Communication
Good written and verbal communications make the government more effective and trustworthy.
Communicating with the public requires content that’s accurate, relevant, easy-to-use, and conveyed in plain language. Maximize the quality and integrity of information provided to the public by staying informed, connecting with other federal communicators, and implementing best practices shared by trusted resources.
Related Policy
Information Quality Act & OMB Memo M-19-15 (PDF 991KB 11 pages)
Resources on Communication
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An introduction to working with social media influencers
Learn how to partner with social media influencers and design, implement, and measure an influencer program.
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The CDC Clear Communication Index
The CDC Clear Communication Index is a research-based tool to help you develop and assess public communication materials.
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PlainLanguage.gov
A resource to help federal employees write in plain language and comply with the Plain Writing Act of 2010.
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An introduction to pronouns
A guide for government employees and contractors to understand and use pronouns in the workplace.
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Introduction to translation technology
What is translation technology? This introductory resource will help you understand how and when to use translation technology to provide meaningful access for people with limited English proficiency.
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An introduction to plain language
Understand how and why to use plain language on government websites and other digital services
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How to start and sustain a federal podcast
Discover how to create and maintain a successful podcast at your federal agency.
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Introduction to self-description
Help create inclusive digital spaces with these tips for using self-descriptions in virtual meetings or conference calls.
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Lessons from the 2021 Federal Plain Language Report Card
This event recap highlights best practices, a short case study video, and examples of federal web content that received both high and low scores in the 2021 Plain Language Report Card.
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How to Present Like a Pro
Wendy Wagner-Smith of the Small Business Administration (SBA) shares her tips and tricks for presenting virtually.
Join a Community of Practice
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Communicators
Improve written and verbal communication to make government more effective.
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Section 508 IT Accessibility
To support people working to enhance access to federal information technology (IT), we identify and promote best practices for compliance with Section 508 law, and conformance to the Revised 508 Standards.
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Plain Language
Promote the use of plain language to provide better service to the public.
Communication events
Supporting inclusive language through automation
Strengthening information accessibility for consumers with limited English proficiency
The plain language tie to translating digital content
2022 Federal Plain Language Summit
Communication news
Celebrating the work of public servants
Performance.gov invites you to participate in their #GovPossible campaign to celebrate Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW)! Recognize the invaluable efforts of government employees who ensure that the everyday needs of Americans are met. Access a range of tools and resources to help you join the #GovPossible campaign and show your support. The #GovPossible toolkit makes it easy for you to participate in this important (and fun!) campaign. — via Performance.gov
Reconsidering the consent form: the least user-friendly aspect of UX research
The Open Data, Design, and Development (ODDD) team has replaced signed consent forms with a more accessible user research agreement process, offering multiple opt-in points. This ensures informed consent and participant autonomy. Explore why and how the ODDD team implemented this comprehensive participant consent process in their user research. — via Office of Natural Resources Revenue
18F practices in action (spoiler: this stuff works)
How well do 18F software development practices work? The 18F team reflected on a recent project for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) .gov registry to gauge the effectiveness of six recommendations aligned with what they actually did. — via 18F
Speaking your language USAGov outreach approach to bilingual content
As a bilingual program, USAGov aims to give English and Spanish-language audiences the information they want in the cultural context they need. Here are a few main things the team learned when transcreating messaging through the USAGov and USAGov en Español outreach channels. — via USA.gov
Why the American People Deserve a Digital Government
OMB released new policy guidance for government that includes a variety of actions and standards to help federal agencies design, develop, and deliver modern websites and digital services. Memo M-23-22, Delivering a Digital-First Public Experience, will make it seamless for the public to obtain government information and services online, and help agencies fully implement the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (21st Century IDEA). — via The White House
Resources on Communication
-
An introduction to working with social media influencers
Learn how to partner with social media influencers and design, implement, and measure an influencer program.
-
The CDC Clear Communication Index
The CDC Clear Communication Index is a research-based tool to help you develop and assess public communication materials.
-
PlainLanguage.gov
A resource to help federal employees write in plain language and comply with the Plain Writing Act of 2010.
