Posted by: Meagen Ryan, Director of Strategy Aug 04, 2011
Ten apps that are changing the way government does business, a look at last week’s White House Office Hours, President Obama uses Twitter to get things done, NASA shares their social media story, and the White House appoints a new chief information officer, all in this week’s version of the Rock Creek Roundup!
— Technology is changing the way we interact with each other, but it also is changing the way we interact with the government. In a downloadable report, Government Executive reveals ten mobile apps changing the way government provides data and communicates with the public. Mobile applications offer an outlet for the government to utilize its data and help people whether they’re looking for a baby name or filing taxes. Many of the top ten apps provide useful information to users such as the IRS2go app letting taxpayers check their status on refunds and sign up for tips or the MyTSA app providing travelers with important airport-specific updates and regulations. Data previously unused or underutilized can now be accessed quickly, easily, and on-the-go. For the complete list of apps, download the whitepaper from Government Executive.
— Last Tuesday, the White House opened their social media doors to discussion with “Office Hours” on Twitter. Using the hashtag #WHChat, thousands of Twitter users submitted questions about the ongoing debt debate. Last week, the White House responded to nearly 100 questions and gained approximately 22,000 followers at a rate of 3,100 per day – a 37% increase. According to a Twitter monitoring site, tweets using the hashtag garnered over 33 million impressions to an audience of 10 million @WhiteHouse followers by Friday. This week’s Office Hours ran Monday through Wednesday with discussion still focused on the national debt ceiling and debt deal.
—Gone are the days of letters to your local lawmakers. Political pressure now comes in the form of 140 characters on Twitter. In last Monday’s televised address to the country, President Obama harnessed the power of social media to get something done about the debt crisis. Seemingly, the plan worked. With the debt ceiling raised and a deal finally agreed upon, Twitter may have been the closing factor that urged Congress to act. As the majority of Congress embraces social media as a constituent communication tool, it may become the future of political pressure and an agent of change.
—Not only is NASA a leader in social media in government, the agency is now helping others connect to their audiences through meaningful engagement. NASA has posted a presentation on how the agency uses social media, how to get started, how to identify opportunities, and how to connect to the audience. Sourcing from their own experiences, NASA developed the presentation to share with other agencies and government bodies interested in getting involved. The 36-page presentation is shared on Slideshare, a website for sharing presentations, documents, and videos freely and virally through social media outlets. While social media integration in government poses challenges and requires dedication, effective and meaningful communication with your audience is priceless.
—With technology innovation and efficiency on everyone’s mind, the position of White House Chief Information Officer is demanding, but unquestionably important. Thursday, President Obama announced that former FCC Managing Director Steven VanRoekel will become the new CIO following Vivek Kundra’s resignation earlier this year. With experience in the private and public sector, VanRoekel has the arduous task of continuing the government’s direction towards an open, efficient technology policy. While Vivek set the pace, VanRoekel has experience implementing new technology and social media into government agencies and will hopefully continue to usher in innovation.
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Posted by: Meagen Ryan, Director of Strategy Jul 29, 2011
NASA launches an Earth science iPad app, the White House announces Twitter “Office Hours,” the President pledges to improve technology accessibility for those with disabilities, FedScoop finds seven federal blogs with clever names, and a study finds Congress is adopting social media, all in this week’s version of the Rock Creek Roundup!
—While space exploration may have slowed down, NASA is still looking to educate the public in science – Earth science. The agency just launched an iPad application that teaches users about the natural world around us through photos, videos, and short stories. The NASA Visualization Explorer allows users to explore the oceans, climate change, and plant life—all of which has been captured visually by NASA satellites and research. In addition, the application comes with six editorials related to Earth science, and two will be added each week. In September, NASA launched the NASA App HD filled with high-definition images chronicling and reflecting the agency’s efforts in space.
—The current administration has proved its eagerness and desire to communicate with the public, and the newest effort does not fall short of this goal. This week the White House announced it will hold several ‘’Office Hours’’ chats on Twitter for real-time chats with senior staff about pressing issues. The first was held Tuesday with Deputy Director of the National Economic Council Brian Deese allowing the public to submit questions about the national deficit and the President’s speech. As with the Twitter Town Hall, the White House is again trying something new to engage with citizens to increase transparency and create an open government.
