Carney and Murphy Receive Web Award

Blogger extraordinaire Gort has brought my attention to the fact that the Congressional Management Foundation has released its 2007 Gold Mouse Awards (pdf link). This is for excellence in congressional websites (html link). The entire report is a 115 page pdf file (also available in an html file). Their purpose is spelled out in “About This Project” :

The 2006 and 2007 Gold Mouse Reports are the heart of our research project “Connecting to Congress,” generously funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Digital Government program (NSF Award Number IIS-0429452). The project is the result of a partnership between the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, the University of California-Riverside, and Ohio State University.
The goals of the project are to:

1. Determine how Members of Congress can use the Internet to enhance communication
with constituents and promote constituent engagement in the legislative process;
2. Understand how Members and staff learn to use best and innovative practices for their
Web sites and Internet communications;
3. Identify how information about technology and innovation spreads among staff and
congressional offices; and
4. Identify best and innovative practices for congressional Web site and technology use
that can be more widely adopted by congressional offices.

As a personal note, one thing that is not on their criteria that I wish were, is a list of upcoming events. Rep. Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania’s 13th district is very good about doing this.

Four freshman Representatives won Gold Mouse Awards, two of them are from Pennsylvania: Chris Carney of the 10th congressional district and Patrick Murphy of the 8th congressional district. No other Pennsylvania senators or representatives received gold, silver, bronze awards. Carney and Murphy are given particular attention in the report, with quotes from congressional staff in those offices regard the design and maintenance of those sites. Site descriptions, quotes from staff involved, and page numbers (print and pdf page numbers do not exactly match up) are listed below.

Rep. Christopher P. Carney (http://carney.house.gov)

Site description

Freshman Congressman Christopher Carney’s Web site makes the services of his physical office easily available for constituents on the Internet. His site shows how effective an online presence can be when content is tailored to meet constituents’ needs. Everything from the menu options to the issue descriptions is presented in a way that visitors from both inside and outside the beltway can understand. The constituent services section brings the personal touch of the physical office to online visitors. For those who wish to initiate casework requests, clear guidance concerning each type of casework is offered. The names and e-mail addresses of the caseworkers are provided so users know the real people behind the support they are getting. A “forms library” allows users to quickly identify and easily fill out the relevant forms. FAQs on other constituent services and legislative issues are offered for those who may not be sure of what they need. The Congressman’s site offers an array of services from requesting a meeting, to information on how to register to vote. The press resources section contains releases by date and by topic, video and transcripts of floor statements, and the name, number and e-mail of the communications director. (p. 77 or 65 depending)

staff quotes

Graham Mason, a Staff Assistant in Congressman Christopher Carney’s office announced his office was “going for the gold” when they planned and launched a new Web site within three months of the Congressman taking office. He said the office combed through CMF’s 2006 Gold Mouse Report to identify the best practices the office wanted to employ. “It took a lot of research and leg work beforehand,” said Mason. “I went through the entire [2006] Gold Mouse Report to try and figure out what effective Web sites had.” He then led the effort in the office and looked to what other offices were doing for inspiration and guidance. “I must have looked at more congressional Web sites and would take notes about what they had or that I thought was particularly useful or effective,” he said. The office compiled a master list—a wish list—of all the things that they wanted to include and delegated them to individual team members. “We gave them timelines, and kept on them about it, and they got it done very effectively,” said Mason (p. 67 or 55 depending)

later

“We wanted everything we did to be very focused on the district,” reported Rebecca Gale, freshman Congressman Christopher Carney’s Communications Director, “and the Web site was part of that.” When asked what the role of the Congressman and his Chief of Staff were in the early success of their Web site, she said “most of their role has been to empower the staff” to launch a site that meets the needs of the district. The Carney office reported that they had the blessing of the Congressman “to move forward and create a great product.” Gale went on to say that the staff was given the time and the room to create the best Web site that they could. She also credited several stellar interns who dedicated a good portion of their time to updating and improving the content necessary for the launch as an additional factor in their success. (p. 68 or 56 depending)

Representative Patrick J. Murphy (http://patrickmurphy.house.gov)

Site description

First-term Congressman Patrick Murphy’s Web site demonstrates just how accessible and easy to use an effective online presence can be. Everything from the menu options to the grants information page is presented in terms and language that experts and newcomers alike can understand. The site allows users to spend less time trying to figure out which section they are interested in and more time focusing on the substance of the site. The site employs navigation and site design practices that anticipate the needs of its users. The design and layout provide clickable breadcrumbs that allow users to figure out where they are in the site and move around quickly. A “Related Items” box delivers other resources that might be of interest to users, while a site map, privacy policy, and consistent and clear menu choices on each page also contribute to the site’s overall usability. The “Front and Center” section of the homepage is laudable for informing users about the most recent or pressing issues the Congressman is active on. The constituent services section is extensive, with all the guidance and information users would want, as well as one page of the issues section devoted to “local issues” specifically for constituents. A thorough FAQ which answers questions about the site, casework, and finding legislative information further enhances the site’s usefulness for constituents and other key audiences. (p. 83 or 71 depending)

staff quotes

Though Congressman Patrick Murphy is among the freshmen members of the 110th Congress, his office has made the Web site a priority according to the Congressman’s Legislative Correspondent, Marc Boom. When asked about how he prioritizes the Web site with everything else that he has to do, Boom stated that he doesn’t “view the Web site as something that is separate from [his] duties. It really is an integral part of understanding constituent outreach and getting our information out there. If you can answer people’s questions before they actually have to take the time to write you about it, that’s a good thing. We certainly get plenty of letters, and we’re happy to get those, but one of the goals of the Web site was to give people another easy way to contact our office.” The office quickly launched a quality congressional Web site within months of Congressman Murphy’s swearing in, and everyone on staff clearly understands that, as Boom put it, the Web site is “the front door to [our] office.” (p. 54 or 66 depending)

As a personal note, Marc Boom worked on Paul Lang’s state senate campaign and is a thoughtful and very well organized young man.

Later

It can take time for any office to develop a well-oiled team, but Adam Abrams, freshman Congressman Patrick Murphy’s Communications Director, reported that teamwork contributed significantly to their success. “Everyone in our office—from our district offices to the D.C. office—plays a role in making sure we flag the important photos of the day, the videos, press releases, and statements by the Congressman to make sure that the material is always fresh,” said Abrams. According to him, their early success is due to the team effort with regard to identifying the material that needs to be posted to the Web site. Abrams also said that the team approach extends all the way up to the Congressman himself, saying, “Congressman Murphy plays a large role in making sure the issues important to our district are always front and center on our Web site.” (p. 69 or 57 depending)

Kudos to Representatives Carney, Murphy, and their staff.