The fact checking process
Last month we told you about the fact checking process that we were about to start on beta.govt.nz. (See the post Checking the facts on beta.govt.nz).
Now we want to tell government agencies what the plan is and provide some details. We’ve worked out a schedule that includes 3 rounds of fact checking. We built a plan that:
- provides enough lead time to agencies so that you know what is happening and when
- balances the high-volume content with lower-volume content in each round so that we don’t get swamped
- means we will not go to any agency more than 3 times
- allows for 2 weeks to review content.
Agencies
We will be going to agencies in 3 rounds between October 2013 and February 2014. Not every agency will be approached in each round. This will help you to manage your workloads.
Round 1 — October 2013
- Accident Compensation Corporation
- Banking Ombudsman Scheme Ltd
- Commerce Commission
- Commission for Financial Literacy and Retirement Income
- Department of Conservation
- Department of Internal Affairs
- Earthquake Commission
- GNS Science
- Housing New Zealand Corporation
- Inland Revenue Department
- Land Information New Zealand
- Ministry for Primary Industries
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
- Ministry of Consumer Affairs
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Social Development
- Ministry of Transport
- New Zealand Defence Force
- New Zealand Police
- New Zealand Transport Agency
- Personalised Plates
- Privacy Commissioner
- Tauranga City Council
Round 2 — December 2013
- Accident Compensation Corporation
- Careers New Zealand
- Children's Commissioner
- Department of Conservation
- Department of Corrections
- Department of Internal Affairs
- Human Rights Commission
- Inland Revenue Department
- Maritime New Zealand
- Ministry for Primary Industries
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Social Development
- New Zealand Film Commission
- New Zealand Police
- New Zealand Transport Agency
- Privacy Commissioner
- Public Trust
- Tertiary Education Commission
Round 3 — February 2014
- Commerce Commission
- Commission for Financial Literacy and Retirement Income
- Department of Conservation
- Department of Internal Affairs
- Electoral Commission
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
- Housing New Zealand Corporation
- Inland Revenue Department
- Ministry for Culture and Heritage
- Ministry for Primary Industries
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
- Ministry of Consumer Affairs
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Social Development
- New Zealand Customs Service
- New Zealand Defence Force
- Office of the Ombudsmen
- Parliamentary Service
- Real Estate Agents Authority
What’s expected
We’re putting together an information pack tailored to each agency that will include what content needs to be reviewed (including URLs), a schedule of agencies included in each round, guidance about what to look for, and criteria for content changes.
At the beginning of each round, we’ll schedule orientation sessions and will invite relevant staff along for an overview of the project, a demo of the beta site and a briefing on what we’re asking you to do for the fact checking. We’ll have team members on hand in case you have any questions. For round 1, which is already underway, we had our first session on 9 October and a second one is scheduled for 18 October.
In the meantime, have a look at the beta site, dig through the style guide, and read through the blog posts about the project. You can also subscribe to the Web Toolkit to receive email notices when we add anything new.
This fact checking process is all about working across traditional agency boundaries in order to deliver accurate, reliable information in a user-centred way. Ultimately, the goal of the beta website is to make it easier for New Zealanders to get information from government online. It’s a very exciting project, and we’re looking forward to working with you.
