It may be almost two years until the American presidential election, but I am already riveted by it, particularly the high profile given to bloggers and the impact the social media will have on this exciting campaign.
Wasn’t it slick of John Edwards to announce his candidacy in New Orleans, still devastated by last year’s Hurricane Katrina (which Bush failed on big time), with an anti-poverty message. I felt it was the kind of move that David Cameron would have made to win over voters who have been let down badly by government.
The Democrat hopeful was interviewed by bloggers, including Jake Ludington who recorded it on video and says:
“Other candidates on both sides of the aisle need to take note and recognize that this is the kind of grass roots communication we need from potential leaders of the country.”
And one of America’s top bloggers, Robert Scoble, who I met at a girls’ geeks get together in London earlier this month, was invited to join Edwards for his announcement and cover it as a journalist for his podtech show. I imagine Edwards will certainly want to keep him on board. Scoble sums up how Washington Post political journalist Dan Baltz predicts the campaign will run:
“Technology is radically changing campaigns, he says. First he’s no longer writing just for paper. Dan told me he’s updated his story several times in the past few hours, plus he’s been on radio and TV interviews. The Post wants him to produce podcasts and video blogs too, or look for opportunities in bringing other media onto the Post’s pages.
“He’s typing furiously into a Dell laptop — is now rewriting his article for the newspaper that everyone will get in the morning — and has a Verizon Wireless card.
“The world of politics is changing, he told me, because now a candidate must give dozens of interviews to tons of different people with small audiences. The age of talking to one guy who had a massive audience is probably over. Even if you leave blogs out of the story even the mainstream press is seeing its audiences split up into smaller and smaller niches with more and more pieces. I remember back to journalism school where I saw pictures of the Presidential press corps back in the 1960s: there were only a handful of journalists. Today, even for news like today, dozens of different camera crews show up, along with dozens more of print journalists, photographers, everyday citizens, and radio journalists.
“One other thing that we chatted about is business models. He knows his organization is under pressure to not only grow audience (he says the Washington Post is read now more than ever, but increasingly only online) but also figure out how to make money with its increasingly online audience. He’s not the only journalist to talk with me about that lately — seems the entire industry is focused on how to make money to continue to fund content.”
This is fascinating because it highlights the difficulties faced by the traditional press to inform their readers and embrace social media too, what happens in the States will surely follow here in due course. Although our mainstream media has already taken blogs and podcasts on board, they will need to decide how to take it one or two steps further. No doubt they will be watching the American experience with great interest, as will our politicians. Do you think politicians need bloggers to get over their message too? Do you believe they are more credible than journalists?
I’m convinced that voters will want to read the more personal insights about politicians from blogs as newspapers tend to give pretty much the same report, that they will break exciting stories too, that the essential grassroots stuff will come from people like you and me who are assiduously reading and writing our posts.
Update: 31 December, 2006, Guido predicts the continuing rise of blogpower for 2007.
“Wasn’t it slick of John Edwards to announce his candidacy in New Orleans, still devastated by last year’s Hurricane Katrina (which Bush failed on big time), with an anti-poverty message. I felt it was the kind of move that David Cameron would have made to win over voters who have been let down badly by government.”
Yes I can imagine Cameron being that oppurtunistic and shallow as well! 😉
As for being let-down, you will disagree but we have done a no of good things. I could draw up a list but Tories just hate to be reminded
Signing off before I get too smug…
John Edwards, an undisputed light weight if ever there was one, didn’t add any thing of political value to the 2004 Democratic ticket (despite his much vaunted assets of being a southerner who had represented a southern state in the US Senate). The Dems failed miserably to acquire momentum in any southern state, as usual. However, if Hilary were to be adopted as the Democratic presidential candidate, I suppose there is a possibility that Edwards might be considered as a possible Vice Presidential candidate. I suspect that is the target which Edwards is chasing – positioning himself well to serve as a VP running mate.
