You've no doubt heard about the Obama campaign's announcement that everyone in Obama's online community will be "first" to know about his choice for VP running mate, which will be communicated via email and texting to everyone on Obama's online mailing list, before being sent out to the usual mass media channels.
It's no big deal, but I have several problems with this.
1. How many seconds does anyone think will elapse between the emails going out, and mainstream and indeed all other media finding out about it? The offer to the online community of being "first," in other words, in meaningless.
2. Even more important, since the choice of VP running mate is indeed the most important decision that a Presidential candidate can make, it should not be packaged in a gimmick. All Americans, not just online supporters, are awaiting this choice, and deserve to be told at the same time.
3. Obama's online community has been burgeoning naturally - through word of mouth, social media such as Facebook, viral marketing. But the essence of viral marketing is that it appears to be happening spontaneously, not through some online Wizard of Oz (= David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager) pulling the strings behind a curtain that everyone can see.
My advice, as an Obama supporter, to the Obama campaign: when the VP decision is made, it should be announced to and through all media, new and old, Digg and The New York Times, the DailyKos and NBC television, and everything in between, all at the same time.
5 comments:
how about i want to know who it is, and i don't sit around watching cnn or blogs all day, but it would be nice to get an email on my blackberry when he releases the info.
you're looking too much into this. it's just a sign that his campaign is functioning in the 21st century.
As I said in my post - see final paragraph - I think the news should be released through all media at the same time (so that would include email on your blackberry).
I also said it's no big deal - but I don't like to see the choice of VP connected to a gimmick...
Thanks, in any case, for your comment, and welcome to Infinite Regress.
They are all going to get it at the same time, via email.
Why does information always have to be channeled through the media? Eliminate the middle man and let the people who don't want bias get it right from the horse's mouth.
So what if those not in touch with the 21st century have to wait 20 seconds for the "breaking news" feed.
I think it's poor form to privilege any segment of the population in announcing the VP candidate ... and, in any case, since everyone is going to pretty much find out at the same time, anyway, it's a gimmick, which is also wrong to bring into play with a matter as important as letting the American people know who is the VP Democratic candidate.
I'm with you Dr. Levinson ... especially on points 1 and 3. It seems a silly step to take for such a major announcement. You're absolutely right, supporters are unlikely to get their emails much before word spreads to major news outlets—if they even happen to check their email before they turn on a radio or a TV, let's remember the limitations of the medium. Also, to your point 3, it does hint at a lack of true understanding of the way web 2.0 works. A little bit too much manipulation.
I can appreciate that they're trying to do something special for their core supporters. That's a nice gesture. This just feels forced and strange.
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