Today the Edmonton Journal's Capital Notebook held a live chat to talk about the cabinet shuffle. In my opinion there was a very good response when I look at the amount of questions and comments that were posted after moderation.
I have come to rely on social media more than the MSM for my daily intake of newsworthy events. Maybe I shouldn't say more than MSM rather delivery of it, as I still read the media publications. This brings me to the question of how effective is the social media? My blog is definitely an opinion based, biased blog that I hope raises the debate level up another notch, in a way the MSM shouldn't. Do blogs such as this one, Daveberta, Enlightened Savage, Calgary Rants, Chris Labossiere, or Ken Chapman to name a few really have any influence over the people that read them? Does Twitter, Facebook, etc.. have influential power on some of the topics they cover? Recently RenewAB was launched to form a party for the disenfranchised Progressives to call home, and a quick twitter with Naheed Nenshi we discussed the fact that there were 500 supporters online. This is pretty good for a movement that just started over a month ago, but the question is are these people that will move away from the comforts of their computer, go get the needed signatures, raise funds and develop policies? Some I am sure are although I believe it will be a small amount of them.
So as I question the social media and the influence it has, this question was raised on the live chat regarding the MSM and the ability to report unbiased information and answered quite fairly by Mr. McLean:
Q-"Since communication seems to be Premier's downfall in his opinion, do you as MSM believe that the media has been biased in it's reporting (joining the public outcry) or do you think the hundreds of communications staff in the Leg. are not doing their job proper? I know its a loaded question but really want MSM perspective. "
A- "I can't speak for the entire MSM, but we try to reflect both the public mood and the government's perspective in our reporting. We fail sometimes, but that's the idea.Two quick points though:- The premier has got a much rougher ride in Calgary than Edmonton. That reflects a geographical bias, but also the public mood in Calgary, whihc is more distrustful and angry at the premier- Some ministries do a much better job with communications than others. I don't mean to pile on Janis Tarchuk, but she's an example of a minister who clearly hated dealing with the media. Fine, we're difficult sometimes, but we have stories to write and need comment from the person in charge."
I don't know if the media is really being difficult, rather the poor communication by people trying to beat around the bush with their answers. If no straight answer is given, the member leaves themselves open to an interpretation, which could go either way. When we get into MSM, some of my favorite opinions such as Don Braid, Rob Breakenridge, Dave Breakenridge, and Paula Simons, I ask are they any different than the blogger's, outside of they are toned down a touch? I don't know, but it doesn't seem so. I can't see that they have better research as some of the blogger's have some fairly amazing stuff.
Our Alberta Government has in the last year been quick to blame the media for all their woes. Now as reasonable as that may sound, it is far from the truth. As mentioned by Archie McLean they can only report what they are told. If ministers refuse to speak openly to reporters, how can they fairly cover a story that isn't a little speculation based? At the PC AGM the premier stated the fact they needed to communicate better to get their message across and started to use social media as a tool. Twitter, Facebook, blogs and you tube (#asked) were attempted, but miserably failed as most weren't really the premier, or his answers to questions were vetted or scripted, but credit for trying. The Wildrose also has not grasped social media, except for Danielle Smith who does actually run her own twitter account, which should be IMAO a tool they need to develop. If there is one party that has done well utilizing social media it is the Alberta Liberals. They have done you tube, twitter, websites, and blogs by the leader and most of it's members. Good for them for trying to break into the new era.
So comes the question with so many Internet users, in Alberta politics how effective is social media and the blogs?
Your Moral And Intellectual Superiors
1 hour ago
AA,
ReplyDeleteAs someone who was on both sides of the media divide once upon a time. I think it is incumbant on the government to feed the "beast".
Too often when things go wrong the first thing political leaders do is blame the media. Even today Stelmach claims they are not getting their message out because they are being filtered.
In all fairness they are filtering themselves. I see one example at the Tory convention. I was there as a media representative, honestly I was appalled at the way they treated the media through most of the event.
If there is something I would fiercely fight for with the Wildrose Alliance is that it continue to be media friendly to all sides, while rewarding good coverage with exclusives and "leaks" just as Ralph Klein did.
Treating the media as your enemy as Leipert did and whining about it as some of the Communications staff did I find embarrassing. You do not have to love them but you should at least respect the media and what they are doing.
Meanwhile, to your point about social media. I think it is a hit or miss kind of thing. Organizing protests via facebook should be seen as a suppliment not the main tool to develop communications.
Blogs on the other hand are really good at getting research and information out because usually the people running them have a particular subject which they have an opinion about so they will be much better at it than the MSM (such as Angry in the GWN and Small Dead Animals) who have done some stellar work for the conservative brand in Canada.
But social media is a tool not the endgame for communications strategy. Although I think there are effective and ineffective ways to use them to great effect.
A lot of it comes down to how savvy your team is to create something worthwhile.
"... media friendly to all sides, while rewarding good coverage with exclusives and "leaks"..."
ReplyDeleteWell one isn't being "friendly to all sides" if only media outlets that provide "good coverage" get "exclusives". The Edmonton Journal is a lot more skeptical of Wildrose than the Calgary Herald but that doesn't mean they don't do an equally good job of coverage.
Blogs are good. Columns are blogs that get paid.
ReplyDeleteBlogs are free. Columns on the other hand I have to pay to listen to extremely one-sided debates. Why not just read a blog then?
What's more awesome is that there are tons of blogs and a person can get tons of opinions.
If only blogs could collective pool in money to get polls done, research done, inside scoops.
As for social media, you kind of almost have to not try to get it to work well. When cities force themselves to use social media, it fails like... Nickelback.
Brian,
ReplyDeleteMy point is that being nice to all but being exclusive to those that are nice back. Some MSM are going to be hostile, so you might be more helpful to those who are less hostile.
That does not mean you do not talk to everyone it just means some are more equal ;)
I often pick up on things on the blogs that the MSM does not. And remember, the MSM uses the blogs as a main research tool to get a feel about what is going on. The government should also, but what do the people really know about anything? Good Post.
ReplyDeleteShane
AA.. to be fair, most of Stelmach's comments at the AGM were not blaming the media, but, as you say, commentary that the party is not "getting the message out". That OUR communication has not been as clear as it could be.
ReplyDeleteAnd, at the early morning session, when I spoke up on the need to help party supporters "get the word out" was a clear question of OUR shortcomings as communicators - NOT as a criticism of media. And, as I recall, my comments seemed to gather broad support from the people there.
I think blogs are not likely to reach the numbers of readers to really change votes, at least as they are current constituted.
Unfortunately, my perception of much of the blog world is not a medium to "change" perception as much as an effective way to "concentrate the troops".
The problem is, however, that feeds into the politics of polarization.. and reduces are ability to look at ourselves in a critical fashion.
Sometimes, not everything a liberal does is wrong and not everything a conservatives does is right. And blogs, I think, tend to perpetuate this to some degree.
And twitter is worse, because it is limited by definition in it's size, it lends itself to quick commentary lacking substance or clarity.