Learning from whitehouse.gov

Obama’s use of technology in his election has been well-documented, e.g. here.

The burning question since the election has been: how will Obama continue to use such tools whilst in power to keep the dialogue with the world both open and two-way, if at all?

Updates on whitehouse.gov minutes after his inauguration gives us some indication, and it’s looking very promising.

Macon Phillips, the White House’s New Media Director, and (formerly?) the Director of Strategy & Communications at Blue State Digital wrote a post with the following title:

“Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov”

Encouragingly, he re-affirms the fact that the online program is about “put[ing] citizens first”.

Specifically, he talks about three key priorities for new media in the White House:

1. Communication

2. Transparency

3. Participation

He goes into more detail about each of these priorities and how they’ll manifest themselves. There’ll also be a weekly video address by the President on Saturday mornings (hat tip Andrew Grill).

This combination of three solid principles of openness and the effective use of the right tools has the potential to change government forever.

And beyond government, it looks as though Obama will continue to be the inspiration for anyone looking to start and, most importantly, maintain a movement for positive change.

Phillips affirms towards the end of his post that the community will continue to be “a work in progress”.

I’ll be watching and learning.