New Administration Reaches Out Through New Media

Posted by K.C. Jones on January 20, 2009 06:03 PM

U.S. President Barack Obama wasted no time showing that he would continue to use technology to engage the public after reaching office.

Continuing on its campaign success with the use of new media, a brand new administration released its first public statement one minute after the inauguration -- using a blog posted by a White House new media director.

Macon Phillips posted an entry entitled "Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov," and he introduced himself as one of several people who would blog on the site. He also pointed to an overhaul of the White House Web site under the nation's 44th President.

"Millions of Americans have powered President Obama's journey to the White House, many taking advantage of the Internet to play a role in shaping our country's future," he wrote. "WhiteHouse.gov is just the beginning of the new administration's efforts to expand and deepen this online engagement."

In addition to the blog, the site hosted photos and video, while offering RSS feed, e-mail alerts, and feedback features.

Kudos to Obama and his staff for making history Tuesday. And, kudos to them for putting action behind their words. Phillips promised to promote communication, transparency, and participation, using technology as the vehicle.

That sounds just like the agenda set by lots of bloggers, citizen journalists, and tech innovators out there who have toiled away with faith in technology's power to transform democracy -- despite criticism, as well as occasional mockery and dismissal by those who were reluctant to embrace their ideas about redistributing some political influence and power to the masses. So, kudos to them, too.

Now the party's almost over. It's time for some real follow-through.