Digital Politics

In this week’s blog I am going to blog about how the digital world is slowly becoming integrated with politics and how it affects the public today. I’ll start of by explaining what I mean when I say the digital world is becoming integrated with politics which is; Politicians know that by using various medias such as, television, radio and even the web to broadcast their messages out it is much more likely people will watch them or listen to them. So as time moves along becoming more technological and simplified, politics is also finding its way to adapt to the changes which the world is finding itself to be in.

‘On 26 September 1960, 70 million U.S. viewers tuned in to watch Senator John Kennedy of Massachusetts and Vice President Richard Nixon in the first-ever televised presidential debate. It was the first of four televised "Great Debates" between Kennedy and Nixon. The first debate centered on domestic issues.’-reference from: www.museum.tv/. JFK and Nixon exposed the world to a new way of including politics to the lives of the public without them even leaving their own house, to find out what is going on. The so called “Great Debates” happened to be very influential in the US I say this because ‘John F. Kennedy was a relatively unknown senator from Massachusetts. He was young and Catholic — neither of which helped his image — and facing off against an incumbent. But by the end of the evening, he was a star.’ -Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2021078,00.html.

It is very clear that television has become an important tool for politicians today but, unlike the 1960s JFK proved himself to be a great character and president by using the television form of media, but in today’s world there are so many other ways that MP and the PM have to present themselves to be a worth leader.  In October 2012 British Prime Minister David Cameron opened up an account on the social networking site called, twitter. I doubt he actually wanted to open up the account himself but, obviously his P.R. manager that it would be a good idea to show the country that he is with the current times of technology. ‘The Tory leader clocked up more than 50,000 followers within hours of his debut, but was following just four other posters – the Conservative party, William Hague, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt. ’ But although he had received more than an I quote ’50,000 followers’ he then was presented with the other side of having too many people following you.  ‘David Cameron has signed up to Twitter, prompting users of the social networking site to inundate him with hundreds of hostile messages.’-Reference from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/oct/07/david-cameron-joins-twitter.

In the UK, the 2010 general election was the first ever time the three main parties in the UK consisting of Labour party represented by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Conservatives represented by David Cameron and, Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg also representing his party. This was the first time ever parties in the UK had ever had the chance to go toe to toe with each other on television in the run-up before votes were casts. This was just as major and influential as JFK’s first television debate was as; Nick Clegg was also a relatively unknown name as well before emerging on the scene in 2010 taking over from former Lib Dem leader, Vince Cable. ‘Gordon Brown tended towards waffle and repetition, often seeking refuge in reams of statistics; and Nick Clegg sought to appear relaxed, confident and the voice of sweet reason, playing the other two against each other – with some success, it must be said. In terms of policy, we learned little that we did not know already. Mr Brown was weak on immigration, unconvincing on crime and perversely thinks he has a strong hand to play on the economy, despite presiding over the country's worst ever deficit. Mr Clegg had the advantage of leading a party that has not been in government for 80 years, so could not be blamed for the mistakes of the past.’-Reference: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7595960/Election-2010-Clegg-uses-first-TV-debate-to-best-effect.html

It’s clear to see that the television debate also was useful here as well, the media and public all gave Nick Clegg positive responses other than the David Cameron and definitely Gordon Brown. Politics and the media are definitely a major force in the world, and will always use the media to spread their messages to the whole world.