Ever since time began the media has been very influential in what we do, wither we want to believe it or not they withhold information that they don’t necessarily want us to hear, they give us selective quotes and hype up thing that they feel are right and cast down things they don’t approve of.
This has never been more apparent than during Election time when Parties wait with baited breath to find out who the big hitters in the media will back. Thanks to the internet for the first time ever the Editors and Owners of these media outlets are losing control of the Election and they don’t like it!
Case in Point: Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems are for the first time I can remember keeping up with the big boys – this is not because an Editor has decided to throw their might behind them but because of the debates, where only the party leaders control how their policies are portrayed and the public are responding to how they feel about these policies via twitter. Every second tweet on my list at the moment is about the #GE (general election) and even if I don’t agree with the sentiment I am enjoying the build up to the election this year, I feel involved and engaged.
In a frantic attempt by the newspapers to assert what they feel is their right to be judge and jury over the political manifestos of the day the claws have come out for the Lib Dems -I am sure they got quite the fright when they woke up and realised that they were front page news as they normally get a small mention on the 7th page of the papers!
I should point out that I am in no way a staunch Lib Deb Supported in truth my vote is still available to who I feel responds best to my needs in the last debate. I just am so excited that people are engaging with the General Election by using the internet. I am not suggesting that my Parents or Grandparents will vote differently because of Twitter, but it’s undoubtedly engaging millions of young and thirtysomething voters – the demographic that has traditionally turned their back to politics. I wouldn’t mind betting that the turnout at this General Election will be highest we have seen in a long time.
I just feel really please that the same people that make Jordon a ‘Celebrity’ no longer get to have such a massive influence on what the public think, the Editors and Owners are scared – and so they should be!
The internet and technology has changed the face of politics and voting forever by giving the public a real voice!