Politics and Blogging: Do They Mix Well?
We here at Splashpress Media are proud to run our own politics blog: Biziki. However, I’m still of the opinion that politics and blogging don’t necessarily mix well, in certain instances.
Sure, politicians can use blogs to help spread the word about their platforms and their achievements. If they’re incumbent, they can use blogs to communicate with constituents. If they’re currently running for office, then they can use blogs as an inexpensive way to mount a campaign.
Still, someone once told me that blogging would probably be the last thing a politician would want to do. Why? Some (not all, of course) politicians are very sensitive about publicity. They’re afraid of the transparency and interactivity that blogging offers. Imagine, if an incumbent elected official starts to blog about his activities and achievements while in office, and readers write negative comments. Or what if comments are moderated? This could create a negative backlash from the blogging community, itself, for being a “closed” blog.
Blogging sure helps open communication lines. However, considering that a lot of people in government are still quite technologically-averse, then blogging may be something they cannot effectively use yet.
One thing’s for sure: blogging is one good tool for bringing out issues to the public. It’s cheaper than mass media, and content cannot be edited for posterity, unlike newspapers or TV. The blogosphere is open to the biases and opinions of people from all sides of an issue. It’s like a double-edged sword. Wield it properly, and it’s a great weapon. Make a wrong move, and you end up cutting yourself.
What do you think?