Paul, Where would you suggest Edwards launch his candidacy? New Orleans was chosen to rub into Bush’s face how he had let the people down there following Hurricane Katrina, it was very clever and tactical.
I see while Blair is away, his own MPs are protesting about NHS cuts and one has even withdrawn her son from one of his failing flagship academies. Will Blair have a government left, when he returns from his freebie in Florida? David Cameron will have his pick of venues to launch his campaigns and remind the public about Labour’s failings. Not that they need reminding.
IT, I wasn’t impressed with Kerry in the last presidential elections, I guess Edwards is hoping bloggers will add to his credibility this time round. It could well pay off.
Ellee, my understanding of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was that residents were let down by the local Democrats who run New Orleans rather than Federal Government.
If David Cameron launched his election campaign in Brixton with an anti-poverty message, it would merely reinforce my intention to never support the Conservatives whilst he remains leader!
You do not need to look very far for evidence of Labour’s failings, however, David Cameron and the Conservative Party have so far singularly failed to provide any leadership in how they would do any better. Relying on voter dis-satisfaction with Labour is not a reason to endorse the Conservative Party!
Snafu, I thought Bush had accepted blame for ignoring warnings about the hurricane:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4760000/newsid_4767200/4767246.stm
I would like to see Cameron launching more campaigs in the North where we need to gain votes, giving our candidates there a big boost.
Wow! You’re quick off the mark after Christmas Ellee! A happy New Year to you and all your readers!
The internet is going to have a massive impact on politics and camapagnin. I will give you a bit of an exclusive – in that I am drafting a book on that very subject having left the lucractive lobbying world to go it alone to try to get our MPs to embrace this kind of technology.
They currently dont understand just what an impact it could have!
No let me change that last statement. Some politicians are extremely aware – and others let say, dont much like email let alone anything more modern!
Jonathan, I am really excited about your project, you must follow what Scoble writes about this, he is so authoriative and well connected. The Democrats have this sewn up, and you have read the Washington Post quote. I would advise that you closely observe the American experience on this as blogging really took off after the previous US presidential election, they are way ahead of us. If you need any help or someone to chat it over with, just ask.
Podcasts and bloggers seem to be making big news nowadays, with the Queen’s speech coming on a podcast. I can see both good and bad reasons for the campaign launching in New Orleans. It highlights a point, although it could be said to be in bad taste.
Pleased as I am that the electorate may be influenced by Ellee. I would be saddedne if they ended up lisenting to whacko’s such as me. I think that may be the difficult bridge to cross for bloggers- too much diversity and not enought quality will put people off. The MSM will then cream the best for themselves.
cityunslicker, Obviously, I am referring to the quality bloggers like Robert Scoble and those who write for the Huff Post who will add a huge dimension to more traditional campaigning which the electorate has failed to engage with.
Ellee great post have you read this http://blog.yuvisense.net/2006/12/30/statbot-analysis-of-scobleizercom-%e2%80%93-part-0-general-statistics/ this guy has analysed all of Scoble’s post. Average of over 5 a day 🙂
I have been to New Orleans a number of times for work. My first wife was born there. It was a very fun place to visit and work. I had many illuminating conversations with the manager of the very succesful operation there. He told me about all the bribes and favours that he had to facilitate there, just to be considered for work. It was more corrupt than many of the countries that I worked in when I was based in South East Asia. At least he knew who to pay. It is an extremely corrupt place. I am not in the least surprised that many of the “dykes” collapsed. Likely the contractors didn’t build them to specification. In addition I think that it is difficult to blame the Federal Government for all of the disasters. The US States are very independent, although this is often ignored. Major players include the Mayor, who did nothing and the State of Louisiana, who didn’t do much more. The federal government can’t just wade in without their support. So Mr Edwards, Good Luck that is ugly territory you are treading in.
Colin, Thank you for your very insightful comment. It is helpful to have this kind of first-hand feedback. It sounds like Edwards will need all the support he can get.
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