Published: May 08, 2008 04:29 pm            

Tech savvy — Virginia ahead of the curve on YouTube

hhh, YouTube. The website we log on to for our daily fix of laughs, gaffes, goofy pet videos and, now, Virginia state government news.

Earlier this week, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced the creation of his own YouTube site as part of the Commonwealth’s community of channels.

Didn’t know Virginia had its own “community” on YouTube? Then it’s time to take a look.

Accessed at www.youtube.com/virginiagovernment, the Commonwealth’s official site features participation by localities, such as Roanoke and Montgomery counties; colleges and universities, including Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia and Old Dominion University; and state agencies such as the Departments of Emergency Management and Game and Inland Fisheries.

So what can you view on the site?

Videos posted this week include information on tax relief programs for senior citizens and people with disabilities, a GED public service announcement, details on pandemic flu preparedness, a police department recruitment video for Fairfax County and a state of the county address delivered by Joe McNamara, chairman of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors.

Gov. Kaine’s channel, www.youtube.com/vagovernor, includes videos promoting Virginia as the best state for business, a message by Kaine thanking America’s troops, “Virginia Voices” (a tourism video promoting the state’s rich history) and a public service video emphasizing the importance of driving safely and changing lanes when motorists see police officers and other emergency vehicles pulled to the side of a highway.

According to information from the governor’s office, plans are to expand the channel to include video coverage of press conferences and other appearances.

“The use of new media to deliver information online is vital to engage citizens in the process of government,” Kaine said in a news release announcing the new YouTube channel.

His sentiment was echoed by state Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra. “Our goal is to provide full citizen access to Virginia government through every possible means. Free access to government videos online improves our ability to meet this goal,” she said. “Partnerships between our many service-oriented state entities are also very important to us, and the breadth of this initiative is a significant benefit to the Commonwealth.”

We are impressed with the Commonwealth’s commitment to stay ahead of the curve in this new age of technology, and encourage our Southwest Virginia counties to become involved in Virginia’s YouTube community.

This video sharing site could promote our region’s abundance of tourist attractions, and assist in keeping local residents apprised of important government news.

We commend the Old Dominion for its 21st century tech savvy and encourage our local Southwest Virginia counties, and neighboring West Virginia, to take a cue from the Commonwealth on the importance of capitalizing on the technology era.

        

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