Government news feed pilot

Metacentric Internet Limited has launched a pilot scheme for government departments that brings a new meaning to the phrase "Freedom of Information". The Web Feed Generator service at http://www.metacentric.net/ now offers a free 30 day trial that enables government Web sites to publish their own Internet news feeds in RSS format. The new package, called "Free Trial .gov", is designed to demonstrate the benefits of news feed technology to senior IT managers.

Metacentric has conducted research with British government departments that already run their own news feeds, to discover the key success factors. Nine government departments and local councils in England and Scotland contributed to the research. One common element was what Metacentric managing director Philip Shaw calls the "shoot first, answer questions later" approach.

Philip Shaw explains: "The news feed pioneers in local and national government simply had the technical skills and freedom to do the job themselves." He continued: "It was far easier to show how their news feeds worked than explain news feed technology in advance."

Not all government Web teams have the capacity to create news feeds themselves, however. Many work to tight time constraints and equally limited budgets, with little opportunity to investigate new technologies.

Philip Shaw said: "The Web Feed Generator is designed to deliver the same quick win those innovative government Web teams achieved. We hope the Free Trial .gov pilot scheme will help other public service Web sites follow in their footsteps."

Government departments and local councils use news feeds to promote their Web sites, encourage more inbound links and stimulate news media coverage. Many journalists are early adopters of news feed technology because it helps them keep abreast of many sources.

Philip Shaw said: "The government Web managers we spoke to used news feeds to fulfil public interest in planning applications, publish committee meeting news, help councillors keep up with developments and address general customer focus and accessibility requirements."

Notes for editors

Metacentric Internet Limited is a British company based in Norwich, England. A media kit with high resolution graphics, illustrations, screen shots and further background information is available at http://www.metacentric.net/about/MediaKit.jsp

News feed technology has been adopted by commercial Internet services like Amazon and PC World, and traditional news publishers like the BBC and Reuters. Feed readers are built in to many Web browsers and email programs, including the forthcoming version of Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Feed readers check news feeds while you are looking at other Web sites or reading your email and alert you to new items. News feeds use a plain text format, so cannot carry the viruses and worms that have made people so suspicious of email notification. Each news item includes summary text and a link back to the Web site to read the "full story".

Please contact Philip Shaw for further questions and quotes on 01603 506486 (UK) or +44 1603 506486 (International). Email philip.shaw@metacentric.net