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As someone who came to writing about politics via blogging, I immediately went to the White House Web site and saw something new — a White House blog.
The Web site design itself is a dramatic departure from previous iterations of the executive Web site. A web designer or graphic designer could probably give you a more detailed description of the differences and what they mean for the Web site. But to my untrained, amateur eye, it looks more modern. It looks more like the Barack Obama campaign Web site.
The blog itself immediately featured five blog posts, all posted at 12:01 p.m. Eastern Time. The first shows the Whistle Stop Tour that Obama and Joe Biden participated in yesterday. The fifth declares Change has come to Whitehouse.gov.
Macon Phillips, the director of new media for the White House, says there are three priorities to the White House online efforts:
Communication — Americans are eager for information about the state of the economy, national security and a host of other issues. This site will feature timely and in-depth content meant to keep everyone up-to-date and educated. Check out the briefing room, keep tabs on the blog (RSS feed) and take a moment to sign up for e-mail updates from the President and his administration so you can be sure to know about major announcements and decisions.
Transparency — President Obama has committed to making his administration the most open and transparent in history, and WhiteHouse.gov will play a major role in delivering on that promise. The President’s executive orders and proclamations will be published for everyone to review, and that’s just the beginning of our efforts to provide a window for all Americans into the business of the government. You can also learn about some of the senior leadership in the new administration and about the President’s policy priorities.
Participation — President Obama started his career as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago, where he saw firsthand what people can do when they come together for a common cause. Citizen participation will be a priority for the Administration, and the internet will play an important role in that. One significant addition to WhiteHouse.gov reflects a campaign promise from the President: we will publish all non-emergency legislation to the website for five days, and allow the public to review and comment before the President signs it.
Considering the online successes of the Barack Obama campaign and transition, it is no surprise to see attention paid to the online side of things in the first few minutes of an Obama administration.
