Overview: The Digital President
Facebook. Twitter. Mybarackobama.com. Text messaging. The president- elect used all of these digital tools to devastating effect in the 2008 election. How did he do it? What strategic lessons can we learn from Barack Obama’s high-tech campaign? How might he deploy this online army of millions to govern? And does President Obama’s historic rise to the White House also propel social networking into the mainstream?
The answers to these important questions have a profound impact on the very near future of our democracy, as well as how we organize, communicate and even do business in the digital age. On the eve of the Obama inauguration, join us for a dynamic, engaging UW Insight conversation that seeks to put this digital revolution in perspective.
The Digital President
6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, Johnson Hall 102, UW Campus.
Panelists
Prof. Lance Bennett, Political Science and Communication, on the digital tools.
Kathy Gill, Senior Lecturer, Department of Communication, on social media strategies.
Brett Horvath, Social Media Strategist; Pickens Plan, YourRevolution.org, on youth voter registration and the future.
Moderated by Hanson Hosein, Director, Master of Communication in Digital Media.
This is going to be a great discussion and hopefully I can make it to Seattle by Jan 15, 2009. I would love to bring my 13 year old child and his friend to this discussion as they are avid internet users. We really like Barack Obama, and we know he will need alot of support. We are currently in San Diego/Tijuana area of the Californias. Sincerely Anne Abraham
Since many people have been asking:
The event will be recorded and posted within a day or two to this site.
Looking forward to it!
Can you please make sure the audio is good on the recording? Too many times for events like these the audio can barely be ascertained.
Ahem…..The univeristy has a “stated” policy that it will not endorse persons in the political rhelm “no sides”….and in fact I was forbidden to talk “politics” during the election due to “hospitable” work place guidlines (laughable)…..so what….because I’ve got an opinion that doesn’t line up with the UW at large I’m silenced and now what…..seems a bit hypocritical.
Great topic, deserving of this larger discussion. Matthew, it appears you’re missing the point… it isn’t about partisan politics, but rather how the campaigns embraced digital technologies. In that regard, Obama’s campaign is clearly the new gold standard. And going forward, how will these tools be used in governing; Obama’s long list of online fans will not only be his vociferous supporters, but also his scrutinizing critics. If you feel silenced, Matthew, you need to realize that in the wired world nobody’s views are truly squelched… the message and approach will dictate the depth to which your opinions resonate.
Partisan politics aside….It’s more the policy of…..being an employee of what should be the gold standard in the sharing of ideas, and going through what I’ve been through gave me pause when I saw the headline. I just think that if the individual is held to standards the “institution” should be held to those standards which they themselves set forth.
As for how the soon President ran his campain digitally speaking. Bravo. The use of texting, mass email, blogging, forums, et-al, was nearing perfection in the use of modern communication standards. I cannot think of a better word and I use it in the “best” since of the word is the “propagandizing” of Mr. Obama and his team was brilliant. He was able to use the modern digital “public square” to get his message out.
He also had the royal treatment of the MSM, the statistics of pos. vs neg. coverage are beyond….staggering which closed the gap….or did the digital close it? Tandem efforts none the less.
As far as scrutinizing critics of his mass of supporters. I fear that they if indeed speak up A) if it hasn’t already happend, the Obama bus will back up over them. aka - (Rev Writing someone) B) if they survive bus being criticial will be shouting in the wind because of the exacting digital windstorm that has been created thus far.
As far as the campain goes….Gold is right. The whitehouse went for 770 million this time around or around 90500 ounces of it. If it were truely a digital win….i suppose a budget of much less would have done.
As for me. I support or will in six days President elect Obama in every way possible.
social networking is the digital outcry at the loss of true community of America. What ever happend to the block party, fireworks and BBQ’s.
Quote for the day(MAY THESE NEVER MAKE IT INTO any POLICY):
“The office took a vote and we decided that politics and religion are off limits.”
-supervisor
“the constitution and first ammendment does not apply while your at work ”
-the supervisors supervisors supervisor.
With much respect
Matthew
Prov 18:21
I so agree With Him
Sounds like a great event. Travel to the west side is not an option, however. How might one get their hands on the audio recording of this event? please email, or post to me on my blog. I’d love to hear the discussion!