Open Government Requires Accessibility, Not Just Data, Specialists Say

Open government in the Internet Age shouldn't be about simply throwing information online but about making it easily accessible and searchable too, government information technology officials said at a conference Wednesday.

Making important agency information easy to find online can also be a key factor in improving the agency's public image, said General Services Administration digital government specialist Sheila Campbell. "People assume, rightly or wrongly, that your website is a reflection of your organization," Campbell said. "They make judgments about your agency based on their experiences navigating your website and, for most agencies, this is the way people most frequently interact with you."

In addition to playing to public assumptions of government inefficiency and sloppiness, a poorly designed website can also deter qualified people from taking jobs at an agency, Campbell said.