The last few days has seen some interesting interplay between old and new media. First of all, we’ve had the quite brilliant mydavidcameron.com. If you don’t know what this is, first of all where have you been? And secondly go check it out. It’s pretty self-explanatory.
The success of mydavidcameron.com is a great example of the way newer online forms of media can cause trouble for political parties.
A bold, in-your-face poster like the (now infamous) Cameron one is always going to be open to mockery. But in the age of photoshop and blogging, crowdsourcing and twitter this derision can go viral in a way that simply wasn’t possible before.
This isn’t a few jokes on a TV panel show or in the pub. This is one great idea spreading across the internet and out into mainstream media, growing in scope and popularity as it does so. And, I’d imagine, causing a fair bit of embarrassment to those in Tory HQ.
This isn’t the first time a traditional media campaign has been subverted by social media (anyone remember Clinton’s 3am ad?) and it won’t be the last.
Meanwhile… the Lib Dems have been making it work the other way: gaining interest among the mainstream media by making policy announcements on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
Except, as Jon Bernstein has pointed out, they were doing nothing of the sort. Rather, they were playing on the press’ current obsession with all things trendy and digital to gain some handy column inches for what is otherwise likely to be perceived as a non-event.
As Jon writes:
A Twitter and Facebook campaign may generate a debate — that’s what social media can do when used well — but it’s a fair bet that most people know about this latest tweet-fest thanks to old media.
So fair play to them. The Lib Dems need to work harder for the media’s attention and this has gained some extra coverage for their policies and made them look relatively tech-savvy all at he same time.
The truth seems to be that very few politicians get social media. But they all know it’s a big deal. And with each party looking to exploit every possible opportunity as we build towards the election, you can bet they will keep trying.
Oh and this one’s my favourite.
Very interesting – watching political parties try to get into social media during an election campaign is going to be fun. And thanks for introducing me to mydavidcameron.com.
Pingback: General Election generalisations (cont.) « Vent & Ponder