Participation vs punditry
I participated in a panel of speakers at the Microsoft Forum on Politics & Technology earlier this week, along with Antony Green, Joe Hockey, Kate Lundy and Matt Bai. It was an interesting discussion, although I did get a bit irritated that the debate seemed to keep turning inwards into a discussion about how politicians can more cleverly use internet technology to win votes, rather than examining how technology can be used to empower the community to better influence political debate (and thus politicians). I’m sure blogging and social media has a lot more potential than just expanding the number of pundits holding forth. However, I didn’t see any similar annoyance amongst comments from other people who attended, so maybe I just was just in a bad mood. You can listen to the session at this link.
I did find Mat Bai’s keynote speech, focusing on developments in the USA, very interesting. There is a video of his speech at this link.
If you want an idea of just how much more fully blogging, online activism and new media has engaged with politics in the USA, this piece on DemConWatch about the Big Tent at the upcoming Democratic National Convention gives some idea.
The Big Tent will be the place to be for new media journalists, bloggers, reporters, and non-profit leaders covering the Democratic National Convention in Denver this summer. We’re creating a 9,000 square foot, two-story structure that will house the work space for journalists, bloggers and new media, a Digg Stage with prominent national leaders, as well as a Google Retreat with a YouTube kiosk where you can make your own YouTube videos. The Big Tent will be open throughout the Democratic National Convention.
For a much wider examination of issues to do with using IT to improve engagement in a multitude of ways, there lots of pieces over at Gatewatch, such as this one on citizen journalism, derived from what looked like a very interesting conference held in Brisbane this week.
ELSEWHERE: There is a good piece on Gary Sauer-Thompson’s blog reflecting on the panel session prior to mine, which included press gallery journo Annabelle Crabb among others. It is also contains a link to a video recording of that session.
2 Comments, Comment or Ping
philip travers
I must be a naughty boy,and have a tendency to throw a rotten apple when I find one,right back at those that offer the goods!? If all this technology is as useful as it initially appears,I dont think,it actually will help,there are too many influences making us ill to the point that thought seems to be clamour.I have decided to keep away from Lavartus Prodeo,which wasn’t all about the dispute,I am having with Tig Tog and ,what I have decided is a cretin of a Doctor,this matter of blogs strikes me most when I am working unpaid, and what I could of been with formal Tertiary qualifications.In the potato shed I seem not overly convincing in the thinking and creative department,because the job doesn’t require that to get on with others.Then there is blogging,and coming up against sometimes,this self-confident series of expressions and potential of those who express it,and both external and internal workings of rules.
Jun 28th, 2008
Tim
Andrew, I’d just like to say it was great to hear your viewpoint on political blogging at the forum.
It was frustrating to see the age old argument of blogging vs ‘reputable’ media, and just baffling that there was no representation from the wider blogosphere.
Thanks.
Jun 29th, 2008