Samantha Korb
April 20, 2009
019:169:001
Graber ed. #15 & 36
Campaigning via Internet & Public Relations for Politicians
Chapter 15 discusses the Internet’s effect on campaign tactics. Hindman used Howard Dean as an example to show how he used the Internet during his campaign to enhance his attempt to become president. It was also noted that liberal politicians tend to use the Internet as a tool for their campaign more than conservative politicians. Similarly, democrats tend to use the Internet as a tool for their campaign more than republicans. In the next reading, Manheim looks at strategic communication and public relations’ influence on the public. Publicists often guide politicians towards proper communication when they’re dealing with political events and foreign associations.
Both of these chapters were interesting to me for personal reasons. The first chapter was interesting to me because we’ve recently experienced a Presidential election where the Internet was an enormous tool used by both the democratic and republican candidates; more so the democratic candidate, Barack Obama. Obviously, Barack Obama won the Presidential election; I can’t help but think how instrumental the Internet was for Obama’s campaign. Second, Manheim’s article was interesting to me because this past summer I worked at a public relations firm and dealt with publicists first hand. Our firm serves talent, music, television, and fashion, so it was interesting to read the parallels between my experience and the description of public relations and politics. I never really thought of public relations in terms of politics because I was so used to Hollywood talent, but now that I’ve read this chapter I will.
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