The landscape may have changed dramatically since we began covering technology in state and local government 16 years ago, but our dedication to publishing magazines that matter to our audience hasn't wavered. One measure of that dedication is the respect we earn from our industry peers -- respect that typically takes the form of awards from publishing associations at annual gala events.
By that yardstick, Government Technology and its publications had a very successful year, capturing several prestigious awards for editorial and design excellence.
In October, Government Technology brought home two awards from the 2003 Folio:Show in New York City. Folio feted Government Technology's Visions magazine with an Eddie Award for editorial excellence in the "Business-to-Business, Government" category and an Ozzie Award for excellence in magazine design for "Best Use of Illustration for a Single Article."
We also won top honors from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for design excellence in two categories, "Front Cover; Computer Generated" and "Feature Article Design." On the editorial side, the Western Publications Association awarded Government Technology magazine a coveted Maggie Award for best overall "Non-Paid/Trade Publication over 50,000 circulation" for its October 2002 issue.
As an executive vice president of e.Republic and the publisher of Government Technology magazine, I'm proud of what we've accomplished. I want our readers to know when they receive our magazines every month, they're getting a package of thoughtful, insightful and reliable information.
These awards may give us a welcome opportunity to pat ourselves on the back, but ultimately they're less about us, and more about the mission of Government Technology.
That mission is about you and what you accomplish in the world of public-sector IT. We're pleased to play a part in the innovative use of technology to create new ways for citizens to interact with their cities, their counties and their states.
Without the hard work that goes on behind the scenes in IT shops across the country, Government Technology and its publications wouldn't have much to report on. We know how hard you work. We're aware of the pride you take in your mission to serve the public, whether that's creating a new, Web-enabled way to interact with a government agency or through a pioneering effort to close the digital divide.
We carry a responsibility to the public sector to bring together the best and brightest from the private sector and government. We strive to be a catalyst between industry and government to stimulate use of IT in government, with the goal of helping government make optimal use of limited resources in a tough fiscal environment.
Now, with the challenges facing states, it's more important for us to shoulder that responsibility than ever before. Our mandate is to help hasten public success in solving strategic and tactical problems through the use of IT, and to help the public sector get to the right solutions quickly.
We know where we've been, and we know where we're going. We look forward to being of more value to you as we go into 2004 and beyond.
