June 12, 2024
Longer description:
At the heart of democratic transparency and citizen participation lies the need for accessible information about legislator activities.
The ability to ask and answer questions of importance relies on understanding the communication strategies employed by legislators in their official capacity — including media and official communication coordination, legislative communication trends, public health information dissemination and the engagement strategies of elected officials.
DCinbox addresses this need by archiving every official e-newsletter sent from sitting members of the United States Congress. It is the only database of its kind. With nearly 200,000 official e-newsletters spanning more than 15 years, this project offers a look into the official narratives and priorities communicated by legislators to their constituents – all of which would be lost to time if not for DCinbox.
Findings using this data provide answers on political representation, public health information dissemination, propensities for legislators to emulate the style of the President, gendered communication strategies, and more.
By providing open access to this information, the project empowers researchers, policymakers, and the general public to scrutinise legislative discourse, making for more informed and engaged citizenry. Moreover, the database’s insights into communication strategies around key issues like public health, veterans’ politics, women’s issues, and economics underscore its significance in promoting transparency and accountability in government.
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