Canadian <Metadata> Forum

news.gc.ca

Robert Oates
Communication Canada

Available also in [PDF 361 KB] (slides) and [PDF 585 KB] (with comments)

Newsroom Background

News releases and government information delivery:

• Through traditional media outlets.
• Via Press conferences and wire services to press, radio and television.
• WWW provided new outlet for distribution.
• Departments began to introduce “News” function to Web sites.

Newsroom - Phase I Objective

To provide a Web site for Canadians and the media to access news releases and media advisories published by Government of Canada organizations in the NCR region.

Newsroom - Phase I Results

• Phase I launched May 2002.
• Developed and maintained under contract managed by Communication Canada.
• 43 organizations currently publish their news products at no cost.
• CLF presentation but did not include metadata:
  • to describe information
  • to facilitate discovery of information

Phase I - Current Look

Phase I - Content Delivery

Phase I - Improvements

• Facilitate search for information.
• Improve search using metadata.
• Improve publishing and distribution to GoC standards and policies.
• Improve accessibility.
• Target clients with specific information.

Phase II Enablers

• World-wide shift in information distribution strategies.
• Wider audience could be reached using XML-proven technologies.
• Flexible, extensible and sustainable Web.
• Support from:
  • Government On-Line 2005.
  • Framework for the Management of Information in Government (FMI) objectives.
• Management of Government Information (MGI).

Phase II - Metadata

Metadata used to:

• Populate client centric Web site
• Describe documents.
• Target search to clients.
• Enable multi-channel distribution.
• Improve accessibility.

Phase II - New Look

Phase II - Content Delivery

Phase II - Features

• More delivery channels (e.g. assistive devices, wireless applications, syndication).
• More content and more GoC participants
• Horizontal info-sharing, delivery and lifecycle management.
• Up-to-the-minute: no third-party intervention.
• Streamlined processes and potential cost savings.
• Metadata-driven search and information management.

Phase II - Benefits

• Model for enterprise service delivery.
• Meets and/or exceeds GOL, CLF and W3C.
• Enhances regionalization of communications.
• Widest possible audience of Canadians.
• Facilitates extended information delivery to Canadians and the media through anonymous syndication.
• Supports emergency message broadcasting.

Phase II - General Architecture