2008 Digital Governance Award Categories

Leadership in Digital Access
How Granicus streaming solutions are used to bring about significant improvements to government transparency and public access.

Description:
This category addresses the use of audio and/or video streaming media solutions to achieve greater government transparency in the democratic and business processes. Significant leadership in leveraging streaming solutions to create gradual or radical change in governmental transparency and public access must be demonstrated. Results must also prove that government business accountability has been improved due to the improved levels of government information availability. Examples may include highly innovative outreach programs focusing on measurable increases in transparency using streaming media. Outcomes and benefits may include a significant increase in overall visitor traffic to the organization’s website, an in increase hits to specific Granicus hosted pages, or survey results or display enhanced transparency.

Measures:

  1. Proven government transparency and public access improvements
  2. Examples of but are not limited to:
      1. Increase in web traffic / page hits
      2. Survey results
      3. Departmental improvements
      4. Community response

 

Excellence in Disseminating Government Information
How Granicus solutions are used to improve the delivery of government information not including the broadcasting of public meetings.

Description:
This category addresses the exemplary use of audio and/or video streaming media solutions to deliver critical government information to internal or external audiences for public service, education, training, campaigning, positioning, or strategic messaging purposes. Examples of excellence in disseminating government information may include streaming media technology as a major component in emergency preparedness plans, internal training programs, Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaigns, political campaigns or debates.

Measures:

  1. Innovation with Granicus streaming solutions for alternative, non-meeting, public information or internal content – we are looking for evidence of successful uses of streaming media technology with any and all public information efforts.
  2. Examples include but are not limited to:
    1. Emergency preparedness
    2. Internal training innovation
    3. Public Service Announcement (PSA) Campaigns
    4. Political campaigns / Debates

 

Excellence in Government Efficiency
How Granicus technologies are used to bring about significant improvements in the business or democratic procedures of government.

Description:
This category demonstrates government bodies have successfully leveraged Granicus technology to positively impact the organization’s business processes and/or it’s ability to deliver it’s mission. Innovative applications of Granicus must foster measurable improvements in either day-to-day operations or gradual staff improvements over a long period of time. Examples of areas for government efficiency enhancement may include public meeting procedure, staff productivity, and time or cost savings due to Granicus technology.

Measures:

  1. Proven improvements in staff efficiency, time or cost savings with Granicus solutions.
  2. Examples include but are not limited to:
    1. Time saved in minutes annotation
    2. Increased productivity of staff
    3. Public Meeting efficiency improvements

 

Excellence in Constituent Engagement
How Granicus streaming solutions are used to improve public outreach and engagement methods.

Description:
This category addresses the use of audio and/or video streaming media solutions to provide to increase government efficiency with constituent engagement for the purpose of building a stronger community. Acceptable submissions may include any application of Granicus technology to improve public engagement and to strengthen public relations. Examples may include projects in which Granicus technology plays a major role in achieving better public engagement in different areas for community building and strengthening such as cultural arts, public safety, economic development and public works. Measure outcomes and benefits may include a significant increase in overall visitor traffic to the organization’s website, an in increase hits to specific Granicus hosted pages, or better participation.

Measures:

  1. Proven success in government outreach and community building with Granicus streaming solutions.
  2. Examples of best practices are applications of streaming video to build a healthier, stronger community are included but not limited to the below areas:
    1. Cultural arts
    2. Public safety
    3. Economic development
    4. Public works

NEW! Digital Governance Award for Silverlight Excellence:
How Granicus streaming solutions are being used with Microsoft®Silverlight™ to improve user experience and webcasting performance.

Description:
This category addresses excellence in digital access through the vital integration of the Microsoft Silverlight platform. This award will give fundamental recognition to an early adopter of the Silverlight cross-platform browser plug-in to strengthen the reliability and performance of their streaming broadcasts using next generation media delivery. This award demonstrates Silverlight in action. The award winner will validate the importance of opening up greater opportunities for the transmission of public meeting and other government broadcasts across IP networks, making them available to all constituents irrespective of their computer platform with Silverlight. For more information on Silverlight, access this link: http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/

Measures:

  1. Silverlight adoption
  2. Improvements to webcasting performance
  3. Streaming media innovation with a Silverlight backend technology

Awards Program Submission

Evaluation Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated on the clarity, quality and comprehensiveness of the information presented. Each of the following elements make up a percentage of the final score.

  1. Description of the business problem and solution, including the length in of time in operation
  2. Benefits realized by service recipients, tax payers, or government staff
  3. Public value of the project including documented outcomes such as the direct impact on citizens, cost savings, and return on investment.

Official Application

Click here to download the awards application
Word Format
PDF Format

A completed form with supplemental attachments must be submitted to the evaluation committee by email or fax before the application due date: Friday, June 6, 2008

Email: OpenAccess@granicus.com
or
Fax: 415-618-0201

If you have any questions, please contact Lauren Alexander at 415-357-3618

 


Apply Now

Word
PDF

 

Mark Your Calendar, Important Dates

Applications Due:
Friday, June 6, 2008

Winners Announced:
July 2008

Formal Awards Banquet:
Granicus Users Conference,
August 6-8th


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