The Internet as a Political Tool
Updated January, 2011
Before talk about tactics, let’s think about the medium itself. What are the salient characteristics of the internet as a political communications tool?
1. Ease. Anyone with an internet connection can set up a website or launch an email campaign — the only significant barriers to entry are knowledge and time. Of course, the deeper your pockets, the more you can do, but the internet is unique among communications media in the extent to which it allows citizens to participate as the equals of major corporations and interest groups. Little guys can look and fight like big guys in the online world — and vice versa (just who IS behind that “grassroots” site you were reading yesterday?). As a New Yorker cartoon once put it, “On the Internet, no one knows you’re a dog.” (more…)
4 comments July 3rd, 2006 Trackback Bookmark on del.icio.us
