YouTube and Democracy: politics embraces the Internet
Posted by citizenjon on April 25, 2007
It seems the political parties are finally catching up with the runaway sprint that is d’Internet. Puffing, gasping-red faced with gut hanging out, and lagging 15 laps behind, the fellas up in City Hall have finally got the message; yes, the internet can help you in the race for the Oireachtas.
One invaluable innovation is You Tube: a web site where one can post movies, albeit in a somewhat lower quality format. You Tube is fast becoming one of my daily ports of call (while I have my morning coffee and read the Guardian Unlimited) The Fianna Fail political parade definitely seems to be up for it. They posted the following film of their Ard Fheis only hours after it was broadcast, prime time, on RTE 1-Ireland’s national tv station.
Now, everybody always pats Bertie on the back after these tirades but to tell you the truth, I don’t believe Bertie has much going for him in the Oratory department. His speeches to the party faithful always seem a bit forced to me.
But hey why don’t you judge for yourself.
| Bertie Addresses Fianna Fail Ard Fheis | A You Tube video released on d’Internet recently |
I found this recently on ABC about presidential nominee Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton.
2008 Campaign Goes Negative on YouTube
Unauthorized Anti-Clinton Ad Shows YouTube’s Potential ‘08 Influence
A striking, new and unauthorized negative campaign ad for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., that attacks his presidential nomination rival Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is the latest sensation on the popular video sharing site You Tube.The 74-second ad is a creative take on director Ridley Scott’s controversial 1984 Super Bowl commercial that launched Apple as a brash alternative to market leader IBM.
If you only click one you tube on this blog, click this oneA facinating insight into how politics, negative advertising and mud-slinging can damage electoral candidates in the U.S. |
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The fellas up in City Hall used to rely on secretaries to persuade the media to print news about them . They still have secretaries, but increasingly they’re bypassing the middlemen and going directly to the public with their own stories, and with hit pieces about the other guy.
So, is it good or bad. Well, it depends.
With the Irish race for the Dail about to crank into overdrive (as soon as The Bertmeister gets off his laurels to call the election date) we may see Irish politics finally catch up with the rest of the world. At least someone wandering the corridors of power is doing their job.
