Citizen Engagement Network of Hyperlocal Sites Project called Engage Malaysia

Today we  have begun a project called Engage malaysia Our goal is, broadly, to give voice to a community that is being attacked and defined from a position of ignorance. This will benefit all malaysians,it will expand our understanding of a large portion of our world, and will create a real dialogue instead of a one-way stream.Today we launch a great new chapter for citizen engagement network of hyperlocal sites currently covering community life in  towns across Malaysia. It includes a vision that will utilize every possible resource to ensure accurate, relevant and comprehensive coverage of these towns: our ever-expanding citizen engagement network of  editors and reporters; aggregation of any news affecting these communities; and cross-posting and amplifying the work of local bloggers who are already doing 

great work, providing them an even more powerful platform for expressing their views.The timing couldn’t be better.citizen engagement will provide an unprecedentedinfrastructure for citizen engagement in time for the G13 election, with a focus on community and local solutions. And it will exemplify our belief that a left/right approach to news and politics is outdated. citizen engagement pages harbor no ideological or political slant, which is not to say that we expect them to have no political content. As is the case on 

citizen engagement bloggers will be free to post their views on a range of subjects — from politics to entertainment to local issues. These features will allow Patch readers to instantly put a finger on the pulse of their community.What’s so exciting about citizen initiative is that it will bring quality, comprehensive news coverage to places that need it most. It’s no secret that a disproportionate amount of news coverage is centered on our country’s major cities, with their multiple newspapers, competing TV stations and armies of bloggers. Which, of course, is all well and good. But citizen’sinitiative unprecedented contribution will be to bring that same energy and quality coverage to the suburbs, villages and small towns too often neglected by traditional media. As much as any major malaysian city, these towns provide a snapshot of our national story, a real-time portrait of the way we live now.If you spend time with reporters or bloggers, you know that any of these issues offers an abundance of opportunities to 

explain, scrutinize, share and opine. And for readers, they are the stories of their lives. It is our hope that Patch will be the place you turn to for news about the things that matter to you — and your community.

Starting today, we are welcoming new bloggers to  sites around the country through our new Local Voices blog feature. Local Voices will complement ‘s original reporting, allowing members of each community to speak up and speak out to their neighbors – whether they’re across town, a block away, or two doors down. Local Voices reflects our belief that community residents feel deeply about their local issues, and deserve the chance to share their thoughts on issues great and small. As a forum for thriving conversation, Local Voices will connect all members of the community — be it the Village Headman, a school principal, a businessperson or a member of your family.

I hope that along with making citizen engagement your go-to destination for hyperlocal news, you’ll join Local Voices and let your voice be heard. If you’ve got something to say about your community — say it on citizen engagement!