Saving Face on the Internet
Now that the Memorial Day weekend is behind us, the election year mudslinging will undoubtedly begin to ramp up. For me, this is always an amusing and disheartening phenomenon of political life in the United States – judging the worthiness of an individual based on either juicy speculation or on the defamation of the rival’s character. This style of politics leads nicely into a discussion of the issue of legal liability, defamation, and the nature of modern news collection and distribution on the Internet. With more and more people turning to the online versions of established newspapers and to news clipping services like Google News, the issue of journalistic ethics and news accuracy becomes crucial for the successful transition towards a paperless society. How society deals with defamation and legal liability regarding the accuracy of the online news is not a trifle subject. Indeed, it is a first step towards reversing the clichéd “don’t trust anything you read on the Internet” caveat that can no longer remain the acceptable standard. Too many important decisions are being made solely on the basis of online media to allow this standard to remain in place. Continue reading “Saving Face on the Internet” »
Revolutionizing Political Campaigns
As the 2004 Federal elections begin to take shape, the role of the Internet in modern political campaigns has garnered significant media attention. While the focus has remained primarily on the national scene, the local and state levels are also experiencing a technological revolution. At the forefront of this metamorphosis is a new, comprehensive Web-based campaign platform called WinCampaign. Continue reading “Revolutionizing Political Campaigns” »
e-Gerrymandering?
People joke that you can accomplish or acquire all the necessities of life through online interaction – food, love, clothing, material goods, spiritual revelation, and plain old intellectual curiosity all seem to have created digital niches. Some of these seem a bit redundant, like ordering pizza via the Internet rather than walking over to the telephone to make a call. Others are wonderful time savers, like ordering groceries and setting up pre-determined delivery times. Now, yet one more mundane but vital requirement of American life is being ported over to the Internet – voting. Continue reading “e-Gerrymandering?” »
War Blogging
Even with the war rapidly moving towards conclusion (militarily), people from around the world are still debating many aspects of the conflict. One increasingly popular way for people to air their thoughts on the war is blogging. These online journals are being used to disseminate news, insight and personal perspectives on many issues surrounding the war. Blogs also allow readers to send comments about their postings, often leading to intense debates. Among those who have employed blogs to discuss the war are soldiers, reporters and citizens from around the globe. Continue reading “War Blogging” »
Reweaving the Political Web: E-campaigns and Hard Money
Assuming that President George W. Bush signs the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2001 into law, political candidates may urgently need to reassess the way they use the Internet. An informal survey conducted by The Bivings Group uncovered a major gap in Internet participation by candidates as less than 25% of incumbent Senators and Representatives had launched a campaign website for the 2002 mid-term elections. Hopefully, campaign finance reform may provide the impetus that will transform the intersection of politics and the Internet. Continue reading “Reweaving the Political Web: E-campaigns and Hard Money” »