how to write a gov't blog post
DESCRIPTION
Have you been invited to blog? Blogging is personally sharing your own stories and experiences, and trying to engage readers in a "conversation" through comments. This training will cover writing a blog entry for EPA's "Greenversations" blog (http://bog.epa.gov) such as what we look for, writing style, length, and in general how the blog works, and what a blog is not (it's not, for example, regurgitating fact sheets or programmatic information as posted on epa.gov).TRANSCRIPT
Blogging at EPA: ThenFlow of The River
• Author: Deputy Administrator Marcus Peacock• Subject: Managing EPA• Launch: July 2007• Whole new tone and style for gov’t• All Marcus: no ghost writing• Posted 2-3 times/week
Archived at http://epa.gov/flowoftheriver/
Flow of the River: Launch Post
For extra credit, identify all the words that would give hives to traditional public affairs
Flow of the River: End
Ended on Earth Day (April 22) 2008 to make way for new blog
Blogging at EPA: Now Greenversations
• Authors: about 30 people, including Marcus– Any EPA employee can write– Posted, comments moderated by public affairs– Reviewed only for serious legal issues
• Subject: personal perspective on EPA’s work• Launch: April 2008• Still no ghost writing• Daily posts
Greenversations: Why?
• Put a human face on the big blank box• Share personal stories of environmental
thinking (e.g., buying a car, gardening)• Clue readers in re: breadth of EPA’s work
– Emergency response– Research– Partnerships
• Speak in a new way• Supplement, not replace, other channels
Greenversations: What?• Three weekly features
– Question of the Week (Monday)• Gets the most comments: usually 50 or more• Some have received hundreds of responses• Advertised to 55,000 news release recipients
– Science Wednesday• Run by research/development office
– Bilingual Thursday• English/Spanish were in same post, now split• Managed by our Hispanic Liaison w/three writers
Greenversations: How?• Write 200-400 words
– Makes writing easier– Emphasizes quick info, keeps readers interested– Forces linking to deeper info
• Use personal stories (another example)– Engages reader– Shows we’re people with families, mortgages, etc. – Shows how daily life intersects with environmentalism
• Use informal tone– Think “party conversation” instead of “news conference”– This is hard at first: not what you’re used to
Greenversations: How?
• Share how your work and personal life connect• Include graphics, videos, etc.• Use humor appropriately• Link to more detailed info (EPA and non-EPA)• Share a 2-sentence bio• Respond to comments• Help people find you by creating tags
Greenversations: How?
• Don’t:– Replicate news releases– Dump fact sheets– Have others write for you– Get into sticky legal territory
• Regs under development• Open enforcement cases
– Contradict or misrepresent EPA policy
Greenversations: Where
• Site: http://blog.epa.gov• RSS: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/feed • Twitter:
http://twitter.com/greenversations• Widget for question of the week:
http://www.epa.gov/widgets/#qotw
Greenversations: Comments
• Comments are moderated• Simple, clear comment policy
– Be civil (don’t attack or use vulgar language)– Don’t spam– Stay on topic
• Otherwise, say what you want, including criticizing us
Contact info
• Jeffrey Levy– Email: [email protected] – Twitter: http://twitter.com/levyj413
• If you’re interested in EPA– Home page: http://www.epa.gov – Twitter
• Main: http://twitter.com/usepagov• News releases: http://twitter.com/usepanews• Web updates: http://twitter.com/usepaweb