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In this session we'll talk about translating the raised awareness and consciousness that online community can build into concrete political action. How do you get people to sign up, sign on, sign petitions, write letters, call Congresspeople and how much action can be taken at the screen vs. by stepping away from the screen. moderates this discussion with PunditMom and Momocrat
Moderator:
Shireen Mitchell
Speakers:
Joanne Bamberger
Liza Sabater
Erin Kotecki Vest
SHIREEN: “Digitalsista” on Twitter.
ERIN: “Queenofspain” on Twitter. Political director for BlogHer. She talks to both campaigns and finds out what their blogger outreach is, gives them feedback.
JOANNE: “Punditmom” on Twitter.
LIZA: Writes mostly about culture and politics. Culture Kitchen is known as one of the top Latina/feminist blogs in the U.S.
SHIREEN: Will try to keep a balanced perspective. Important to talk about the tools for online activism, becoming engaged, encouraging better voter turnout. Wants to talk about how the political campaigns use social media to engage voters.
ERIN: Each campaign has done their own blogger outreach on different levels. McCain had blogger conference calls. At first they had partisan bloggers, then included liberal and progressive bloggers. Added bloggers to their press lists. With Obama, it was different. They strayed from conference calls and added bloggers to regular media calls. They reached out to bloggers for surrogate interviews. Barack Obama did a video interview for BlogHer, and Michelle Obama has blogged several posts on BlogHer.com. Obama campaign has utilized text messaging and widgets. Tool-wise, Obama campaign has been further ahead. Both campaigns have engaged bloggers pretty equally.
LIZA: Undecided voters are 55% women, which is why they’re an important voting group. Traditionally they don’t vote as often.
SHIREEN: Joanne, how do you get mothers involved as political activists? What was a turning point for MOMocrats and what tools helped engage the conversation?
JOANNE: The idea of engaging moms online was important in itself. Even though MOMocrats are progressive, they all have different views. Good tools were reaching out to other moms through BlogTalk radio show (something that was bloggy, but not too techie). MOMocrats sent eight bloggers to political conferences but needed extra monetary help to get there, unlike press people who are paid by their employers.
ERIN: We’ve noticed on BlogHer that when you create a safe space in your community, people are more comfortable participating. Comments are moderated so that nobody is attacked. Non-political women can feel more comfortable talking about things that may not be fully educated on.
LIZA: She writes mostly on issues of race, ethnicity and gender. On a local level, there aren’t enough women involved. In NYC, there are political clubs that different neighborhoods have. Some people have been members for 30-40 years, and they don’t seek out or encourage new members or diversity. These people elect city council, judges, the mayor, and state representatives. Less than 1,000 people actually make elections happen, but there are 10 million people in NYC.
AM: How easy has it been to interact with mainstream media? How fair have they been to bloggers?
LIZA: On a local level, she’s been blackballed by NYC media. It’s a huge market, and she’s made an impact with no money involved whatsoever.
ERIN: National producers love bloggers because they look “hip.” Bloggers can sometimes talk about “buzz” topics easier than regular journalists.
JOANNE: There are enough mainstream media that “get” bloggers, we could make a big political dent in the next four years.
SHIREEN: A lot of CNN reporters are engaging people in the political process by letting them upload their own videos. She would like to see more women and people of color doing this.
AM: How has the interaction been with traditional journalists?
LIZA: Nationally, she has been embraced. We need to create a bond with journalists.
ERIN: Blogger influence is better known now than it used to be. When she first started at BlogHer, she couldn’t get on a media list or have a campaign call her back. For the past 6-8 months, they call her and ask her to cover stuff.
LIZA: Bloggers have influenced big races in NYC; some people haven’t gotten elected because of what bloggers have written.
SHIREEN: Getting organizations to use bloggers as political activists is difficult.
AM: Mainstream media is trying to look for vocabulary to use to relate to bloggers. Some people say we’re competing
