Government 2.0 Camp is happening right now and if you’re not there, no mattter…you can keep up with everything that’s going on through Twitter.  Follow the tweets at: #gov20camp.

And if you want to stay tuned post barcamp, follow the conversation at Government 2.0 Club.

Are you going?

It seems as though everyone’s talking about Twitter these days, the social media tool du jour.  But what is this tool really all about?  Since there’s been a lot of chatter about this very topic lately, I thought I’d include excerpts and links to some good articles and blog posts that should provide newbies with some guidance.

Here’s a succinct definition, which I found at the Capitol Communicator website:

“First things first, what exactly is Twitter? Twitter is a 140-character statement or update, sometimes referred to as a microblog. If you use Facebook, think of a whole application that revolves around your status update. However, unlike Facebook where you need to accept a friend, people on Twitter simply follow you and can read your updates. Conversely, if you want to read a users updates or “tweets” you simply follow them. Twitter users follow friends, companies and influential people in their fields and industries.”

The post goes on to explain why you should consider using the tool, which can be used as a way of increasing awareness for you, your organization (i.e. agency) and/or issues that you care about (for instance, creating public awareness of government initiatives).

Additionally, here’s a good list of tips for how to use Twitter, courtesy of Stacey Parks from Film Specific:

1.  To really get the hang of it, start following others and do what they do.

2.  Be honest.  Have fun.  Don’t be preoccupied with selling anything.

3.  Share links, share ideas, ask questions, answer questions — anything but “What are you doing?”  Unless it’s really interesting.

4.  Get active and follow others.  Great tool for tossing around ideas.

5.  Join the conversation…there are too many promoters on twitter who just broadcast.  Learn and start networking.

6.  Always give value in your Tweets.

7.  As far as getting followers goes, being friendly and helpful does wonders.

8.  Keep your profile updated and the followers will come.

9.  Contribute positively to conversations.

10.  Instant feedback from readers is the best part of Twitter.  Listen to others; engage them; have a conversation.

My next post will be very specific to the use of Twitter for government initiatives…so until then, enjoy your weekend!

The Bethesda Chapter of Young AFCEA (Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association) has been hosting a great series, “Federal Web 2.0 – Virtual Podium Series” by bringing in some key players in Government Web 2.0.  In the latest webinar, Lynn Dean, Manager of Strategic and Web Communications at TSA talked about some of the major challenges of Web 2.0, and establishing a blog on a Government website.  One excellent hint was to remember that, since the change in administration; you “Have the President on your side.”   The TSA blog, Evolution of Security, also has its bloggers on Twitter, @TSABlogTeam.  It is great to see the Federal Government getting creative, removing roadblocks to Web 2.0 technologies, and developing policies around them.

One of the presentation’s main points was that you must educate yourself and others to recognize the importance of using blogs and other social media to communicate with your stakeholders.  GovLoop has a great forum on “must reads for Social Media/Government Web 2.0,” including a list of resources they have put together.

Lynn Dean’s presentation can be found on the YAFCEA Bethesda Chapter’s website.

Although government is finally beginning to pay attention to emerging media and especially, social media, its rate of adoption still lags far behind the non-profit and commercial sectors.  There are some sound reasons for why this is the case, but there are even better reasons for why this should change.  Here’s three of them:

1. Improved transparency
2. Enhanced collaboration, and
3. Increased ability to recruit the best and brightest

Heeding the call for more transparency in government won’t be easy but the way can be smoothed by understanding that it’s an opportunity for government agencies to highlight successes (of which there are many), while at the same time engaging in a frank conversation with the public about shortcomings.  The very nature of social media demands two-way communication and an honest assessment of strengths and weaknesses, an inevitable consequence of adopting both the tools AND the culture of new media.  The good news is that this type of interaction builds rapport and establishes trust, both of which are necessary components of a robust democracy and, if utilized correctly, can be powerful tools for accomplishing agency missions.

Another positive outcome is collaboration.  Agencies throughout the Federal sector should understand that by using social media tools they can enhance intra-agency and cross-agency communication and knowledge sharing, as well as increase collaboration with the public to help solve the problems we face as a nation.  Although this type of open collaboration may sound like an impossibility for a bureaucratic culture that values stability and silos over openness and cross-pollination, it can be accomplished.  It won’t be done easily, but it can be done.  For practical first steps that could help foster collaboration, see the National Academy of Public Administration’s new white paper entitled Enabling Collaboration: Three Priorities for the New Administration.

And finally,  the agencies that decide to adopt social media sooner rather than later will have a leg up in the race to attract the “best and the brightest.”  The current state of the economy notwithstanding, Federal agencies face a significant brain drain over the next decade.  The exodus of trained and experienced government workers needs to be addressed now and a new generation of Americans need to view government agency missions as worthy of their talent and support.  Unless agencies want to attract substandard talent, they will have to adopt new media both internally and externally and the ones that do so now will have a serious recruiting advantage over those that don’t.