The Merit Awards: Driving Open Government
Adobe and MeriTalk honored the 2009 Merit Award recipients at the Adobe Government Assembly on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C.
The Merit Awards recognized excellence in innovative implementations that aim to deliver a more efficient and transparent government. Below please find the 2009 Merit Award Winners:
Flu.gov
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Flu.gov provides comprehensive government-wide information on influenza for the general public, health and emergency preparedness professionals, policy makers, government and business leaders, school systems, and local communities. Current emphasis is on the H1N1 flu pandemic.
Recovery.gov
The Recovery Accountability & Transparency Board
Recovery.gov was created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to provide unprecedented transparency about how Recovery funds are being used, and increase accountability to guard against fraud, waste, and abuse.
This Web site allows American taxpayers to see what entities received Recovery money, as well as how and where the money is being spent. These questions are answered through easy-to-understand, user-friendly graphs, charts, and maps.
The TSA Blog
Transportation Security Administration
The TSA blog was launched on January 30, 2008 with the intent of demystifying airport security processes and debunking myths by providing simple, non-bureaucratic explanations of why TSA does what it does to keep the traveling public safe. Curtis "Bob" Burns, best known as "Blogger Bob," is the manager and the primary voice of the blog, and he is supported by other TSA employees who also contribute with posts and responses to comments. Since its inception, the blog has provided a forum for open and transparent discussion between TSA and the public on a wide range of topics including the "why" behind security procedures, information on new policies, and myth busting of media and blog stories. Since its launch, the blog has received over 1 million hits.