Rock Creek Roundup (July 29 Edition)

Posted by: Meagen Ryan, Director of Strategy Jul 29, 2011 0 Comments

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.

Meagen Ryan

Director of Strategy

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