Howdy folks, sorry for the brief publishing hiatus, but things been a little crazy down in the e.politics bunker. One bit of fun: today’s Pennsylvania Progressive Summit panel, “Smart Digital Strategies for the Real World,” where I’ll join Lizandra Vidal and Audrey Ross to talk about a perennial favorite topic around here: connecting online and offline advocacy. I’ll be introducing some general concepts, mining the #Occupy movement for examples. Resources below!
Breaking news as I write this: in the face of a massive backlash, the Susan G. Komen Foundation has reversed its decision to cut funding to Planned Parenthood. What happened? Komen ran into the power of citizen-activism, for one thing. Did the organization’s leadership do it permanent damage? Quite possibly — the Komen brand has taken a massive hit. Below are some good articles that look at what Komen did, what it could have done, and the public reaction that changed its mind.
Hi folks, the other day I sat down (via Skype) with the Meltwater Group‘s Kimling Lam to talk about social media and political campaigns. We talked for about half an hour, and Meltwater’s currently putting out the results as a series of short videos focused on particular questions. The first two are below, so check ‘em out! Thanks to Kimling and Meltwater’s Ashley Hillis for the opportunity.
1) Will candidates tweet at each other?
2) How has politicians’ use of social media changed?
ClickZ‘s Kate Kaye is a rare reporter these days who really understands online advertising and knows the right questions to ask. Don’t miss her coverage of the 2012 primaries, in which campaigns and Super PACs have taken to the ‘net to pummel their opponents and recruit new supporters. Here are some recent highlights:
With the last “permanent” Occupy encampments in DC and Oakland beseiged, the first chapter of the Occupy movement seems to be closing. Will there be another, and if not, is that a bad thing?
First, let’s think about what the movement has accomplished so far: nothing less than a reshaping of our national political discourse. Last summer, debt and deficit occupied the thoughts of the political chattering class. Would the government extend the federal borrowing limit? Would the “supercommittee” come up with enough cuts to satisfy the Tea Party wing of Congress? Would $2 trillion in cuts to basic government services somehow restore America to the greatness of our national myths?
In 2012, by comparison, the national debt is a side-issue — talk of income inequality and economic opportuity dominates our political discouse, a direct result of the Occupiers and the ruckus they were able to raise in Zucotti Square and similar encampments across the country. As Occupiers planted tents in physical spaces, their online supporters staked out social media turf and people across the country started wondering what they were actually talking about with this “99%” stuff. Google searches spiked, politicians and the media took notice of the public interest, and income inequality took over political ground ranging from President Obama’s State of the Union to the Republican presidential primary process.
