Comments on: Blogging as a public servant http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2007/02/16/blogging-as-a-public-servant/ The public affairs practice in New Zealand Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:12:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Joanne Caddy http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2007/02/16/blogging-as-a-public-servant/#comment-34 Joanne Caddy Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:03:33 +0000 http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog2/?p=37#comment-34 Jason, good thoughts. Which spurred my own. As you say, more blogging equals more transparency - both direct public scrutiny and up the chain of command to ministers. Which is always a good thing for governance. But to my mind one of the biggest potential benefits is that it can <strong>make participation a reality not just a buzzword</strong>. If people can hear about initial policy thinking by public servants early on via a blog, they can bounce off their own views and get involved. What we get is participation upstream - at the swirling, exciting bubbling source. Not consultation of an unsinkable 400-page carefully crafted document in the quiet waters downstream. A place most people no longer want to swim. Can we handle the current? Yes. With strong nerves, good training and lots of common sense, I think we can. Jason, good thoughts. Which spurred my own. As you say, more blogging equals more transparency - both direct public scrutiny and up the chain of command to ministers. Which is always a good thing for governance.

But to my mind one of the biggest potential benefits is that it can make participation a reality not just a buzzword. If people can hear about initial policy thinking by public servants early on via a blog, they can bounce off their own views and get involved.

What we get is participation upstream - at the swirling, exciting bubbling source. Not consultation of an unsinkable 400-page carefully crafted document in the quiet waters downstream. A place most people no longer want to swim.

Can we handle the current? Yes. With strong nerves, good training and lots of common sense, I think we can.

]]> By: Ketcheson.net :: links for 2007-02-17 http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2007/02/16/blogging-as-a-public-servant/#comment-33 Ketcheson.net :: links for 2007-02-17 Sat, 17 Feb 2007 08:21:04 +0000 http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog2/?p=37#comment-33 [...] NPSC Blog | Blog Archive | Blogging as a public servant Interesting post from the New Zealand network of public sector communicators on blogging as a public servant. (tags: publicsector blogosphere blogging internationalblogging internalsocialmedia) Share and enjoy [...] [...] NPSC Blog | Blog Archive | Blogging as a public servant Interesting post from the New Zealand network of public sector communicators on blogging as a public servant. (tags: publicsector blogosphere blogging internationalblogging internalsocialmedia) Share and enjoy [...]

]]> By: jason http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2007/02/16/blogging-as-a-public-servant/#comment-32 jason Fri, 16 Feb 2007 20:17:43 +0000 http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog2/?p=37#comment-32 <p>Thanks Ian. The link is a good one because it highlights the real kernel of the issue at stake here:</p> <blockquote> Besides, what does this policy say to the individual? It says "We don't trust you. If we trusted you, we'd remind you of the security issues, make clear to you that you'll be disciplined for violations of those security issues, and then let you govern yourself accordingly with limited supervision." </blockquote> <p>If we are going to build <a href="http://www.ssc.govt.nz/development-goals" rel="nofollow">trusted State Services</a> (<em>anywhere</em>), then we need to start by trusting public servants. Trusting their judgement and, where necessary, providing guidance and support that enhances their ability to make those nuanced calls. Won't that contribute to better governance and better communications?</p> Thanks Ian. The link is a good one because it highlights the real kernel of the issue at stake here:

Besides, what does this policy say to the individual? It says “We don’t trust you. If we trusted you, we’d remind you of the security issues, make clear to you that you’ll be disciplined for violations of those security issues, and then let you govern yourself accordingly with limited supervision.”

If we are going to build trusted State Services (anywhere), then we need to start by trusting public servants. Trusting their judgement and, where necessary, providing guidance and support that enhances their ability to make those nuanced calls. Won’t that contribute to better governance and better communications?

