes, visualization...

27. We always need context

28. And we benefit from involvement

31. - Free the data we’ve got
- Find the data we don’t have
- Filter, visualize, contextualize
- From data to movement

32. thanks for listening.
@ethanz
ethan@ethanzuckerman.com