The 2008 Presidential Campaign rewrote the rules on how to reach voters, organize supporters, raise money, mange the news media, and track public opinion. Their platforms included blogs, YouTube videos, text messages, and internet ads. The candidates realized that they needed to engage people in a dialogue. However, in order for the dialogue to be effective, they had to target the right audience and communicate the right message at the right time. These goals have not changed over time even though the tools they used to communicate had changed.
Being a skilled storyteller is still a key factor in the success of a politician. The challenge politicians have now is to decide which communication tool to use to reach their constituents. Does this sound familiar to those of you who are teachers?
Diane
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you...
This past Presidential Campaign was ground breaking because this was the first time technology was maximized to get young adults interested and involved about the Presidential Campaign. As you mentioned the New Media provided numerous opportunities for the candidates to raise money, track public opinion, and interact the audience through blogging, videos, text messages, and internet ads.
I also agree that being a skilled storyteller is a key factor however, it definitely takes more than that. A great platform and the skillful use of the New Media can take a politician very far nowadays.
That's such an essential thing to remember as technology grabs up more and more of the media landscape is that it completely in vain without the ability to harness this power to tell an understandable narrative or story. As when word processing began and there came a flood of documents with a horrible collection of fonts and even less print-worthy content. So, it's not enough to become a technology expert if one cannot communicate meaningful and important stories.
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