From Goverment Technology Magazine and govtech.net
By Trudy W. Schuett
When was the last time you heard something like this from a citizen/constituent?
"Thanks for explaining the situation. I had misunderstood the way things work, and didn't realize how easy it actually is to get someone to help me with my problem."
Probably not very often -- or ever.
Governments and their agencies at all levels, from the smallest township to densely-populated states, are trying harder than ever before to be more approachable, and accessible to the residents of the area they serve.
In the past, public meetings and traditional media were the mainstay of communication. Unless there is a "big" issue affecting a lot of people, these meetings are sparsely attended by the general public. Public information officers and departments work hard to see the public is informed on the operations of government, and traditional media (the papers, the TV and radio stations) do the best they can to cooperate.
Outside of election years, and those times when those "big" issues emerge, the public pretty much goes about their business, blissfully unaware of the workings of their local governments. Those times when everything is working well, and it's not an election year are the times when you're least likely to hear from citizens, even though this would be the time when governments could best educate and inform. Read More
Please note: The views expressed in this article are not necessarily those of Manatron or its employees. This article is meant for educational purposes only.