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