Web Redesign: Inspector General of the Interior

Here are seven questions and answers to redesigning the website for the Inspector General of the U.S. Dept of the Interior.

It needs a face lift...badly.

1. Who is our target audience (hint: Don't try to be all things to all people)


1st - Media and Congress are the main focus.

2nd- Still, the general public, taxpayers are the ultimate reach. By pushing the newly designed IG website to the media and Congress, it is hoped that the work accomplished by the IG of the Interior will be reported more often.

2. What is the competitive landscape? (hint: Sites that do it well)

GAO does it better. Their IG webpage is under their main homepage. They have well- defined lists of recent reports. Also, GAO has presence on Twitter. There are also links designated for Congress and Media.

3. How do we differentiate ourselves? (hint: Secret sauce)

The mission of the redesign is to showcase the office's reports and investigations within a multimedia framework.

Pictures and video material will be attached to the reports. Katy has indicated that the office already uses photos and video in its investigations. However, these materials are not being put on the web at the moment. We will put these element on the website.

The website will be more interactive with a map of the US highlighting "high profile" investigations by the office. There will be a small map icon on the main front page that would lead to a full page featuring the interactive map.

4. How do we create our site? (hint: Staff and schedule)

Designate two core web editors who write brief summaries of the reports. They will also populate and organize the website.

Public Relations person will Twitter information about the latest reports.

IT person will execute the act of putting new items on the website.

Katy has said there is an independent contractor already hired to redesign the site. This contractor will create the web template that others can implement.

5. How do we get our content? (hint: Pre-built, manual, automatic, updated)

Content will be collected from the office's investigations, audits, evaluations, inspections and assessments.

Many of these, already conducted by IG employees, have video and still pictures as part of their reports. These investigators already are use to doing two versions of their reports – a "redacted" version and one for internal files.

The website will use the "redacted" version of the reports.

6. How do we market our site? (hint: Spread the word)

A. Get a list of media outlets and have PR person send e-mail alerts on the latest IG office reports. Send out weekly press releases highlighting any visuals.

The PR person will send an email with two web links:
1. the web link related to the specific topic relevant to the media contact.
2. the main website address

B. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube will be utilized in a similar fashion to the GAO office.

C. Katy says there is an existing campaign marketing the IG Interior's complaint hotline. The campaign will be updated to include the website address.

D. Link our website to www.recovery.gov. And include our website on www.recovery.gov's site.

E. Change the website address to InteriorIG.gov – easier to market than the current: http://www.doioig.com/ – (dept of interior office of inspector general).

7. How do we sustain the site? (hint: Show me the $$$)

Funds would be doled out via Federal appropriations and employees already on the payroll. President Obama has said he wants to make the federal government more transparent and interactive on the web. Revamping this website would be at par with the President's mission.

What I've Learned About Hatching The Idea

So after listening to Cynthia Farrar, creator of PurpleStates.tv, I have gathered some conclusions about the elevator pitch.

I think the biggest thing I've taken away from the presentation is that you have to gather people who can generate momentum, excitement and the know-how to get the idea off the ground in a specific window of time. I think generally, that window of time is rather SMALL. So you have to work quickly.

I think if you let the idea brew for too long, there will be ample amount of people who would have the time to bring up criticism and drawbacks related to the idea. This will significantly impact the idea's prospects of becoming a reality. Don't let them knock down the idea even if it IS a "straw man" at this beginning stage.

So, I take to heart that with any idea, one must find supporters and those who "get it" as soon as possible. These people's belief in the idea will help keep discouragement at bay and be a motivator for the creator.

Oh....and here is my "Spoons" elevator pitch:

"Spoons" is a site offering fun ways to cook simple meals designed for the novice cook. Cooks at the beginner's level are often intimidated and don't know where to start honing their skills. This website will offer simple how-to videos and easy recipes. Moreover, the website will provide a meeting place for all culinary lovers. People will build a network of their own culinary friends to share recipes, advice and pictures about their experiences in the kitchen.

