Version 1.0 (Launch Phase)
1. Purpose
The Campaign Democracy Policy establishes the procedures through which Touchpaper members democratically determine the Society’s ethical consumer campaigns.
The policy ensures that campaigns are:
- democratically chosen by members
- evidence-led
- consistent with the Society’s community-benefit purpose
- lawful and non-partisan
- transparent and accountable
Campaigns are intended to improve media standards and strengthen the public’s ability to understand and influence media systems in ways that benefit society as a whole.
2. Principles
Campaign decision-making shall follow these principles:
Democratic participation
All members may participate in proposing and voting on campaign priorities.
One member, one vote
Each member has one vote regardless of subscription level.
Evidence-based decision-making
Campaign proposals must be supported by credible evidence or research.
Public benefit
Campaigns must aim to improve media standards or public understanding of media systems.
Lawful and non-adversarial methods
Campaigns must comply with the Society’s Ethical Consumer Campaign Framework.
Transparency
Campaign processes and outcomes must be publicly documented.
3. Campaign Cycle
Touchpaper will operate a structured campaign cycle.
During the launch phase, the Society will run:
One primary campaign at a time.
Campaign decisions will typically occur on a quarterly cycle, with consultation and agenda gathering taking place between cycles.
4. Campaign Decision Stages
Campaign selection occurs through six stages.
Stage 0 — Member Listening and Agenda Gathering
The Society gathers member views and concerns through:
- member consultations
- issue surveys
- digital democracy tools
- news clubs and discussion forums
- public events and workshops
Digital consultation tools such as Hive may be used to map member opinion, identify emerging issues and surface areas of consensus.
Consultation stages may include input from non-members, but only members may vote in formal campaign decisions.
Stage 1 — Campaign Proposal Submission
Members may submit campaign proposals.
Proposals must include:
- the media platform, outlet or system concerned
- the issue or standards concern identified
- why the issue matters to the public
- supporting evidence or examples
- the proposed campaign action
- proposed campaign duration
- the expected public benefit
To proceed to review, a proposal must be supported by at least five members.
Stage 2 — Proposal Eligibility Review
Proposals will be reviewed by the Management Committee or a delegated Campaign Review Panel.
The review ensures proposals meet the Society’s governance requirements.
Proposals will be assessed for:
- consistency with the Society’s Objects
- legal compliance
- adherence to the Ethical Consumer Campaign Framework
- evidence-based rationale
- focus on standards rather than individuals
- feasibility and clarity
Proposals may be classified as:
- eligible
- eligible with revisions
- deferred pending further research
- ineligible under Society rules
All decisions and reasons will be documented.
Stage 3 — Research and Evidence Briefing
Each eligible proposal will be summarised in a short evidence briefing.
This briefing will include:
- issue summary
- evidence overview
- relevant research or sources
- potential public benefit
- possible campaign actions
- relevant risks or sensitivities
Evidence briefings aim to support informed member decision-making.
Stage 4 — Member Deliberation
Before voting, members will have opportunities to deliberate.
Deliberation may occur through:
- online discussion forums
- Hive consultation tools
- member meetings or webinars
- written Q&A processes
This stage enables members to consider proposals collectively before formal voting.
Stage 5 — Campaign Vote
Members will vote to select the next campaign.
Voting shall follow these principles:
Verified membership
Only verified members may vote.
Confidential ballot
Votes are confidential but verified to maintain one-member-one-vote.
Transparent results
Aggregate results will be published.
Voting method
Where possible, ranked-choice or preferential voting methods will be used to reflect member preferences.
Participation Threshold
For a campaign vote to be valid:
- at least 10% of members, or
- a minimum of 100 members
must participate, whichever is lower during the launch phase.
Approval Threshold
The winning proposal must secure a clear majority under the voting method used.
Stage 6 — Campaign Ratification
Once a campaign is selected:
Members may vote on final campaign actions if multiple strategies are proposed.
Campaigns are binding in principle, subject to:
- legal compliance checks
- operational readiness
- confirmation by the Management Committee
5. Campaign Duration
Campaigns may vary in length depending on the action chosen.
Typical formats include:
Short campaigns
2–4 weeks
Standard campaigns
6–12 weeks
Extended campaigns
3–6 months
The proposed duration will be included in the campaign proposal.
6. Campaign Oversight
Campaign implementation will be overseen by the Management Committee or a delegated campaign team.
Responsibilities include:
- ensuring legal compliance
- coordinating communications
- monitoring progress
- publishing updates to members
7. Campaign Review
At the conclusion of each campaign, the Society will publish a Campaign Review Report.
This report will include:
- actions undertaken
- campaign outcomes
- lessons learned
- member participation data
- recommendations for future campaigns
Campaign reviews support learning and transparency.
8. Amendments
This policy may be amended by member vote at a General Meeting or through other democratic procedures defined in the Society’s Rules.