—The Americans with Disabilities Act made it possible for people to live and work without fear of discrimination, and twenty-one years later President Obama is continuing its legacy by making technology more accessible to people with disabilities. Through improving Section 508, the President hopes to enhance technology accessibility, making it possible for people with disabilities to access information, apply for federal jobs, and performs their duties with greater ease. In July 2010, the President issued an executive order to hire more disabled individuals in the federal government. As of 2009, disabled employees made up less than 1 percent of the federal workforce. The improvement of Section 508 is another step towards open government through greater freedom to access information.
—With blogs becoming an increasingly popular medium for disseminatiing of information, creating a catchy, meaningful name goes a long way. FedScoop contributor Jacqueline Lampert explored what’s in a blog name and which federal blogs got it right. Featured are seven blogs that manage to capture the evasive cleverness in a name while tying directly into their agency’s mission. The HUDdle by the Housing and Urban Development Agency, VAntage Point by the Veterans Affairs, DipNote by the Department of State, and Pushing the Envelope by the USPS Office of Inspector General all provide visitors with a forum for community input and dialogue while also being a source of information. Fast Lane by the Department of Transportation, Family Matters by the American Forces Press Service, and (Work in Progress) by the Department of Labor are providing visitors with relevant resources and information. All these blogs capture creativity in their names while embracing and showcasing their agencies’ and blogs’ missions.
—Social media integration in government is a growing trend, and one study shows that Congress is on board. Released Tuesday, the Congressional Management Foundation’s #SocialCongress: Perceptions and Use of Social Media on Capitol Hill (PDF) found a majority of members of Congress have fully adopted social media into their communication efforts. Conducted in late 2010, the study revealed that Facebook and Twitter have become integral tools for political communication. While 64% of senior managers consider Facebook important for understanding their constituents’ views and opinions, nearly 75% consider it important in disseminating their political views to the public. Furthermore, 72% of congressional staffers believe social media is allowing Congress to reach a new segment of the population, but a little over half believe the benefits outweigh the risk of using such technology. The rapid adoption of social media has taken to the Capitol, and, as a result, new audiences are being reached and becoming more involved in the political conversation.
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Posted by: Meagen Ryan, Director of Strategy Jul 22, 2011
DARPA wants to learn the science behind social media, the DC Metro jumps on the social media train, the EPA hosts an environmental app challenge and releases its social media policy, the FDA proposes its first regulations on mobile health apps, and the White House OMB makes its Twitter debut with a simple, direct tweet, all in this week’s version of the Rock Creek Roundup!
—Everyday social media users might not be aware of the science behind the systems they use, but the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) does and wants to know more. Last week, DARPA released its Social Media in Strategic Communications (SMISC) Program asking innovators to develop new systems to evaluate and support social media tools. With the ever-changing nature of social media, DARPA wants to reign in the tools and use them in new ways. The SMISC tools are meant to classify, measure, and track the formation, development, and spread of ideas and deceptive messaging or misinformation. Another goal is to recognize persuasion campaigns and operations across social mediums. Lastly, they should identify participants and intent to measures the effect of the campaigns while also countering messaging of opposition influence operations. The last day to enter solicitation proposals is October 11 with an industry day on August 2.
—The Washington DC Metro is jumping on board the social media train! Recently, DC Metro has launched an extensive public relations and advertising campaign “Metro Forward” to get the word out about its $5 billion improvements and changes. The campaign not only wants to tell the riders of its plans, but also wants to reach out and connect with people in a two-way conversation. As part of the Metro’s move into the realm of social media, the DC Metro has hired a full-time social media manager Brian Anderson and a new spokesperson Dan Stessel. Through social networks, they hope to improve their reputation through accurate, real-time information on their users’ smartphones.
