Blogs do affect local politics in a profound way, and what is particularly interesting is that people who are politically active online are generally influential to their community in a variety of ways. In fact, a study conducted by the Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet showed that 69% of “Online Political Citizens,” or people who are politically active in online forums and discussions are “Influencers.” Influencers are described as opinion leaders and trendsetters among their respective friends and communities. The study also determined that of Online Political Citizens, only 44% of them were involved in politics in traditional ways (like attending rallies, donating money, etc.). Based on a number of qualifying indicators, a RoperASW study showed that Influencers have strong ties to their communities, offer their opinions to the public, and are in positions of local authority. This can explain the influential powers that these citizens have over their local politics (Political Influentials Online in the 2004 Presidential Campaign).
Because those that are politically active online involve themselves in community affairs, it makes sense that they would affect local politics as well. Therefore, people who blog are very likely to have an effect on the politics of their local communities. As Roll Call, a Washington D.C. political newspaper says, “[local political] blogs specialize in state or local political coverage, and while these smaller, non-national political blogs may not have the resources — financial or otherwise — of the well-known titans of the blogosphere, many are starting to gain a following, not to mention the respect of state and local media outlets and politicians” (Blogging Locally, 2005). Not only do such blogs affect the opinions of local citizens, but some of the more well-known and respected blogs may actually be influencing local politicians as well.
A blog local to Buffalo, The Buffalo Pundit (http://buffalopundit.wnymedia.net/blogs/) was created by a local lawyer, Alan Bedenko. He started blogging about politics in September of 2003 at a different location and under a different name (WNY for Wesley Clark, http://wny4clark.blogspot.com/). After Clark left the campaign, he started blogging about local affairs and launched the Buffalo Pundit soon after. The Pundit’s Technorati ranking is 107,824.
This blog is interactive in that there are many people commenting on it about postings, local issues as well as national politics. Bedenko covers a wide range of topics, but it is clear that people have civilized, informed discussions about how their feelings about these issues. Not only do readers seem to enjoy reading the blog posts, but it appears as if the readers are actually involved themselves. The discussions could possibly be the reason that many of the visitors read this blog at all. While the Pundit may not directly affect local politics, it may have an indirect influence in that it gets people debating topics that matter within the community. Perhaps some comments persuade readers by presenting a side that they hadn’t thought about before. Or perhaps people read the Pundit to become involved in local politics that they wouldn’t otherwise know about. There are many indirect affects that interactive blogs can have on a local community’s political activities.
Sources:
1. Bedenko, Alan. The Buffalo Pundit. Retrieved October 24, 2008, from http://buffalopundit.wnymedia.net/blogs/
2. Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet (2005). Political Influentials Online in the 2004 Presidential Campaign. Retrieved October 24, 2008, from, http://www.ipdi.org/UploadedFiles/political%20influentials.pdf
3. McArdle, John (2005, April). “Blogging Locally.” The Roll Call. Retrieved October 24, 2008 from, http://www.rollcall.com/issues/50_115/politics/9246-1.html
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4 comments:
It is hard to believe how popular the internet has become with politics. Especially with this being an election year, politicians are becoming more and more creative with how to promote themselves online. For example, during one of the presidential debates I saw, they were trying to incorporate people's video questions via YouTube.
I used the Buffalo Pundit site as well for my blog. He was pretty frank but I thought, fair.
It really is crazy to see how far and how much the internet has come towards having an influence on politics. I think its a great. By allowing something like the internet, which connects millions of people to each other, citizens can now have more of an impact on what goes on in there local goverments by putting in there imput on topics important to them.
I've read some of his blogs which he brings up very interesting points. I think its great how involved in the community he is.
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