in advance of SoNA, government expands ‘two-approach conversation’ the use of social media and apps
by means of André-Pierre du Plessis: Memeburn Editor February 12, 2015
you might regard it as a simple exchange to regular SABC programming or, if you happen to’re Capetonian, the worst site visitors nightmare imaginable. government is on the other hand hoping this yr you’ll needless to say the State of the Nation tackle not for what the EFF would possibly do, however because the day it launched an app.
President Jacob Zuma’s tackle all over the opening of Parliament is most likely probably the most-watched speech for native journalists and economists. With the Rand at a thirteen-12 months low against the greenback as investor sentiment dropped beforehand of the speech, the cost of your next Amazon order is dependent a super deal on what Zuma will say. For Jozi editors and journalists, SoNA is an excuse to spend every week in Cape town as pre-events and after-parties dominate their Outlook calendars.
but this 12 months the general public has a new interest in Parliament because of Julius Malema and his disruptive EFF. With a global hashtag initiated by using tannie Evita and supported by using Charlize Theron, social media will probably be following the anticipated “pay back the money” chant right through Zuma’s speech despite the fact that national meeting decides to chop its are living feed.
possibly in an try and distract the public from all this noise, government has launched an Android and iOS app offering a brand new entry level to Gov.za, residence of government’s public knowledge. Launched at a SoNA pre-birthday celebration ultimate night time, the GCIS (government’s PR company) had Mxit on hand to provide an explanation for the advantages and reach of cellular expertise to an target audience of journalists who already knew this. along side the new “South African government” app, attention was once additionally directed to the primary app govt launched late remaining yr for his or her Vuk’uzenzele newspaper.
a part of the the reason is, executive is now investing in apps, is as a result of it believes it will be more cost-effective than printing thousands of Vuk’uzenzele copies, press releases and statements, all of which stack up round Parliament for weeks.
“[The] Minister of Finance said that we’re running out of funds,” said Deputy Director-basic for content Processing and Dissemination, Harold Maloka, in a observation, “and due to this fact we are going to lower the communications budget. That came as a devastating component however then we had to think about other platforms that we can use with the intention to attain increasingly individuals. Social media has allowed government to have value-efficient, efficient two-manner dialog with citizens.”
however when the presidency took to social media asking South Africans to inform Zuma what he should discuss right through his speech tonight, it backfired. The overwhelming response on fb and Twitter has been for Zuma to resign and legalise dagga.
government’s apps are the only different channel that the GCIS can regulate within their new focal point on “other platforms”. just like the Vuk’uzenzele app, the brand new executive app is very common. Developed by way of Memeburn’s mum or dad company, inventive Spark, you would possibly suppose we’d be extra complimentary of it. however we received’t be. It’s a begin and it gets the job executed. There are plans to beef up it going forward but alternatively it’s no longer like Gov.za is bookmarked on our browsers. It’s simply now not fb.
The app turns out to be useful for is accessing press releases and media contacts and is a so much easier browse than seeking to get right of entry to Gov.za from a cellular software. Why would you wish to get right of entry to the web page for your telephone? should you’re a parliamentary reporter, you’re regularly on the run between committee conferences and press briefings, working with a cameraman from the outdated assembly to Stal Plein undecided where to move. That’s when you want get entry to to those documents, particularly if your challenge editor isn’t taking your calls. Does that sound such as you? Then download it here.
the remainder of us will almost certainly no longer have an excessive amount of use for these apps. but with the GCIS taking the leap in approaching builders to explore the space, shall we see different govt departments following their instance to channel your tax cash into progressive apps.
if you decide to look at SoNA tonight with pals around a tv set (or at one in every of 36 giant displays erected throughout the united states) and nothing eventful happens after hour one, tell your friends about this app. They’ll think you’re clever or be aware of something about executive they don’t.
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