Looking in on Eden

Government use of social media to reach out to consitutents appears to be very limited. So I'm encouraged that I might able to break some new ground as I look for examples of social networking in government. I'm looking for good examples of governments using blogs, podcasts and other social media to allow "peers to talk with peers," so if you know of any, please pass them on.

My first stop takes us to Eden Prairie, Minnesota, where city manager Scott Neal says, "blog or be blogged." Blogging for employees and citizens of Eden Prairie since March 2003 with his blog The Blog from City Hall, Neal seems to understand that he must be accountable to "the people that pay my salary," and has developed a blog that looks at various city issues in a frank and conversational tone. Neal is joined by the fire chief and the chief of police who also blog.

In an early post from his blog Neal talks about a trip to a local business where he admits, "the City hasn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t had what you?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢d call a good relationship with." over the years. It's frank talk and illustrates how a blog can reach out to people and allow them an insight into how an organization thinks and works.

I have one complaint: the Eden Prairie city hall blog doesn't allow comments. This is a departure from the earlier posts, which did allow comments. Turning comments back on would open up the blog to various viewpoints, likely some criticism, and round out the experience. Allowing comments would encourage debate, build a dialogue and could move Neal's blog beyond only allowing a consumption of information to full social networking among the employees and the residents of Eden Prairie.

Another plus for Eden Prairie is a podcast, which was active as late as December 29, 2006. This personalization of city employees and leaders is a positive step and something other communities should certainly copy.

I'm sure there are other examples, which I hope will be revealed to me in the future.

Last updated by Michael S. Sommermeyer at March 28, 2007.