By Suzanne Kubota
Senior Internet Editor
FederalNewsRadio.com

There are the real publicity campaigns for federal agencies, like the ones featuring Patty Duke and George Takei for the Social Security Administration. Then there are the ones we’d like to have seen, like the one on Saturday Night Live featuring Phil Hartman as Gary Busey endorsing motorcycle helmet safety.

Then there’s the Dear Abby and the GSA.

Jacqueline Snee, an information outreach specialist in the Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies, told Federal News Radio, “the relationship between the General Services Administration and Dear Abby, the advice columnist, has been growing for over 15 years.”

With a following of over 110 million readers in more than 1,400 newspapers, Snee said “this partnership has worked well getting federal government information out to consumers.”

Past years campaigns have focused on heart health, financial health, and hurricane preparedness. This year, GSA and the Food and Drug Administration have teamed up to provide health information especially for women with an emphasis on providing information aimed at expectant mothers.

While running the campaign in newspapers may seem decidedly low tech in the age of social media, Snee said “this is just one avenue that we’re able to use that people want, and it works for us!”

According to Snee, “we want to make sure everybody is given equal opportunity to get federal government information, so that’s why we try and make sure all avenues of disseminating information are open.”

Known as the dispenser of “uncommonly common sense,” Abby, said Snee, is “going strong giving people helpful tips on everyday life living.”

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