You are here: Home / Archives for Politics & Policy

SOPA and PIPA: Whose rights are we protecting?

January 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Wikipedia anti-SOPA page

The NY Times article (In Fight Over Piracy Bills, New Economy Rises Against Old) by Jonathan Weisman on the proposed anti-piracy legislation in Congress  highlights the conflict between old and new business models. The battle of the SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) bills signals the changing times.  It suggests that public understanding of media use is shifting.  It highlights the reallocation of  political heft, dollars and lobby power from the old to new economy.  It also shows the power of the new communications model of many-to-many.  When people are connected across networks, rather than isolated in buckets, word travels fast.   Weisman quotes John Feehery, a former House Republican leadership aide, as saying: “... the Internet world, the social media world especially, can reach people in ways we never dreamed of before.”(p.2) It also shows how fast politicians' ideologies move when they fear losing votes. In my mind, the article leaves … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Culture & Society, Politics & Policy Tagged With: , , , ,

Us versus Them? It’s time for “We’re all in this together”

August 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
201-08-18_Small-All-in-this-together

The in-flight safety message on a recent Virgin America flight ended with a clever info-cartoon intended to raise awareness of how obnoxious airplane behavior impacts everyone on the flight called “We’re all in this together.” This is a message in short supply today.  We should take a cue from Virgin America & Method (who co-sponsored the message). Instead of politicians trying to convince voters that the other guy is the problem, or, like after the London riots or the BART cell phone shut down, that access to communications tools is dangerous, we need a new mindset.  It's time for a Public Service Announcement that focuses on the strengths that come from unity; a nationwide public relations campaign based on the understanding that we are all in this together. Social media and communications technologies are in everyone’s sights.  Technology does contribute to what David Altheide (2010) calls the ‘politics of fear.’  He talks about it in terms of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Culture & Society, Politics & Policy, Psychology, Social Media & Networks Tagged With: , , , ,

Social Media Networks Get the Word Out. Just ask ACORN.

September 18, 2009 By 4 Comments

However you come out on the politics of the “to-fund or not-to-fund” ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) issue, the radical change in House and Senate’s support for funding of the organization (or defunding as the case may be) is an excellent example of the impact of new media technologies.  Information travels across new media distribution channels out of the control of mass media, and corporate and government agendas.  In this case, according to Michael Barone of the Washington Examiner, new media sources played a significant role in forcing Washington to address the ACORN issue. He writes: Democrats voted 172-75 to defund ACORN; Republicans voted 173-0 to do so. This would not have occurred but for http://biggovernment.com/ the Big Government videos of ACORN employees encouraging tax evasion and prostitution. "Mainstream media" studiously ignored this big, big story, because it put Obama's political allies in ACORN in a bad light--such an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Culture & Society, Politics & Policy, Social Media & Networks Tagged With: , ,

Rebranding Nigeria in Global Brains

April 10, 2009 By 5 Comments

Nigeria has recently embarked on a rebranding effort to improve their image worldwide.  Global perceptions are important in attracting the kinds of things an emerging economy needs to improve the living standards and opportunities of its people: tourism, trade, foreign direct investment and foreign financial assistance, or even to meet the UN recommended Millennium Development goals. In the words of President Yar Adua, "we must readily put in place a positive perception of Nigeria."   It has been interesting to watch the dialogue in the AllAfrica.com news.  In a recent article Nigeria: Re-Branding - Country May Be Worse If Credibility Gap is Created the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) president Aimiuwu warned that things may get worse rather than better if Nigeria doesn't do the rebranding effort right, noting that credibility is important, if "a product is not authentic and credible then our acceptability by other comity of nations will be difficult." He also … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Brands & Identity, Politics & Policy, Social Media & Networks Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts