White House updates Web site shortly after Obama's oath-taking

MANILA, Philippines – Shortly after Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States, the White House Web site (www.whitehouse.gov) posted its first blog entry under the new administration, titled "Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov." The entry was posted by Macon Phillips, director of New Media for the White House. The entry begins:

"A short time ago, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and his new administration officially came to life. One of the first changes is the White House's new website, which will serve as a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world. "Millions of Americans have powered President Obama's journey to the White House, many taking advantage of the internet to play a role in shaping our country's future. WhiteHouse.gov is just the beginning of the new administration's efforts to expand and deepen this online engagement."

According to Phillips, new media efforts will center around three priorities – communication, transparency, and participation. And he urged the site's visitors to send in their inputs, saying: "We'd also like to hear from you – what sort of things would you find valuable from WhiteHouse.gov?" He also announced that Obama’s inaugural address would be posted later in the day, along with slideshows of the inaugural events, the Obamas’ move into the White House, and Obama’s first days in office. - GMANews.TV