]]> By: Ian Ketcheson http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2007/02/16/blogging-as-a-public-servant/#comment-31 Ian Ketcheson Fri, 16 Feb 2007 17:19:52 +0000 http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog2/?p=37#comment-31 Sorry: On our DND policy. It is guidance (not a policy), and it was issued as guidance for members of our military. Sorry: On our DND policy. It is guidance (not a policy), and it was issued as guidance for members of our military.

]]> By: Ian Ketcheson http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2007/02/16/blogging-as-a-public-servant/#comment-30 Ian Ketcheson Fri, 16 Feb 2007 17:19:01 +0000 http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog2/?p=37#comment-30 Great post. I'm one of a bunch of Canadian public servants who are trying to think these things through. I can't see anything in your post that I would disagree with. Great addition to the mix of thinking on these issues. You can also link this to the Jan Pronk controversy as well for examples of why policies on employee blogging are needed. There are few policies in a Canadian government context, but our Department of National Defence has issued some guidance for bloggers. This link talks about it: http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspot.com/2006/09/so-much-for-surgical-precision.html Cheers, Ian. Great post. I’m one of a bunch of Canadian public servants who are trying to think these things through. I can’t see anything in your post that I would disagree with. Great addition to the mix of thinking on these issues.

You can also link this to the Jan Pronk controversy as well for examples of why policies on employee blogging are needed.

There are few policies in a Canadian government context, but our Department of National Defence has issued some guidance for bloggers.

This link talks about it:

http://toyoufromfailinghands.b.....ision.html

Cheers, Ian.

]]> By: jason http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2007/02/16/blogging-as-a-public-servant/#comment-29 jason Fri, 16 Feb 2007 06:00:57 +0000 http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog2/?p=37#comment-29 <p>I don't think we will have to wait 20 years. If the public appetite for social media continues to grow at the current rate, then the sheer <em>demand</em> for information delivered by these channels will see public sector agencies delivering their news, consultation documents, <acronym title="Statement of Intent">SOIs</acronym> and Annual Reports (at least) through these channels <em>as well as through the traditional ones</em>.</p> <p>I, for one, would want to see Agency X's Annual Report delivered as a full text feed, accompanied by a podcast of the <acronym title="Chief Executive">CE</acronym> reading their statement, and then joining the conversation in the comments section of their corporate blog.</p> <p>Your suggestion about Ministerial oversight via RSS is a good one. Being able to dip in and out of the workstream when it suits them could lead to better governance and more transparency...</p> I don’t think we will have to wait 20 years. If the public appetite for social media continues to grow at the current rate, then the sheer demand for information delivered by these channels will see public sector agencies delivering their news, consultation documents, SOIs and Annual Reports (at least) through these channels as well as through the traditional ones.

I, for one, would want to see Agency X’s Annual Report delivered as a full text feed, accompanied by a podcast of the CE reading their statement, and then joining the conversation in the comments section of their corporate blog.

Your suggestion about Ministerial oversight via RSS is a good one. Being able to dip in and out of the workstream when it suits them could lead to better governance and more transparency…

]]> By: David Hume http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog/2007/02/16/blogging-as-a-public-servant/#comment-28 David Hume Fri, 16 Feb 2007 03:57:49 +0000 http://psnetwork.org.nz/blog2/?p=37#comment-28 Wicked advice Jason. It's also interesting to think about this from a transparency and freedom of information perspective. You wonder if 20 years from now, public agencies will be required to blog and podcast as a necessary and legitimate means of updating the public on its activities. You could also imagine the briefing note or memo being obsolete. Why send paper when a Minister or manager could just check their feeds from various folks moving projects along across the organization? Wicked advice Jason. It’s also interesting to think about this from a transparency and freedom of information perspective. You wonder if 20 years from now, public agencies will be required to blog and podcast as a necessary and legitimate means of updating the public on its activities. You could also imagine the briefing note or memo being obsolete. Why send paper when a Minister or manager could just check their feeds from various folks moving projects along across the organization?

]]>