期刊名称：Informing Science: The International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline
印刷版ISSN：1547-9684
电子版ISSN：1521-4672
出版年度：2003
卷号：6
页码：103-103
出版社：Informing Science Institute
摘要：The 2001 foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the UK had a significant impact on the economic
and social well-being of rural communities. This paper examines the FMD pages of four local government
websites in Northern England: Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland and North Yorkshire County
Councils. Each county was badly affected by FMD. The contents of the FMD webpages are analysed
and compared: which audiences were addressed, what information was provided or omitted, and how
well the audiences’ needs were met. The study shows the breadth of audience types and information that
could have been included, but no site covered all the necessary angles. Furthermore, the websites did
little to address the psychological problems arising from FMD or to enhance participation and democracy
in their local communities. By examining how the councils informed those affected, lessons can be
learnt which are relevant to any future disruption to a community.
关键词：foot and mouth disease, websites, World Wide Web.
