http://breatheretailconsulting.blogspot.com/2009/02/government-use-of-social-media-part-1.html



Given the government's slow acceptance and use of social media to date, last week's involvement of such sites by HHS is encouraging and certainly a big shift in their approach to public relations. Recently I have been doing quite a bit of research on the government and its use of social media, and concluded that in fact the executive branch should define an online communication strategy that encourages open engagement with the public through the use of social media sites. Social media technology offers agencies and departments the ability to:

    *expand their network in the private sector

    *communicate quickly and easily

    * conduct research instantaneously

    * tap into useful micro-niches

    *combat negative publicity