Aus dem Newsletter von http://www.onlinejournalism.com:

BBC to fund grassroots political weblog network
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,58715,00.html

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is hoping to combat voter apathy -- and cash in on ear-to-the-ground news tips -- by funding a new online experiment in grassroots activism. Wired News reportss that in October 2003 the BBC will launch iCan, a site "designed to help citizens investigate issues that concern them, find others who share those concerns and provide advice and tools for organizing and engaging in the political process." The BBC, which is charged by the British government to inform, educate and entertain, presented preliminary details in late April at the O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference in Santa Clara, California. Wired News reports the iCan site will use public forums to help connect like-minded citizens, and a "democracy database" packed with information on tips for grassroots campaigning and the legislative process. The BBC plans to assign six reporters to monitor the online community for potential news stories.

BBC Charter: http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/BBCcharter/charter/index.shtml
Wired News: http://www.wired.com/news/
More details on iCan: From the O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference: http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/et2003/view/e_sess/3711