1 Executive summary

This proposal outlines the need for a standard to support a government-wide, web-based syndicated news initiative and recommends RDF Site Summary (RSS V1.0). The aim of the service is to reduce cost and improve reliability and circulation of government agencies' news and information.

RSS is the "news instance" of Resource Description Framework (RDF), a core standard already adopted as mandatory in New Zealand. RSS is used extensively overseas, is being adopted in the United Kingdom, and is the standard of choice for web-based syndicated news. There is an abundance of software that reads and writes RSS, and major portals such as BBC, Wired and CNN use it. RSS can also offer feeds to third parties. In New Zealand, a group of government agencies have been involved in piloting RSS V1.0 since April 2003 and it has won favour with all those involved.

Benefits of using RSS V1.0 include:

• Increased circulation through syndicated news generation
• news servers can automatically pick and republish content
• auto archiving ensures the portal only carries up-to-date news
• fewer data entry errors and repeat entries
• improved user experience because of its regional functionality.

It is proposed that this become a Recommended Standard in the New Zealand e-GIF [e-GIF is the e-Government Interoperability Framework. Section 9.7 of e-GIF Version 2.1 categorises RSS as "under development or being tested" for ultimate re-use by government agencies.] for 2004 and mandated in the future (subject to feedback and further pilot trial experiences).

If the proposal is accepted, the State Services Commission's E-government Unit (SSC EGU) will move to formalise the news fetch and syndication service pilot that is currently operating.

The RSS V1.0 standard itself requires no special funding. The hardware and software used for the pilot is acceptable for its wider operation. Provided agencies have a database or content management system, setting up the news syndication service is limited to two to three days development work. Agencies can access a forms client [A forms client is a small application on the user's PC. It provides a template to prepare news content for publication on RSS.] which is available, free of charge, to generate RSS V1.0.

This proposal outlines the business need, the options, RSS and the rationale for choosing RSS V1.0. It discusses a technical subject and some understanding of XML is required. Submissions on this proposal are invited from government agencies, Crown entities and local bodies, as well as individuals. It is anticipated that IT strategists, solution architects and developers complying with e-GIF within these organisations will have a particular interest in this proposal.

The e-GIF custodian will review the submissions and determine whether to progress the proposal through the e-GIF standards ratification process.