The White House website for the Obama administration sets a new precedent for transparency.

As Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday 20 January 2009, the Whitehouse.gov website changed within seconds to a very different and transparent manifestation.

Replacing the previously text-heavy front page of the Bush administration, the new website features a smiling photograph of Obama, next to the words, “Change has come to America”.

In a blog penned by the Director of New Media at the White House, Macon Phillips, the website was formally introduced: “One of the first changes is the White House’s new website, which will serve as a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world.

“Just like your new government, WhiteHouse.gov and the rest of the Administration’s online programs will put citizens first.”

With three priorities of communication, transparency and participation, features of the site include a briefing room with press releases and news, blog, weekly video messages from the president and a full overview of the administration and its agenda.

Phillips continued: “President Obama has committed to making his administration the most open and transparent in history, and WhiteHouse.gov will play a major role in delivering on that promise.

“One significant addition to WhiteHouse.gov reflects a campaign promise from the President: we will publish all non-emergency legislation to the website for five days, and allow the public to review and comment before the President signs it.”

In a further move that illustrates the technological savvy of the Obama administration, the president has been allowed to keep his BlackBerry – he will actually be the first US president to have access to email in the White House.

Despite security concerns over who might see his emails, the compromise allows him to stay in touch with senior staff and personal friends.

Visit the website at: www.whitehouse.gov ^[1]