Politics and the Internet: Blog Introduction

madelinedaniels — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:30:51 +0000

According to a 2006 New York Times article, the increased use of the Internet in American politics is redefining the rules of political advertising, fund-raising, and supporter mobilization. Politicians are sharply increasing their use of e-mail, interactive Web sites, candidate and party blogs, and text-messaging to raise money, organize get-out-the-vote efforts and assemble crowds for rallies”. ¹ For our final project, the Political Junkies are examining the effects of these developments on politics, and the revolutionary changes that are occurring in communication, outreach, and activism. This blog explores these changes by examining the relationship between the Internet and politician-constituent communication, fund-raising, interest group involvement, and narrow-casting.

_{1. Nagourney, Adam. “Politics Faces Sweeping Changes via the Web.” New York Times. 2 Apr. 2006. Web. 12 Dec. 2009.}