In response to a recent reader comment about government blogging, I did some research. I found this Web site that lists 33 active federal government blogs. While I was shocked about how few Fortune 500 companies were blogging, I’m actually pleasantly surprised at the number of government blogs. Why? Because I always thought the government was a little sluggish when it came to incorporating technology, but agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security have blogs. I encourage you to check out some of them to see what they’re writing about, how often they update them, how long the entries are and whether or not people are commenting on them. !@!
In the past, we’ve talked about how blogging in a corporation seems like an oxymoron because a blog thrives on the independence and availability of information while, in reality, no company can give up total control. But this issue is even more pronounced in government, as there already is this tension between the availability of information and security and control. Take a look at these blogs to see how the government has navigated this dichotomy. If government can do it, business can too.
Another great resource for organizations is the government’s site about issues to consider when blogging, challenges to blogging and some examples of blogging policies. Before you begin, think about the content you will publish, who should be allowed to post, how often the blog will be updated, what level of review there will be and what can be posted. As usual, feel free to post your comments below.