What makes the website stand out is that all the recipes incorporate the use of a set of color-coded measuring utensils. These utensils may be ordered and given out for free in the first year of of the website's launch. Kitchen ware companies may sponsor these spoons.

There's a saying that to understand another person, one must "break bread" with him or her. Well, with "Spoons," each person lands a spot at the virtual dinner table.

Fine-tuning Spoons: Elizabeth Jia's Idea

Cooking for Rookies

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS:

1. How do you connect the three distinct parts? Videos/spoons/social networking?

The three parts would be integrated. There would be a video section on the website. The social-networking component is integrated into the entire website. Users log into the site in order to friend others, download recipes, and share their culinary experiences.

The spoons are the TANGIBLE aspect of the entire project. The spoons should be ordered/purchased via the website OR gotten through a promotional event (festival, weekend event..etc.)

2.Instructional cooking videos are hard to pull off. Especially for user generated content because of lighting etc.

The videos would be produced by the website staff AND any willing sponsors.

Producing all those spoons will be difficult-- who will pay for them? Will they be donated? Shipping and hand?

The spoons will be designed and produced by a utensil/kitchen ware company. Shipping and handling would be handled via the start-up funds of the website. Also, the promote the website, the initial stages of handing out the spoons will rely heavily on local events where "street teams" would be deployed to hand out the spoons.

Will people want to give their addresses out to you so you can send them the spoons?

People may feel safe if the website uses a safe/secure site like Paypal.

3. Ads on the videos would bring in money to pay for spoons and maybe sell logos on the spoons to companies to pay for the spoons. If users sign up to get spoons try to get them to opt in for email to try to sell email lists or solicit money that way or get advertisers or sell ads on emails that way.

Yes, the ads and user generated information would be good data for advertisers. So, Spoons would be able to provide this information to third-party advertisers.

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This is the one-stop-shop for those in search of a multimedia experience that will foster their culinary skills.

The main target audience is someone who wants to learn how to make a simple, tasty dish while eliminating the hassle of measuring things out. The focus is ENTIRELY on making this FUN.

Users of the site can order ONE FREE SET of measuring spoons and cups. These utensils are created with the website in mind. Each spoon will be a different color. The cups will also be designed with color-coded lines.

So the recipes on the site would read: "Add the thyme using the RED spoon. Fill water to the red line on the cup." Additional orders will cost a pre-determined amount.

Owners of this website can invite kitchen utensil companies to sponsor the design of these utensils.

The Multimedia Elements

With these measuring utensils, the audience can follow the easy recipes step-by-step. They can also WATCH video clips of sample dishes being made. There will be user-generated photos of food in a photo gallery. There will also be a news section on food-related/health articles, tip-of-the-day, and advice.

To PROMOTE the website, there will be multiple outings to area festivals, events, etc. to give away free sets of measuring spoons and cups. They are encouraged to visit the website and start cooking using the spoons and cups. These utensils will also have the website logo on them.

The cooking site will slowly expand to include different cuisines: American, Chinese, Italian, Greek, etc etc.

The site will also have a social-networking component. You can "friend" rookies, cooks, chefs, kitchen helper and any other titles that the public can choose to describe their level of culinary skills.

Humanhood.com Vs. Determined2.com

These two social-networking sites focus on helping the public reach personal goals. But, one site clearly dominates over the other in terms of popularity and appeal.

Humanhood.com's homepage shows a timer counting up to the time until it doles out the next batch of invites to the public. It also asks for the new user to enter an email address.


The only reason I know of Humanhood.com is through news articles and the public's comments. But in order to really find out what Humanhood.com is all about, you HAVE to become a member. This exclusivity may deter some users. But given the buzz around this site, it actually works to the site's advantage.


After I entered my e-mail, a "thank you" message appears and says I have to check for an invite on May 28th. I am eager to get the invite through my email and start exploring the site.


