Ed Cone had a good op-ed article in the N&R yesterday titled The way we politick now. Of course you can find it on his blog. (It wasn’t so long ago that MSM would flip out if you put your column on your own webpage.) He brings up several great points about how new media, aka blogs etc., are changing old media and politics.
These are exciting times… if you embrace change. If you fight change aggressively then you’re in for some serious hurt. I guess we all dislike change of some kind. Especially when we benefit from things being just the way they are. But the change I speak of is a massive snowball going down hill with a ton of momentum. I hope it’ll spread its energy around and not just put it in one place.
I speak of momentum towards real grassroots democracy. Ed discusses this within American politics and how its “rule book” is changing. He provides a insight into how people are gaining their own power. This power is beyond just voting, and protesting, its becoming the media aka Blogging.
While we politicos watch what’s happening in electoral politics other areas are changing too. Non-profits are blogging bringing attention to their causes and raising money. Artists are blogging to help people find their work. Mothers and fathers are blogging so family can stay in touch with their kids. Educators are blogging to augment their classes. Businesses are blogging and creating better two way relationships with their community formally known as consumers. Its really is amazing how HUGE individual media making has become.
Brian C. Russell 