Networks and the election

[AlexReid]

Many of you focused your podcasts on the role of social media on the 2008 election. I don't know if you listened to one another's podcasts but I'm interested to have a discussion about this issue. This fits in quite well with our discussion of Jenkins as it is an example of how the participatory online fan cultures Jenkins study have laid a groundwork for more serious issues. That is, the technologies and practices that emerge in fan culture move over toward political engagement.

[Sarah Gentillon]

This was the first time I ever voted and it felt great. When I was done, I was like that's it? One thing I felt strongly about during this election is what people did to get younger people to get their votes counted. Music artists, I feel, took a very part of this election and I think those on the other side who were trying to get votes should send out Thank You notes because if it weren't for the artists, who knows how this voting thing would have turned out. For the 2000 and 2004 the only way I participated was through papers I had to write on the debates that were being held ( I was in Junior and High school at the times). I was underage to vote but I honestly didn't feel like my vote mattered. Now, I definitely felt like I needed to vote. This presidential election was historic and I wanted to be apart of it. I want to be able to tell my children and my grandchildren that my vote helped bring an educated, wise African-American man who does not want to help the rich get richer and the poor get poorer but wants to help the poor advance in life. People always say how America is a racist nation but I think we've proven those people wrong because people are realizing it is not about the color of ones skin...it is more and deeper than that. Yes there are those who are still living under a rock but for the most part, I think the U.S is taking the high road.
What I liked about this presidential race was that I was able to see what both of the candidates were bringing to the table. I was able to see (in my opinion) who was sincere and who really cared about the American people. I am glad I was able to be apart of this.

[Vicky]

It can easily be said social media played the largest role it ever has in any election. Though I was too young to vote in the 2004 election, I had older friends who were able to at the time, and they mainly got their information from family dinner discussions, the paper and the news on TV, not even so much from the internet. Not from YouTube, Facebook or MySpace which, even though they existed at the time, had not really gained as much popularity as they have until recent years and maybe even until the 2008 election.

These social networks were excellent ways of reaching out to public, particularly younger generations. The high numbers of youth voters definitely indicate their success and I can honestly say that these networks were my primary sources of information and motivation to vote in this election. Videos of the debates, public service announcements, news clips, etc. were especially influential and informative, minus the slanted, opinionated, mud-slinging ones.

It was especially difficult to not get out there and vote when on Election Day, Facebook users were able to “donate” their status to remind friends to vote. I donated my status, as did a great number of my friends, whose statuses bombarded my Newsfeed when I logged in to my account that day.

Aside from social networks, I think the media glamorized and “celebritized” this election, so to speak.

Yes, it was historical, controversial and a first in many categories. Our nation was looking at our first female president, first African-American president or oldest president and first female vice president.

Obama was on the cover of Time and Newsweek on numerous occasions. So was McCain. But Obama (AND his family) were also on the covers of People (“The Obamas at Home”) and US Weekly (“Why Barack Loves Her”), the same magazine covers that Lindsay Lohan, the Olsen Twins and Jamie Lynn Spears have graced when paparazzi caught shots of them walking into rehab, dancing on bar tables or being a teenage mom. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t really recall McCain’s face dominating the front cover of a tabloid with a Hallmark headline going across the page.

Many news stations and publications endorse candidates and thus are biased when it comes to filtering what news is released to the public. The media, both news and entertainment, definitely gave Obama a popularity boost in addition to the popularity earned from his strong internet involvement and outreach.

[Vinny Thide]

I found this PDF file on Obama and his plans for using digital technology in government. I think he is being very innovative in his plans and is allowing the American public the option to be connected to government and politics. Check it out.
http://obama.3cdn.net/780e0e91ccb6cdbf6e_6udymvin7.pdf

[Ed Blackford]

Social Media plays a huge role in the election. The presidential candidates can visit each and every one of us in person but they can visit us through the television, through the internet, and through radio shows. I remember seeing both presidents on a halftime show for the NFL. Obama said that if he could change anything about sports it would be to have playoffs for college football. I think the sports stations took that as if he was going to actually do that because I saw lots of talk shows talking about the possiblity of playoffs in college.

I also saw lots of youtube and myspaceTV videos about the presidential election. People were expressing their opinions and getting out the presidential candidates ideals also. There were also arrogant or obnoxious videos too. People being racist towards Obama and also blacks being racist towards McCain. Also there were a lot of men who did not like Hillary and made fun of her a lot in bumper stickers and videos.

[Isaac Wheeler]

I voted in the 2004 election also. I definitely felt like I was more informed and more engaged in this election. There was the internet and technology four years ago but I think there was more information online in this election. I got a lot of my information from the television and also I did look at the different candidates websites. I think the social media did push a lot more with this election trying to push the race issue.

I remember the media making a big deal with an interview with Biden and him getting his facts wrong about past presidents. The media, including SNL also definitely really ran with the whole Palin character. The media definitely does like to put out people's flaws.