Resources of the Week: RSS Feeds About the Government
By Shirl Kennedy, Senior Editor

If you’re a die-hard RSS fan — like all of us here at ResourceShelf and DocuTicker — you already know that the federal government offers a large and ever-growing collection of feeds. Most of these offer news/press release updates, notification of new data/publications, etc. Pick and choose according to your interests. Additionally, there’s a growing collection of Active Government Blogs, and these offer feeds as well.

But what if you want government news and information that strays from “the official party line”…but maybe doesn’t include agenda-tinged rants and screeds (widely available throughout the blogosphere). I’ve found that feeds offered by various controlled circulation periodicals aimed at federal employees, contractors, etc., can be quite informative and useful. You’ll often find items that fly below the radar screen of the mainstream media. A few favorite fishing holes:

+ Federal Computer Week (FCW)

Today’s business and technology decision-makers need a news and information source to help them manage technology in government to deliver business results. Published 40 times per year, Federal Computer Week integrates coverage of the issues that matter most to help IT decision-makers power the business of government.

This magazine is part of a group that also publishes related periodicals such as Government Computer News and Government Health IT. Besides a number of blogs, which have their own feeds, FCW offers a variety of topical feeds — i.e., defense, e-government, homeland security, records management.

+ Government Executive

The United States government is the largest, most vital business in America performing services and managing programs for a wide range of goals and needs.

While the magnitude of the federal government is indisputable, the true story lies with the people making decisions, purchasing products, and managing programs. From granting school loans to protecting our borders, approving new medicines to exploring space, federal managers are both responsible and accountable for the missions of their respective agencies.

Government Executive is proud to serve this community of federal decision-makers and integrators.

Besides a couple of blogs, the magazine offers a small collection of RSS feeds focused on subjects like defense, management/oversight, and technology.

+ Governing

Governing is a monthly magazine whose primary audience is state and local government officials: the governors, mayors, legislators, council members, program directors, agency heads, policy advisors and other officials spanning the entire range of responsibility for state and local government. They are the men and women who set policy for and manage the day-to-day operations of cities, counties and states, as well as such governmental bodies as school boards and special districts.

No feed library here that I could find, but there is a blog — 13th Floor — that offers its own feed. Or you can just subscribe to feeds from individual blog categories that interest you; these are listed on the lefthand side of the page — broadband & telecom, cities & towns, disaster preparedness, gay & lesbian issues, etc.

+ Federal News Radio

Federal News Radio covers both the Federal Government and those who do business with the government concentrating on management, procurement, technology, security, policy and pay & benefits.

This source often includes items of particular interest to federal employees. Finding the feeds here is tricky; I did not a list. Basically, you have to click around on different items until you unearth an orange RSS icon. Random poking around turned up these:

• Federal News Radio – Podcast Updates
• WFED / Mike Causey / Columns (Causey is the senior correspondence here.)
• WFED / Government / Govt. Stories
• Federal News Radio – Ask The CAO A series of interviews with chief acquisitions officers at a variety of federal departments and agencies. Potentially useful for those looking to do business with the government.
• Federal News Radio – Your Turn with Mike Causey Podcasts on topics of particular interest to federal employees.

+ Military.com

We started Military.com in 1999 to revolutionize the way the 30 million Americans with military affinity stay connected and informed. Today, we’re the largest military and veteran membership organization — 8 million members strong.

Military.com’s free membership connects servicemembers, military families and veterans to all the benefits of service — government benefits, scholarships, discounts, lifelong friends, mentors, great stories of military life or missions, and much more.

This is an online-only, but if you’re active duty, retired military or a dependent — or serve that population in any capacity — you’ll want to check out the available feeds here. Some are specific to a particular service branch, but there are general feeds offering DoD news, information for veterans, etc. There’s a podcast feed here as well.

+ Government Inc. is a Washington Post blog/feed focused on federal contracting, with a focus on fraud, waste and abuse. You’ll see things here you won’t find anywhere else.