Rory Cellan-Jones, the BBC’s technology correspondent is taking up a brand new temporary position tomorrow, in time for the 2010 General Election.
The post will be digital election correspondent, a role which Rory says will examine how politicians and voters are using new technology in the run-up to the general election.
Rory Cellan-Jones
He predicted on his blog today that the advancements in social media will mean that this election will be different from any other the UK has experienced.
“There are doubts about just how big a role social media played in the Obama campaign – good old-fashioned e-mail seems to have been the key weapon – and about whether methods which work in the United States where voters and money coalesce around individual politicians rather than parties can translate to the UK.
“Nevertheless, I do think that new technology will mean this election will be very different from the previous one – and there will be plenty for me to get my teeth into. In 2005, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and smartphone apps either did not exist or had yet to have much effect; this time, the parties and the voters will all be working out how to use them to their advantage. The effect of technology will be felt in two areas: the organisation of the campaign and the acceleration of the news cycle.”
After David Cameron’s comments last summer about Twitter, I can’t see that he would get much support from regular users of the microblogging service.
Asked whether he used Twitter, Mr Cameron said: “The trouble with Twitter, the instantness of it – too many twits might make a twat.”
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However, on the other side of the coin, Sarah Brown currently has well over 1 million followers on Twitter and uses the site with confidence.
It will be interesting to see what Rory reports on over the coming months, and you can read his blog here on the BBC.
Tags: 2010, BBC, David Cameron, Facebook, General Election, General Election 2010, Obama, President Obama, Rory Cellan-Jones, Sarah Brown, Twitter, YouTube
It should be very different this time. Especially when you look at the U.S elections, where Social Media went crazy. Obama’s campaign was brilliant though (with 3.5 million Twitter followers)! Love David Cameron’s comment! I’m intrigued at what peoples reactions were to his remark at the time…
Everyone was really mad with him (well on Twitter anyway!) He got quite a lot of abuse, and was forced to apologise.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6731494.ece