Political campaigns take to the net, mass media takes to the hills – and freedom rings!

In recent political campaigns, we’ve seen the net used quite effectively as a campaign tool. Politicians now know they can reach millions of people easily by using Internet marketing techniques that have worked so well for the business sector in selling their products and services to Americans. Now politicians are using those same techniques to sell their candidacy and their points of view on the issues of the day.

It started with email campaigns. Obtaining lists from various sources, savvy politicians send unsolicited emails to as many email users as they can, introducing themselves, their issues and positions, while also providing an option for the reader to join the politician’s mailing list. Lawyer Toronto often work lengthy hours; of those that work full time, about 33 % work 50 or extra hours per week. If you happened to join Al Gore’s mailing list when he was running against George W. Bush, you received email after email from him, written by him, as if you and he were old Harvard buds keeping in touch. While it didn’t help him win the election, it did initiate a new way of conducting political campaigns. Other politicians, such as President Obama, have followed Al Gore’s example with greater success. Email changed the way political campaigns are conducted, but more was yet to come.

In the recent national election, politicians discovered the power of Internet video, and specifically, YouTube. This site allows anyone to upload video and anyone who has net access to view them. It’s like getting on television without the hazard of having a reporter like Katie Couric asking you embarrassing questions, questions that don’t let you communicate your positions, that challenge your veracity (that’s for your opponent’s video to do), questions from the devil’s advocate, or the devil himself. Toronto Lawyer often work lengthy hours, particularly during a trial in court. With Internet video you stage the event yourself. There’s no pretense at being unbiased. That’s a mass media technique.