As the election campaign has now drawn to a close the political blogosphere may be in a state of limbo for the next 20 hours or so. With little to say until the analysis of the results start flowing as the first results come in. To fill this vacuum I would like to ask a question rather than make a comment.
What affect has the internet had on this election campaign?
There appears to have been a greater web presence in this campaign than there was even two years ago during the 2005 Westminster election. There are some 35 blogs discussing the Welsh election alone. Much use has been made of YouTube and I am told (not that I received one) that some candidates have been e-mailing their constituents in some places. But what, if any, practical effect has all this activity had on the election and its outcome?
Has web activity actually won or lost a single vote?
Is the effect of web activity subtler, as an aid to practising arguments or as a source of persuasive points that can be made on the doorstep? for example.
Does the internet harm the campaign? Do some potential party activists sit at home writing blog posts or producing YouTubes and think that they have then done their bit for the cause, using that as an excuse for not knocking on doors, filling envelopes, delivering leaflets etc - the tried and trusted way of winning votes?
I think its given some candidates and their minions food for thought Its made me realise that even if you don’t influence the vote - and that’s not why I started blogging, you can get some views and thoughts out and get some interesting feed back and also join in with debate even if your not in the matrix world of Cardiff Bay
ReplyDeleteAs a woman its a good medium too and I would encourage more women to get blogging - lots of candidates had Blogs I would have loved to have heard what the partners had to say.
The web to me could be a way to get young people more engaged but it will and never should take the place of face to face engagement I am glad to see people like I an Titherington and Dylan Jones Evans flagging up the joy of live canvassing I just wish I had had the chance to speak to a live candidate
Any way off to vote
It would have probably helped if the websites had been any good and actually made an attempt to reach out to the populace instead of just talking to their supporters.
ReplyDeleteI think political websites are only read by people who are political animals anyway.
ReplyDeleteI was torn between Plaid and the Lib Dems. I had actually decided on Plaid when I read on a blog about the Lib Dems in Cardiff wanting neurosurgery to move there, whereas the Lib Dems in Swansea were campaigning for it to remain there. That blog would have changed my vote had I not already come off the fence.