Editorial: Is FCW 'Doan obsessed?'

Federal Computer Week has spent a good amount of time, effort, energy and ink covering the General Services Administration during the past 18 months. We have covered GSA and the agency’s administrator, Lurita Doan, so much that, during a recent gathering, we were — respectfully, of course — accused of being “Doan obsessed.” We thought it was important to justify — not defend, but justify — why we have determined that GSA has deserved such a focus. A good part of it is because of the agency’s importance. GSA’s scope is much larger than its size and budget. GSA should help agencies accomplish their missions and offer industry a cost-effective way of reaching agencies. We have said it before, but it is important to say again: GSA can — and should — provide critical help that will allow agencies to focus on their missions. That’s particularly true because agencies have cut way back on procurement executive positions. GSA can — and should — be a vital adviser in helping agencies do their jobs efficiently. We cover GSA because the agency is important, and we cover it because of the important role it plays for many people in this community. But we also cover GSA because it has been a remarkable story and, if we say so ourselves, remarkable to read. More than at any time we can remember, the media market is fiercely competitive. Increasingly, our primary competition is the clock. As a reader, you have a limited amount of time. You are bombarded with information — magazines, newspapers, TV, Web sites, blogs, podcasts, radio programs and e-mail messages. We have always made it our role to sort through all that information and offer you information you need to do your important work. And we have to do that in a way that puts FCW on the top  rather than the bottom  of your pile of magazines. That means we must compete against Paris Hilton,  Anna Nicole Smith and Brangelina. We believe that FCW must be accurate and fair. And we believe that even with the often intense coverage we have given GSA, we have treated the agency and its leaders fairly. Our true obsession is telling stories that help you do your important work. The still-unfolding story of GSA is one of those stories.