Connecting people...Good or Bad?

Of all the things this social media space is, the one thing its good (and bad) for is accessing people, and finding out information that you wouldn't normally be able to get. Facebook is especially good for this, and I have recently come across many friends from as far back as primary school, and its great to have contact again. From a PR point of view, it is debateable as to whether or not adding Journalists as friends and mixing business with pleasure is really a good idea. I've heard a few Journalists comment that it is 'annoying' when PRO's add them to their facebook page, so unless you know them well enough- I'd advise you to steer clear!! That being said, however, I have come back into contact with Journalists with whom I used to work with and haven't seen for a while- and its a great way to build that relationship back up again. So Myspace is being used as a way to get closer to the source with News stories- and a way of finding people who without the use of social networking they would not find as easily. I can see the positives with this in some situations- but the example I just gave crossed the line. Some people need to realise when theres a story thats worth getting, and when to leave things alone. Hannah

MySpace and Sarah’s Law...

After my previous post about ‘MySpace ruining my life’, (and of course, the name of this blog), I thought I would start to look at the positives of this social media space. Considering I spend my life using this web site, I decided to look at the good such a new social media can do.

I came across a web site http://www.techsoup.org/, a technology site for non profit organisations, which discusses the use of MySpace to raise awareness for such non profit organisations as ‘Defenders of Wildlife’ and ‘Oxfam America’. This is absolutely brilliant! I love the idea that such media spaces can be used for good and raising awareness as it’s just an extra (completely free) way to reach a new audiences.

After reading though tech soup, I wanted to find more sites that were being used for good. That’s when I came across the page for Sarah Payne. This use of MySpace is the one that most fascinated me, as is used to raise awareness for Sarah’s Law. It includes information on the campaign, songs written for Sarah and hyperlinks going from the page of how to join the campaign. The page has a massive 12500 friends all of which can access bulletins and updates on the campaign.

Other pages made for raising awareness (which are included on Sarah’s page) include the N.S.P.C.C and ‘Our missing children’. This is an amazing and clever way to catch people’s attention and get them onboard of current issues.

Please click this link to view Sarah’s page: http://www.myspace.com/markscottone

I am all for this latest discovery I have made for the use of MySpace, as is has demonstrated, yet again, how powerful social media can be.

Please feel free to comment.
Until my next blog….
Hannah

Blog Wars....Blogging during an Electoral campaign

After watching a recent documentary on the impact of blogging within the electoral campaigns in America in the run up to local elections, I became interested in this concept and was fascinated by some of the stories that emerged.

Not only did some of the candidates use blogging as a way of gaining public support through another form of technology (other than the obvious, less adventurous methods- TV, print media etc), the programme also showed how campaigns can be ruined by this powerful social media. It made way to hear stories of members of the public in America, your average Joe Bloggs (no pun intended), who due to reasons that they would explain, set up blogs to try and ruin a candidates chance of being elected. The blogs would contain reasons why they disliked the candidate, things they had done which may sway people’s opinions on them, and even personal attacks at them as a person.

The idea of absolutely anybody with access to a computer and the internet being able to create something that powerful really struck me, and probably for the first time made me understand the impact of blogging. Having the ability to share your thoughts and opinions to thousands of people, especially during such a competitive period (elections), provides power at people’s fingertips, which to others could be potentially lethal.

In a less controversial sense, web sites have been set up to contain blogs to clear up rumours, and inform the public in a non biased way of information on each of the political parties, enabling them to vote there after. This web site, http://www.watchblog.com/, describes themselves as ‘a multiple-editor weblog broken up into three major political affiliations, each with its own blog: the Democrats, the Republicans and the Third Party (covering everything outside the two major parties).’ They also explain the reason they are there: ‘Let's face it, politics is confusing. Sometimes it's difficult to know who to believe, who to listen to and who to support. We're here to help. Posting on a regular basis are editors representing each major party. Stay informed.’

When looking at the positives of having web sites such as http://www.watchblog.com/ containing up to date blogs about all the electoral parties, it makes me consider both the pro’s and con’s of blogging in this particular sense. While people are out there feeding us the facts and updating us on the information, just as many people are out there to destroy organisations, events, the media and even people.

To me this raises the question as to whether or not this is really a good or bad thing? Is social media the way forward, or just the way to destroy? Please do let me know your thoughts.

Until the next blog…..

Hannah