LECTURE 11

New Media, New Politics?

Course: Introduction to New Media
Course code: NM401
Course Instructor: Khansa Tarar
Khansa Tarar

5/19/15

Politics Transformed
How Political Communication Transformed?
Political Impact of New System of Communication
How Web Reconfiguring Democratic Participation

Khansa Tarar

5/19/15

Overview
Then,
Passive recipients of political information
(Papers, Radio Stations, Television Channels)

Communication Consumers with Modest degree of participation

Now,
Not only involved in media coverage of politics
Also, create their own coverage and use forms of new media to
enact political activism & leadership
Khansa Tarar

5/19/15

Political Transformation: A five step

programme
1. Political impact on operation of Government
1990s, Clinton administration
1998 UK Government
Government across the world, deploying internet to deliver
services
For Example,
Data.gov, Data.gov.uk
Radically configure the state-citizen relationship
Khansa Tarar

5/19/15

2. In Conduct of Election
During 1994 congressional Midterm Elections
A year later, one of presidential candidate began campaign on
internet
By 2000, a fundamental shift in terms of communication and
organization
Democratic National Committee said,
Democratic candidates will have more opportunities to
speak directly & personally to the American People ,
through venues like internet chat rooms.
Khansa Tarar

5/19/15

 Obamas 2008 Campaign

Most technically Sophisticated campaign of all times
Prospective voters were engaged through,

Viral videos,
social networking sites,
blogging and micro blogging,
and text messaging

Khansa Tarar

5/19/15

Contd
Impact on campaigning
Business of Voting
Push Button voting a step nearer internet as formal part of
electoral process

Khansa Tarar

5/19/15

3. Political & Social Movements

Net an important device for marketing and recruitment
For Example Oxfam or Amnesty
Friends of earth were quick to use new Media- Networks of
network-that gave substance familiar green slogan,
Think globally, act locally

Khansa Tarar

5/19/15

Contd

Smart Mob Demonstrations

Political Activism
Internet provide the infrastructure
Virtual & Very Real

Khansa Tarar

5/19/15

4. Impact on Journalism
Political Commentary (Blogs)
User-Generated Content
According to Jhon Kelly, Makes every citizen on
expert

Khansa Tarar

5/19/15

10

5. Tracking
People, Opinions, Trends
Internet enables state to act as big brother

Khansa Tarar

5/19/15

11

Combined Five: A New Political

Order
Three Different attitudes to the impact of new Media on
Politics
Optimists
Sceptics
Pessimists

Khansa Tarar

5/19/15

12

Activity
Be Optimists, Sceptics and Pessimists

Khansa Tarar

5/19/15

13