ward3brighton.ca

I’m on the mailing list of a company called CivicPlus that apparently builds websites for various levels of governments. I didn’t ask to be on this list, so I assume every politician with a publicly visible email address has been spammed by these guys. Not that they don’t occasionally provide a nugget of wisdom, but the very definition of spam is email you didn’t ask for. I could always unsubscribe, but I digress.

Tonight I received the first issue of their e-Gov Gateway Newsletter, an “e-government and website management resource for local government officials.” This item in the newsletter caught my eye:

Technology Spotlight: Blogging Towards an Open Government

Since that is, theoretically, what I do here, I clicked through to their website to see how I measure up. They offer 6 tips for new local government bloggers to keep in mind. They’re specific enough to be useful, and generic enough not to scare people away from the idea.

So here’s my own self-appraisal of how well I’ve followed their advice (the tips are described in more detail on their website):

1. Define Your Purpose: I don’t think I’ve ever laid out a Mission Statement here, I just got down to it. There was a point after the election where I mused about transitioning from a campaign blog to something “more useful and informative for residents over the course of my term as councillor.” And my “Do You Get Many Calls” idea was explained as something to “provide the curious a sense of the types and volumes of contacts we get from constituents.” That’s about it. Grade: B
2. Personally Commit to Your Blog: This is about posting often, responding to comments, not letting the blog stagnate. I’m gonna say my responding to comments keeps me out of failure territory here. Grade: D+
3. It’s Your Blog- Do it Yourself: No ghost writers here. Grade: A+
4. Don’t Put It All Out There: Roughly defined as giving “insight on your thoughts, work and travels, without boring them with mundane stories and anecdotes”. Uh, boring you with mundane stories? Hmm. Grade: C+
5. You’ve Got To Be One Tough Cookie: I haven’t had to deal, personally, with any trolls, flamers, or otherwise unfriendly commenters here, so I can’t say. If, in the future, someone calls me names and I burst into tears I will fail myself on this one. Grade: Deferred
6. Study Those Blogs: I read a wide variety. Grade: A

That’s how I see it. Feel free to get out your red pen and play teacher. Fill out my report card and I’ll take it home to mommy. Seriously though, I hope this weblog gives people some small insight into my work as a councillor. It’s not always easy finding the time, and I think the “Don’t Put It All Out There” tip is well-considered, but if it helps answer a question, spark a conversation, or just mildly entertain you, I think it’s well worth the effort on my part.