Friday, October 10, 2008

Assignment #2 - Social Media in the 2008 Election

US election battle goes online

Obama Text Messaging On Today Show

My.Barackobama.com Tutorial



The purpose of this assignment is to get you to think about the impact new communication technologies have on the political process. While traditional technologies such as newspapers and television still account for a majority of the political information disseminated in the United States, social media is a playing a larger role in the political process. You may wish to read Wired’s article, “How the Internet Invented Howard Dean” as a starting point for this paper.

You paper should be a minimum of 2 to 3 pages and structured in three sections. Remember to include a works cited section. First, describe how a new communication technology is being used in this election in a way that is fundamentally different from the election eight years ago. Does this technology create a community of users, does it coordinate political actions, or does it provide a mechanism for distributing information? Provide a detailed description.

Second, describe the potential impact of the technology. What characteristic’s of this technology makes it an effective political tool? Do you believe this technology will have an impact in the coming election? Will this technology be significant in the future elections?

Third, experiment with these technologies and write about your experience. How easy were they to use? What did you like about it vs. what did you dislike? Did you have any problems using it?

Finally, remember I don’t care who you vote for I just want you to vote. That’s the beauty of our nation.


SUGGESTIONS FOR PART III
Text Message Alerts

Little Green Footballs


Wonkette

There are numerous politically oriented facebook groups.

POTENTIAL TOPICS OF INTEREST:
Social Networking Sites
Youtube and Online Video Sharing of Speeches and Debates
Mobile Phones
Political Blogging

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