I have been quite curious how the Republican race would play out, now that new new media is more common than it was four years ago during the last race. Unfortunately, I did not follow much in regards to the new ideas regarding campaigning, so in essence this will be my "first race".
I looked briefly at Sarah Palin's Facebook and noticed that even though she has not announced her intention to run for President of the United States, she has several videos listed that I would consider advertising material. The difference is that she does not have to pay the high prices for her ads.
Today I noticed a contender who had announced his intention to run for President, Mitt Romney, is utilizing Twitter for Americans to get to know him on a more personal level, which is more of what I expected for new media use vs. posting commercial-type ads. I must admit, though, I was really looking forward to get to know some of these candidates on a more personal level because in the past I have felt as if I have been kept in the dark regarding the politician. I wanted a "real person" to be elected for quite some time now, and the only way to find out their personality and how that personality would handle the stress of being our president would be to hang out with them. What better way to get to know someone than that? And isn't this the purpose of community sites? To hang out with a specific person or persons? It is in my mind.
With this in the forefront of my mind, when I read Mitt Romney's post(s) I was anything but feeling like a friend. It seemed...commercial-y. It seemed...speech-y. I was disappointed. So now I have to wonder, exactly what was I expecting? Well, I am not sure. I wanted...substance. I wanted what felt like a person. Instead, what I received was more of the same in a different media. Have we really gotten to this point? Have all the brightest and best minds in media campaigns just given up? Perhaps I am just missing the wow-factor posted somewhere out there and I need to keep looking. Or perhaps these folks actually need to post their own information- then it won't sound like a newspaper interview. Or, maybe I just need to lighten up with my ideas different medias fitting different showcases.
I looked briefly at Sarah Palin's Facebook and noticed that even though she has not announced her intention to run for President of the United States, she has several videos listed that I would consider advertising material. The difference is that she does not have to pay the high prices for her ads.
Today I noticed a contender who had announced his intention to run for President, Mitt Romney, is utilizing Twitter for Americans to get to know him on a more personal level, which is more of what I expected for new media use vs. posting commercial-type ads. I must admit, though, I was really looking forward to get to know some of these candidates on a more personal level because in the past I have felt as if I have been kept in the dark regarding the politician. I wanted a "real person" to be elected for quite some time now, and the only way to find out their personality and how that personality would handle the stress of being our president would be to hang out with them. What better way to get to know someone than that? And isn't this the purpose of community sites? To hang out with a specific person or persons? It is in my mind.
With this in the forefront of my mind, when I read Mitt Romney's post(s) I was anything but feeling like a friend. It seemed...commercial-y. It seemed...speech-y. I was disappointed. So now I have to wonder, exactly what was I expecting? Well, I am not sure. I wanted...substance. I wanted what felt like a person. Instead, what I received was more of the same in a different media. Have we really gotten to this point? Have all the brightest and best minds in media campaigns just given up? Perhaps I am just missing the wow-factor posted somewhere out there and I need to keep looking. Or perhaps these folks actually need to post their own information- then it won't sound like a newspaper interview. Or, maybe I just need to lighten up with my ideas different medias fitting different showcases.
It will be incredibly interesting to see how this next election will be effected by social media. There are so many statistics out there that talk about how the last election was won because of social media. It is hard to figure out which ones are true and which are not. I would say however that the candidate who learns how to master social media has a distinct advantage.
ReplyDeleteThis is very true. There is no substance. political candidates have a opportunity to be a real person and get actual followers not just party supporter but they are not giving us any substance just computer generated BS. the cheesy campaigning needs to stop. sometimes you don't even know who you are listening to since all of it sounds the same. Social media is changing how people interact , now you can debate with someone on the other side of the country about who you support and gain a different perspective from someone who lives a different life.
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