IMAGINE IF YOUR organization’s website received an award for showing “signs of improvement.” Though “still weak,” it’s beginning to provide “basic” information. This less-than-cheering diagnosis comes from the Congressional Management Foundation’s 113th Congress Gold Mouse Awards, which recognizes House and Senate offices (including committees) for effective websites and citizen engagement on social media.
The awards shine a welcome spotlight on an abysmal set of sites, some of which are utterly unnavigable. The issue would be hilarious were access to lawmakers anything less than elemental to a healthy democracy. By praising those few Hill offices who work hard to ensure their websites are functional and inviting, the CMF brings us a step closer to a day when they’ll all be like that.
In future editions of the awards, it would be nice if the CMF could draw attention to those sites in most need of repair (National Journal has since taken down its list of the worst committee websites). That ought to really get people talking.
Tags: 113th Congress Gold Mouse Awards, Congressional Management Foundation, National Journal