On the other hand, Determined2.com also promises to help you to stop procrastinating and start accomplishing. However, before I sign up, I am exploring the pages and seeing that the featured new members of the site have "no goals" labeled on their entries. This clearly isn't appealing to me.

I don't want to be part of a network about accomplishing goals and then seeing that its members have no goals and have not accomplished much.







Humanhood.com clearly wins.

The "In" Crowd

Forget "social-networking"...let's call it what it is: Being on the "in." Every single community-building feature on the website hopes that the public will jump in.

For example, my station's website, wusa9.com, allows readers to comment on stories only if they have registered and logged onto the site. Without signing up with wusa9.com, you cannot comment on stories or blogs.


And as a member of wusa9.com, you are able to "friend" others, message others, participate in forums, upload photos, create your own profile, and create your own blog.

Basically, wusa9.com is not only a news website. It's also a platform for the public to express themselves and in turn, become more invested in the site.

I often respond back to the comments on my blog. It definitely helps to keep the discussions alive on a blog entry

Fearless Journalism Coming...Do you believe it?

I just got this e-mail from my Georgetown account that there's an up-and-coming news website that's looking for college interns and writers. Tucker Carlson of MSNBC is behind this operation.


Tucker Carlson is a big name. It will be interesting to see how this develops. Will it be reminiscent of how Politico got launched? We will have to wait and see.

When you visit the site, it reads:

Coming soon. The Daily Caller will be home to some of the most timely, accurate and fearless journalism on the web. With original reporting on politics, government and culture, breaking news updated to the minute, satire, analysis and research, we hope to be the first site you read in the morning, and the last you check before dropping off to sleep. Every day.
Stay tuned.

My Georgetown e-mail reads:

The Daily Caller will be an aggregate of all news soon to be launched by Tucker Carlson who has nearly 20 years of experience in journalism including associations with CNN, the Weekly Standard and New York Times magazine, and Neil Patel who has served in various senior positions in the US Government including most recently as chief policy advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney.

This is a great opportunity for those who want to learn more about journalism and more importantly, get to understand the inner-workings of Washington and the way our political system works. If interested, please contact Elizabeth Pelgrift at epelgrift@gmail.com for more information.

Politico44

I have never seen a "living diary" of a presidency before. But after observing Politico44 for awhile, I see that it is a fair attempt but it's very brief.

If you are looking for a quick "overview" of some highlights throughout President Obama and his administration's day, this may be a resource.

My impression of a 'diary' is a personal log and analysis of person's day-to-day life. I see that the Obama Presidency takes on this personification. And the result is pretty text heavy and not enough video!

To speculate on what it TAKES to run this site, I would gather, that the Politico staff assigned people to update the sections. The Whiteboard section is clearly the DOMINANT feature that provides highlights throughout the day. So here are my thoughts:

1. Someone must be providing these updates on the WhiteBoard almost EVERY hour.

2. Someone or a machine automatically updates the "schedule" of the President and VP daily.

3. Someone looks at other political stories online and selects the ones to be highlighted on Politico44. I saw yesterday, there were article from The Washington Post and AP linked to the site.

4. Another part of the news site is devoted to VIDEO. Politco44 provides this VIDEO link along with a highlighted clip. I looked at the video section and really liked the short clip of Colbert and President Obama talking. Colbert gets his head shaved!

5. I appreciate the "W.H. Hopes You Don't See" section. It actually makes me want to read those posts more.

6. I don't like how I don't see a clear coherent template. The site actually builds more postings or reduces postings according to the schedule of the day. This flexibility is good. But who is making the call on what is going to be pushed more ABOVE on the site?

7. There are some consistent authors: Carol E. Lee. Others are Politico bloggers: Ben Smith.

8. So, I am seeing that other parts of Politico.com gets compiled and excerpted to make up a good portion of Politico44.

9. I am taking a guess: There are about 2 Politico staffers devoted full-time to this site.

What do you think???