Building Better White Papers

A quick link to some excellent work launched today by DFID highlighting their new White Paper on changes to the Government’s approach to tackling poverty around the world. The page, on their standard corporate CMS, manages to get you right into the issues via documentary-style videos, links to various ‘weights’ of content from the full PDF, a key points summary and materials for bloggers (like this rather nice image) via a PressItt SMNR.

I really hope this is a sign of the future for major white papers – blending the downloadable PDF with a package of summary versions, background info, video and materials for people around the world who want to talk about the issues addressed.

It’s not the first bit of good work from the DFID e-comms team: as well as the engaging visual design of their corporate site, their Google Maps-based project info is clever and their array of bloggers and youth reporters make the work of the organisation accessible and interesting even if you’re not a development professional. Congratulations guys, on a job well done.