—This is the year of the apps, and the Environmental Protection Agency wants more! Continuing to take a leadership position in the open government initiative, the EPA is hosting the Environment Challenge to encourage developers to use its data and make it accessible to the public. With do-good apps on the rise, the EPA wants to utilize its data along with information from other relevant sources to create an app that protects peoples’ health and the environment. The wealth of data being transformed includes information about city air quality, toxic materials from facilities, safe drinking water, safe products, and environmental enforcement. Being the first of its kind for the EPA, Environment Challenge has received positive feedback and a lot of interest after being tweeted to almost 3 million people and the Listserv garnering more than 900 subscribers in five weeks. The deadline for submissions is September 16.
—Speaking of the Environmental Protection Agency, on Thursday, the agency released a social media policy that outlines its procedures, tool-based guidance, and rules. The EPA Social Media Policy can be found on the Social Media Subcouncil wiki with documents ranging from internal use procedures to commenting policies. The mission of the policy is to use social media to support the overarching mission of the EPA, said EPA Director of Web Communications Jeffrey Levy. As more federal agencies delve into the world of social media, more agency-specific policies will surface to avoid online slip-ups and develop a consistent, professional social media image.
—Health apps have become a go-to resource for the on-the-go mobile user, but the Food and Drug Administration is worried about patient safety. The FDA proposed its first-ever regulations of the mobile health industry Tuesday targeting apps that are similar to medical devices. The agency made sure they don’t obstruct growth and development in the industry, but ensure public safety. Not all applications will be subject to regulation. Three types will require FDA approval: an app that is used in accessory to a regulated medical device, turns a mobile device into a regulated medical device, or makes suggestions regarding diagnosis or treatment. The guidelines won’t come into effect for 90 days following the collection of feedback from manufacturers and healthcare providers. While the evolution of mobile technology is rapid, the FDA wants to make sure it can keep up and protect those using the programs while supporting future technologies.
—The Office of Management and Budget kicked off its introduction to Twitter with a simple, direct tweet: “Happy to be here.” Being appropriate for its role as the White House’s business branch, the tweet received high marks from NextGov blogger Joseph Marks. Soon after, Vice President Joe Biden signed on with a personal tweet about preventing abuse against young women and his actions against the problem. Each tweet written by Biden will be signed “VP” to let followers know he’s typed them himself. Being a proponent of social media and its power, the White House staff has whole-heartedly embraced the technology to connect with constituents. In its debut on Twitter, the OMB has taken the route of brevity, but linking to the agency’s blog for those interested in more.
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Posted by: Meagen Ryan, Director of Strategy Jul 15, 2011
Utah.gov wins a marketing campaign award, the IRS launches a social media campaign, FEMA takes its messages to digital billboards, the White House wants an app that helps fight abuse and violence, and the Department of Labor launches two app contests, all in this week’s version of the Rock Creek Roundup!
—In June, Utah unveiled its newly redesigned website impressing visitors with its design and interactive features. Thursday, the GovMark Council, a nonprofit forum focused on government information and technology, presented Utah.gov and the Utah Broadband Project with its award for Outstanding State and Local Marketing Campaign. The Broadband Project has been working to identify locations underserved by broadband statewide and create a plan to increase adoption and infrastructure. With a number of awards under its belt, Utah.gov continues to push the boundaries and innovate within its domain to better serve citizens and visitors.
—It’s no easy task to implement social media in the government, but the Internal Revenue Services has taken it on to help taxpayers. Though working with a small budget and limited staff resources, the IRS is using YouTube and Twitter to get targeted information out to its audiences. At BlogWell in May, the IRS’s Jan Deneroff spoke of using social media tools to direct users to its website, targeting specific audiences with specific channels, and catering to its diverse audiences. While the IRS is a highly-regulated government agency, it is finding innovative ways to interact with audiences and provide them with important and relevant information.
—With social media playing a big role in disaster preparedness and awareness, FEMA is taking it to the next level by utilizing digital billboards for emergency bulletins. Already a leader in using social media to get the word out about catastrophes and safety, FEMA has turned to digital billboards for their large reach and timeliness. While using outdoor advertising space is not a new move for government, digital billboards offer quick transmission of time sensitive material to affected areas.
