Orchestreet

CTV news broadcast a segment a few weeks ago highlighting the ways politicians are turning to the Internet to reach constituents and build support. While it’s true that the web has been around for quite some time and politicians are no strangers to it, what is more interesting is the increasing use of “Web 2.0″ technologies such as video/podcasts (a la YouTube.com) and blogs. This has alot to do with a) the power of the newer web technologies to connect with people and facilitate community building, and b) the need to reach out to younger demographics who are technology savvy and insist on consuming media in a variety of different ways and formats.  The next time you think about posting a static brochure-like webpage, think again;  legions of young, white-earbud-wearing, vote-toting “iPod-ians” will be either unaware of or just plain not interested in your traditional-format message.

Highlights from the segment:

• The web is ideally oriented to getting your message out to the greatest number of people, with no cost
• URLs are easy to remember, and a simple way to for supporters to help spread your message
• Without any paper or material costs, you can get into people’s homes and more importantly, you reach the people who self-identify as being interested in your message
• Beyond personal websites, more and more politicians are using the new Internet technologies (blogs, videocasts) to get their message out
• The web is an effective way to communicate directly with people without going through the media. One advantage over broadcast media is that Web 2.0 technologies enable politicians to establish ongoing dialogue with their constituents and the community at large.

Click here to download and watch the full segment (Mpeg), or here (Quicktime).