Our Blog and About Us

Play for Music (Born in the U.S.A – Bruce Springsteen):

Welcome To “New Media and Politics”

We are living in an information age, where revolutionary technology has made the media more readily available than ever before. Outlets such as Wikipedia, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and much more may be accessed on cell phones and the news media update breaking news in mere seconds of its release.

In the new media environment, the public has the ability to actively engage with the media by commenting on blogs, sending interesting newspaper articles and YouTube videos to friends and inciting activism through social networks. Today, the public is no longer a passive observer of the media; in the new media environment, the public actively engages in the media.

As the 2008 presidential election progresses, a variety of factors contribute to the complexity of the election. The stances taken by democratic and republican candidates have become polarized regarding the war in Iraq and universal health care; not to mention that the two democratic candidates are vying to be both the first black male president and the first female president. Additionally, the 2008 presidential election has seen an increase in internet use in terms of acquiring information, and supporting candidates. As a result, the internet has had a significant impact on the way the public perceives political candidates.

In this blog, we look at how different internet technologies have impacted the ways in which the public gets its news and how this has in turn had an effect on public perception of the political spectrum. We assess whether the public is more informed today or if the internet has, in reality, become saturated with user-generated content that provides a polarized account of the news. We also analyze the public’s role in the 2008 election, specifically looking into internet use amongst younger voters.

We have explored these issues while examining them in terms of the 2008 Election, examples of politics in the new media environment and theoretical perspectives on politics and new media. We hope this blog serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning about politics and new media. We appreciate any comments, thoughts and feedback. We hope you enjoy! 8)

About US

Alexandra Reimer is a senior communication major.

Emily Cohn is a sophomore communication major.

Melanie Aliperti is a sophomore information science major.

Robin Kornet is a senior communication major.