Say Yes to No - Voters Harness the Power of the Internet

Monday, November 03, 2008

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Voters Harness the Power of the Internet

If we were ever wondering about the power of the new media, we have to look no further than this current election. Voters in unprecedented numbers have taken to the Internet via computers and cell phones to participate in this election in a way never seen before. From fundraising, to YouTube videos and text messaging, people have created media and influenced news in a powerful new way.

The immediacy of this media is apparent when billions of people are updated at the moment, before the headline reaches the TV anchors or newspapers.   Campaigns and news outlets have had to adjust to the fact that once their news or campaign videos hit the Internet, videos are cut up, re-worked, and re-used in ways out of their control.   The average voter is in control of content more than ever before in history.

I’ve often said, “Whoever tells the stories, defines the culture.”   The new media has opened the door to powerful new storytellers: you and I. It’s more important than ever before for people to be Mediawise®. Rumors fly faster than it takes to hit the enter button.    Videos hitting our emotional centers in the brain make us laugh out loud or tug at our heartstrings. Mediawise participation with this new media gives us the skills to use all of our brains to make judgments based on the facts and thinking part of our brains along with the emotional centers. Responsibility is a key Mediawise skill also. This new media can inform, entertain, and sway our vote, but it can also hurt and demean when used by adolescent cyber-bullies.

I wish I could say that when the votes are all tallied on Tuesday, that we could sit back and reflect on the wondrous new landscape this new media has brought us to, but unfortunately reflection is hard in this split second world.   Reflection is also one of the old media traits we should hang on to.

How has the new media changed the way you get news?

Dr. Dave

Monday, November 03, 2008 12:19:10 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

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Monday, November 10, 2008 1:10:16 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

I can't tell you the last time I picked up a newspaper to get the news. Its now via the internet, TV, or my cell phone. During election night, I had both my laptop and TV on, somehow thinking the double coverage would benefit me. It almost became a competition of who would report things first. We gotta know, gotta know NOW!

Lori

Tuesday, November 25, 2008 7:24:27 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

"I’ve often said, “Whoever tells the stories, defines the culture.”"

Another way of saying "history is written by the victorious"?

I remember when they called it "New Media" back in the mid 80s. I subscribed to New Media magazine, now out of publication. It's no longer new. I believe the internet to be a good and valuble news source. I also believe we need to check our sources. Just because a person or an organization has a web page or an internet presence, doesn't mean they are accurate or knowledgeable or have good intentions. Blogs are often no more than graffiti. web sites are often no more than advertisements. Roumors are the theme of the day, and the internet is a way to spread agendas and misinformation. If we aren't careful, the facts wil get lost in the commotion.

It must be true I read it on the internet.

Michael Gurvich

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