State Department Discontinues America.gov in Favor of Social Media Outreach

The State Department has ceased to update the democracy promotion website America.gov. The decision came as the result of a review last fall, which concluded that the State Department’s Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP) needed a “more proactive” web engagement strategy that focused less on “static” websites and more on social media, according to IIP Deputy Assistant Secretary Duncan MacInnes. The website, which was launched in January 2008, is currently being archived. The resources it provided will now be available through individual embassy and consulate websites.