“@Reply Glowah: Gov. Sarah Palin at the Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska, Sunday evening. No tickets required. Doors open at 4 PM.”
For those who are unfamiliar with the social networking sight, “Twitter,” this message is just one example of how the presidential campaign of Republican John McCain and Sarah Palin let people in Omaha know she was coming to speak rather than relying on traditional media to inform the city of her visit.
Americans, especially younger Americans, are using the Internet and texting services to get campaign news in record-numbers, giving Barack Obama an edge, according to a 2008 survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. This is because not only does Obama’s strategists use new media tools, but young Americans, many of who are supporting Obama, are also using the Web tools to back their candidate.
One format in particular seems to be having an effect on college students. Twelve percent of 18-29 year olds have politically blogged or commented on a political blog or Web site, the Pew survey found.
“It’s important because they give really interesting perspectives on the election that maybe mainstream media don’t necessarily broadcast,” said blogger Katie Pitts, an A&S senior.
Pitts writes a Republican blog called “Republichic,” but she also spends time reading other blogs. One of those blogs, “Leavenworth St,” primarily discusses Nebraska politics.
“One of the most important things that blogs do is provide public space for the expression of opinion and free speech,” said Dr. Bob Whipple, associate professor and chair of the Creighton English department. “There are so many political bloggers and some of the political bloggers have a lot of interesting things to say and provide a new insight and new information.”
2008 has seen an increase in blogs, political blogs and comments on the blogs, the Pew survey said. College students indicated on the survey that they preferred blogs because the blogs allowed them to connect to the campaigns more.
“Blogs function as an echo chamber of sorts for news and opinion,” said Eric Ruchensky, A&S senior. “They highlight especially interesting bits of information and they have unfiltered commentary.”
Ruchensky, a political science major and John McCain supporter, reads several political blogs including “National Review” and “The Crossed Pond.” Both blogs discuss politics from the events to the way those events are covered. Ruchensky checks them daily, even from his phone.
Democrats and Obama supporters rely more heavily on social networking and blogs than Republicans and supporters of McCain, the Pew survey said. Led, by younger voters, 65 percent of Obama supporters get political information online compared to the 56 percent of McCain supporters.
“It is hardly surprising that a media savvy nation like the United States is taking to blogs as avidly as it does,” Whipple said, who researches new media writing. “You can update a blog any time. It is sort of like your own privately managed tunable radio station that plays the messages that only you want to send out and that have the potential for a large audience.”
Ruchensky said he uses blogs because, while blogs are more entertaining than traditional media, they also provide more than just entertainment.
“They’re more about idea exchange, rather than a description of events,” Ruchensky said.
However, while blogs are gaining support in the political arena, many Americans are wary. Many Americans felt the Internet emphasized misinformation and extreme viewpoints for voters, according to the Pew survey.
“It can be tough because you got to learn what opinions and blogs to take seriously and what to take with a grain of salt,” Pitts said. “Anybody can write a blog, so you have to be open-minded about what you read and how you take it.”
Since, the election is still in progress, the true impact of blogs, good or bad, will not be known until the Pew survey conducts its follow-up research. For now, people continue to update their blogs with the hope that their voices will be heard.