Political Blogs

1. Political Blogs

2. 12 million American adults ( 8% of internet users) keep a blog • 57 million adults (39% of internet users) have read a blog • the regular daily audience for political blogs is fairly small • in the millions of readers, not tens of millions

3. Political Blogging • also known as polblogs • political blogs first became popular in the 2004 election • they were ridiculed when Howard Dean used them in his presidential campaign • but have since become very popular • since 2006, blogs and other interactive and “social” media have become the focus of the press -provide a way to become politically interested -encourage participation • in 2008, the question was no longer whether to use political blogging but how to do so

4. Who are Political Bloggers? • surveys have found that polbloggers are disproportionately male, higher income, and have higher levels of education than the average American • they are much more likely to get involved in politics in traditional ways than other Americans • giving money • voting • they are people who probably have some influence (whether positive or negative) on the decision-making of larger groups • Ed Keller and John Berry say that these people are “the strategically placed transmitters that amplify the signal, multiplying the number of people who hear it.”

7. Why Blogging • since 2001, blogging and all other forms of Internet communication have become run of the mill and everyone does them • thus, it has become less intimidating • people want a chance to level the playing field and get on the same level as other pundits • there’s a road to success through this medium now • not just people who are ambitious and want a career in it but also just people who really want to make a difference

8. The Community Aspect • blogs provide a sense of community that used to be the lifeblood of traditional news organizations • especially newspapers • the Internet has become an ideal medium for fostering a new type of community in which people have never met, and may not even know each other's real names, but who share certain views and opinions about the way the world works

9. Attitudes and beliefs • many people want the news delivered to them in the context of their attitudes and beliefs • that doesn't mean they only want reinforcing views (although some do) • they see their news consumption as something that takes place within their community, to be fit into a pre-existing framework of ideas that may be challenged but that must be acknowledged

10. "The news creates a shared pool of stories that gives us a way to talk to people who aren't family or close friends or people who we will never meet—in short, our fellow citizens. The truth is, people still want those neighbor-to neighbor contacts, but the traditional ways of doing it don't fit into the lives that people are actually living today. Your core audience is tired, sitting on the couch with their laptop, and watching 'Lost' with one eye. Give them someone to sit with."

11. Should they be trusted? • all news needs to be evaluated within the context in which it was produced • it is considered bad form to not disclose who you are writing for/working with • especially if someone is getting paid

12. Their Effectiveness • liberals or conservatives who get all of their news from ideologically friendly sources don't have much incentive to change their minds • bloggers can be very influential in their own circles • BUT we’re not yet at the point where they are actively and extensively shaping a larger media narrative

13. The 2008 Election

14. ELECT OBAMA AND WE’LL HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL CRISISTHE REPUBLICAN SIDE • a huge difference between 2004 and 2008 • they’ve learned it’s a group of people they need to talk to • Fred Thompson • before he officially announced he was very involved but then stopped • Mitt Romney • very quick about putting things up • video highlights from debates • opposition research • John McCain • regular blogger conference calls • the blogosphere has never been exactly his fan base

15. How many have to die thanks to Bush's lies?The democratic Side • the candidates themselves have not done a great deal of outreach to the blogging community (with the exception of Dodd) • Chris Dodd • hired a really good internet team who was very active early on with the political blogs and knew how everything worked • how the rest stack up: • Edwards • Clinton • Obama (this is just in terms of political blogging and does not include social networking)

16. The Daily Kos • Little Green Footballs • Talking Points Memo