Larson’s Website One of Ten Best in House
By Bill Yelenak
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. John Larson (D-1) is one of 10 House members with a Web site ranked A+ by the Congress Online Project, which released its 2003 rankings this week.
Other members of the Connecticut delegation also received awards. Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) got an A- and Rep. Christopher Shays (R-4) an A+.
The Congress Online Project on Monday gave Gold, Silver and Bronze Mouse Awards to 75 of the 610 Web sites evaluated, which included members’ offices and committee and leadership sites.
The gold, silver and bronze awards went to sites getting ratings of A+, A and A-. Of the sites ranked in the study, fewer than three percent received an A+.
Larson, who won a Mouse Award for the first time, said in a statement that he was “very pleased.” This is the second year the group has given the awards.
“I view my Web site as an extension of my offices, available to my constituents at any time from anywhere,” Larson said.
Larson also congratulated Brian Mahar, his legislative correspondent and systems administrator, for an “outstanding job in leading the effort to make the site a resource for the people of the 1st Congressional District.”
Even though Larson won an award, he said the improvements to his site would continue.
“I anticipate even further improvements during the coming year,” Larson said.
Larson spokesman Mike Kirk said that having an appealing and informative Web site was important so that information can easily be disseminated to those who need it.
“A variety of people – whether it’s other people in Congress, whether it’s constituents, whether it’s the media – often get a lot of their information through the Web site,” Larson said. “It’s important that it’s clear and has plenty of information.”
According to Kirk, the Web site received nearly 2,800 people in December 2002 and nearly 4,000 in October 2002, which has been the highest month so far. He said the site, since January 2002, gets between 2,000 and 3,000 viewers per month on average.
The Congress Online Project, funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts and researched by the George Washington University and the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF), listed what made each gold and silver Web site award-worthy.
According to Nicole Folk, one of the authors of the report, Larson won the award because his site took time to explain about Congress to those who may not be as informed. Folk said that the authors met with Larson’s staff and that there was great interest in improving the Web site.
“As part of this grant we met with offices and provided them with confidential assessments of the site and where they could improve,” Folk said. “The congressman made the Web site a priority and the whole office started contributing to it and essentially made it a virtual office. It’s something that the whole staff does contribute to.”
Folk said Larson’s Web site also did a good job educating the public in the issues and terms that Congress deals with.
Folk also complimented Dodd’s Web site, saying it offered an easy way for the voting public to examine the issues and stay informed.
“The site is really organized around its audience, especially constituents,” Folk said. “For example, the “quick-answer” question takes a look at what they get contacted most regarding … and right below that they offer their monthly e-mail newsletter. which is really great.”
According to statistics from the Congressional Management Foundation, only 32 percent of all Senators have -mail newsletters.
In a statement, Dodd said the Internet acted as a “wonderful bridge” to his constituents.
“It gives [constituents] a chance to let me know how they feel about important issues of the day, while keeping them abreast of what is going on in Washington,” Dodd said.
Like Larson, Dodd said improvements would continue with the Web site, even though he received an award.
“And while I’m flattered by this honor, it shouldn’t be considered an end, but a beginning,” Dodd said. “I intend to continue to look at innovative new ways of reaching out to people back home.”
Bill Yelenak, a Boston University student, works at the Boston University Washington News Service in Washington, D.C. His telephone number is 202-756-2860 ext: 114 and his email is byelenak@newbritainherald.com.
Published in The New Britain Herald, in Connecticut.
