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USA.gov Unveils Breaking News and Information Feeds on NewsGator RSS Platform

Posted on: Friday, 23 January 2009, 10:56 CST

Award-winning Web site delivers on open government mission

DENVER, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Federal government today announced the availability of breaking news and information RSS feeds on the award winning USA.gov website managed by the U.S. General Service Administration's Office of Citizen Services. With a long history of providing electronic access to government information through the Web, the USA.gov site is delivering on a commitment to streamline and simplify access so that the public no longer has to scour a vast array of government sponsored websites to learn what is new in their areas of interest.

The new service (http://news.usa.gov/), powered by NewsGator, lets anyone subscribe to "really simple syndication" (RSS) feeds on USA.gov, the U.S. government's official portal, and receive news and information in industry standard feed readers, many available for free, just as it is posted by editorial staff. Alternatively, web visitors can bookmark the Web site in their browser.

Users can subscribe to RSS feeds from any or all of the following categories:

Agriculture Environment and Energy Business and Economics Family, Home and Community Consumer News and Recalls Health and Nutrition Defense and International Public Safety and Law Education and Employment Science and Technology General Gov and Reference All Categories

The new USA.gov information service improves what was already the most effective Federal Web site in 2007 and 2008 (Brookings Institution). By turning to NewsGator, the social computing company, USA.gov leverages the technology, infrastructure, and people behind the world's most popular RSS readers for Windows, Web and the Mac. NewsGator's NetNewsWire feed reader is one of TIME Magazine's top 10 iPhone Apps for 2008.

Behind the scenes, USA.gov content editors use NewsGator's Branded RSS Reader software to clip and organize articles from RSS feeds generated by government agencies. A content manager selects the best for posting and can ensure certain articles appear at the top of the users' view. This human element ensures that only the best and most relevant content is being delivered through the feeds and what that means is a better experience for the public.

"We pioneered commercial RSS and today have the only proven scalable RSS infrastructure for delivering the steep mandate for open government access that the Federal government is committed to delivering," said Walker Fenton, General Manager of NewsGator's Media and Consumer division. "The Federal government is awash in content and it is an exciting challenge to help streamline access to this information. It is also an honor to be selected for helping to inform the citizenry; there are few responsibilities more important."

About USA.gov

USA.gov, the U.S. government's official Web portal, makes it easy for the public to get U.S. government information and services on the Web. USA.gov also serves as the catalyst for a growing electronic government. For information, visit www.usa.gov.

About NewsGator Technologies, Inc.

NewsGator Technologies helps enterprises and media companies leverage social computing solutions to deliver real business value. The company's enterprise social networking and widget services are in use by hundreds of the world's most recognized brands, including Biogen Idec, CBS, CNN, Discovery, Procter & Gamble and USA Today. NewsGator Social Sites and Enterprise Server give enterprises better ways to collaborate, share content, expand employee knowledge and improve productivity. NewsGator Widget Services enable media and brand companies to better engage their audiences and extend the value of their brands through viral syndication of content. NewsGator also offers free, award-winning RSS aggregators for the Web, desktop, mobile devices and e-mail clients. For more information, visit www.newsgator.com.

SOURCE NewsGator Technologies, Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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