Australia goes to the polls Nov 24th

Prime Minister John Howard has called the election. Australia will vote Nov 24.

googl-election

Great article today in The Age about how political parties are using social media in this election.

Plus also explore Google’s Australian Election site.

Howard07

Anything Kevin can do… yes, it had to happen . . . HOWARD07.

While not fully endorsed (the idea comes from (Mathew Donovan, self-proclaimed as the “James Kotecki of Australian politics”), great for a laugh and with more merchandise options too. Anyone for a T-Shirt made in the USA?

You can be my second-best friend

Kim is not alone.

Everyone in My Space, particularly politicians in My Space rank their friends. This week’s gold star for the best friend on a My Space site goes to Bob Brown, Leader of The Greens for listing His Holiness The Dalai Lama as one of his friends.

Actually Bob Brown does well for a 62 year old politician – he hangs with the cool kids – listing Wolfmother, Xavier Rudd, The John Butler Trio and every politicians favourite – The Chaser Team as his friends.

Mr. Popularity, Kevin Rudd has the most friends with 15,798, yet the first 30 or so are ALP reps. So, isn’t that like saying you are friends with your mum?

Then there is the one we all know about, the one with only nine friends – including everyone’s friend Tom. Not worth even mentioning. Does anyone want to be second best friends with John?

Crossing over

For some this online space is but frippery on the entertainment edge of the main, serious, media game. But not for all. Blogs are now being taken very seriously, as we have recently seen with a political resignation as a result of a defamatory comment made in a blog. People, it seems are watching and more correctly, reading.

Recently, Fairfax sacked Walkley-winning journalist and star blogger Jack Marx for his recreation of Kevin Rudd’s visit to a NYC strip club. Interestingly, News Limited ran with the story and published the piece, read it if you need a thrill.

“A” for effort

Leader of Family First, Steven Fielding shows how social media can be an effective tool for small parties. Frequently holding the camera himself, his My Space page includes numerous video blog posts where he interviews a wide range of people from farmers to independant petrol station owners.

The sound quality isn’t great, the footage a bit shaky, but he gets his message across quickly, succintly and in a very real way. He is also a frequent blogger, writing on a range of issues and communicating with a range of people. Ultimately, he gets social media and is using it very well.

Future posts will start to examine whether effective use of social media has an impact on electoral awareness, image and success.

“So John, when are you coming to see me?

The latest rumours online (and elsewhere) have the Prime Minister calling at Yarralumla sometime around September 20. Anyone know anything different?

Anyone for a good old-fashioned political stouch?

Even though most of us wouldn’t probably admit it publicly, it remains true that nearly all of us love a bit of political biffo. A laconic spracy here, a deft manouvere there and who could deny admiring a genius return that leaves a gormless oponent lost for words. The question is, can social media facilitate political arm wrestles? Are political parties using social media to score points against each other and if so, how effectively?

 

Are the big issues missing?

A disappointing effort from the KEVIN07 team this time. Instead of Peter Garrett outlining Labor’s policies for the environment, we have him giving us ONE sentence on Labor’s position on the proposed pulp mill in Tasmania before his “Top 10 Tips for Gardening”.

A voice from the past

Announcing another tilt at Federal politics, this time seeking a Queensland Senate seat. Have a look at Pauline’s Hanson’s site. No blog, no video and no connection to MySpace/Facebook, but maybe she is looking for votes on the dancefloor, rather than online?