-
An introduction to pronouns
A guide for government employees and contractors to understand and use pronouns in the workplace.
-
Introduction to translation technology
What is translation technology? This introductory resource will help you understand how and when to use translation technology to provide meaningful access for people with limited English proficiency.
-
An introduction to plain language
Understand how and why to use plain language on government websites and other digital services
-
How to start and sustain a federal podcast
Discover how to create and maintain a successful podcast at your federal agency.
-
Introduction to self-description
Help create inclusive digital spaces with these tips for using self-descriptions in virtual meetings or conference calls.
-
Lessons from the 2021 Federal Plain Language Report Card
This event recap highlights best practices, a short case study video, and examples of federal web content that received both high and low scores in the 2021 Plain Language Report Card.
-
How to Present Like a Pro
Wendy Wagner-Smith of the Small Business Administration (SBA) shares her tips and tricks for presenting virtually.
More News and Events on Communication
100 posts
Celebrating the work of public servants
Performance.gov invites you to participate in their #GovPossible campaign to celebrate Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW)! Recognize the invaluable efforts of government employees who ensure that the everyday needs of Americans are met. Access a range of tools and resources to help you join the #GovPossible campaign and show your support. The #GovPossible toolkit makes it easy for you to participate in this important (and fun!) campaign. — via Performance.gov
18F practices in action (spoiler: this stuff works)
How well do 18F software development practices work? The 18F team reflected on a recent project for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) .gov registry to gauge the effectiveness of six recommendations aligned with what they actually did. — via 18F
Reconsidering the consent form: the least user-friendly aspect of UX research
The Open Data, Design, and Development (ODDD) team has replaced signed consent forms with a more accessible user research agreement process, offering multiple opt-in points. This ensures informed consent and participant autonomy. Explore why and how the ODDD team implemented this comprehensive participant consent process in their user research. — via Office of Natural Resources Revenue
Spring 2024 Community Summit
Speaking your language USAGov outreach approach to bilingual content
As a bilingual program, USAGov aims to give English and Spanish-language audiences the information they want in the cultural context they need. Here are a few main things the team learned when transcreating messaging through the USAGov and USAGov en Español outreach channels. — via USA.gov
Why the American People Deserve a Digital Government
OMB released new policy guidance for government that includes a variety of actions and standards to help federal agencies design, develop, and deliver modern websites and digital services. Memo M-23-22, Delivering a Digital-First Public Experience, will make it seamless for the public to obtain government information and services online, and help agencies fully implement the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (21st Century IDEA). — via The White House
6 lessons from a project handoff
Project handoffs are not simple. Teams have their own cultures and work styles. Without planning, a project could lose institutional memory, time, quality, and funding when it passes from one team to the next. Here are 6 lessons we learned as a recent project changed hands. — via USA.gov
Making the case for sentence case on USAGov’s websites
What is the best case style to use for titles and headings? For the new USAGov websites, we discuss the decision to use sentence case on USAGov products. — via USA.gov
Inclusivity and automation
4 steps writers and editors can take to demonstrate value
Supporting inclusive language through automation
10 ways to recognize employees at work
Strengthening information accessibility for consumers with limited English proficiency
Personas: learn how to discover your audience, understand them, and pivot to address their needs
The art of storytelling in a hybrid world
The plain language tie to translating digital content
A happy compromise between people-first and plain language
Building Beta: The Foundation
The USAGov program has been developing a new iteration of our bilingual sites, USA.gov and USAGov en Español. In the process of building beta.USA.gov and beta.USA.gov en Español, we’ve been rethinking our work style and priorities. Follow the “Building Beta” series to learn how we’re reimagining the way we approach product management, usability, accessibility, content creation, analytics, and outreach. — via USA.gov
Three Tips for Using Facebook and Instagram Stories
At USA.gov and USAGov en Español, we’re always looking for better ways to connect people to government information through social media. Using stories has helped us increase our engagement rate and our number of followers as we deliver helpful information to people. Stories may be a good addition to your agency’s social media strategy, too. These three tips can help you get started. — via USA.gov