—With many government apps aimed at empowering the public, the White House has just launched an app challenge that asks developers to create software that provides young adults with tools to help prevent sexual
assault and dating violence. The Apps Against Abuse challenge is sponsored by VP Joe Biden, the Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Nineteen percent of young women having reported experiencing sexual assault while in college. The winning application will help this demographic to prevent violence through check-ins, ways to connect with trusted friends, and tracking to let friends know your whereabouts. The challenge will run until Oct. 17, and winners will be announced Oct. 31.
—With app contests all the rage, the Department of Labor is jumping on board challenging developers to create two apps with prizes totaling $70,000. The first app challenge is the Occupational Employment Statistics Challenge which focuses on helping job seekers access employment and wage data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The second, DOL informACTION App Challenge, aims to increase public awareness of safety in the workplace through compliance and inspection data collected by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Wage and Hour Division. The challenges will be open until September 14, 2011 with winners announced October 17, 2011.
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Posted by: Meagen Ryan, Director of Strategy Jul 08, 2011
Vice President Biden joins the federal Twitter community, the White House holds the first-ever Twitter Town Hall, one op-ed says that the path to implementing Gov 2.0 is via universal Internet access, the Hurricane Center tests the social media waters, and the aftermath of the CDC Zombie Apocalypse 101 campaign, all in this week’s version of the Rock Creek Roundup.
—The latest addition to the White House Twitter world is none other than Vice President Joe Biden. To mark the occasion, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) waited until July 4th to send out the first tweet: “VP & Dr. B hope you take time to think about our troops & military families this Independence Day, Happy 4th from OVP!” Found on Twitter at VP, Biden and his staff joined the growing community of federal officials tweeting and participated in the first ever Twitter Town Hall with President Obama on Wednesday. Followers will be able to stay up to speed with what’s happening in the OVP and will get a behind-the-scenes look at Biden’s life as Vice President.
—While many in government are trying social media as a form of interactivity and communication, President Obama took it to the next level Wednesday with the first-ever Twitter Town Hall. Taking politics to the public, the Twitter Town Hall gave people the opportunity to direct questions directly at the President in 140 characters or less. Director of Digital Strategy Macon Phillips said the White House is using social media to amplify the President’s message through new mediums, making the White House more accessible through Q&A, and increasing government participation through new avenues. Using the #AskObama hash tag, Twitter users sent out over 61,000 questions many of which addressed jobs, the economy, and housing.
—While Gov 2.0 focuses on giving citizens a chance to engage with and participate in government, the remaining obstacle is ensuring everyone has access to the Internet, according to OhMyGov! op-ed author Bernadette Samson. Across the nation, cities are creating new opportunities for people to participate in local and national government conversations but providing Internet access is key to the effectiveness of the tools. In May, the United Nations named Internet access a human right (PDF) as it enables a number of rights and helps society progress. Samson urges people around the country to advocate for universal Internet access so that the government and the public can effectively, efficiently communicate.
—It’s hurricane season again, but this year the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is adding social media its outreach toolkit. Along with the usual flood of public announcements, Facebook and Twitter have been added to the mix to notify the growing number of people flocking to social media to find out emergency weather information. The NHC’s Facebook page answers questions, offers quizzes, and links fans to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration official forecasts while the Twitter feed simply links to official forecasts. While the effectiveness of these tools won’t be tested until a hurricane sets it sights on the US, one can imagine that using social media as a disaster awareness and communication tool is only just beginning and that its role in disaster situations will evolve as quickly as the mediums themselves.
—In May, the Centers for Disease Control had some fun with disaster preparedness and according to social media experts, it paid off. As you probably remember, earlier this year CDC infectious disease specialist Ali S. Kahn posted the blog “How to Prepare for a Zombie Apocalypse” on the Public Health Matters blog which received over 30,000 hits in one day and briefly crashed servers. Since the post, the Zombie Preparedness Kit has delivered more than 3.7 million visitors to the CDC’s website. Experts calculate the value of the viral campaign at over $3 million dollars if traditional ad buying would have been used; as it was, the CDC only spent $86 on the zombie clip art used with the post. Bridging pop culture and public health, the post elicited an unprecedented response that has the agency looking to do more innovative projects in the future.
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