VasGk | Κοινωνικό Νερό

During the past few days I enjoyed the videos coming from the Obama campaign on YouTube. I really liked the style of these videos, being a Vlog-like series with Barack Obama taking directly to the camera. It feels very DIY, and definitely without the production quality of other videos from the Barack Obama channel. These videos feel real; the president talks directly to the camera, they are backstage and give a behind the scenes look into the campaign. These sort of videos give the opportunity for the YouTube campaign to become more real and Barack Obama to connect with voters using informal videos. In doing so the campaign utilises YouTube like a Vlog Platform, rather than just uploading TV ads. Below you can find a collection of them:

I really want to commend Benjamin Netanyahu on his initiative to engage with people online. It is truly remarkable that a head of state is coming out openly and accepting questions from a global audience! The office of the Israeli PM states that: This will be a unique project since Prime Minister Netanyahu will be the first head of government to be in continuous contact will (with) websurfers, and will not suffice with isolated interviews only. ( small misprint there ) I have previously blogged on Israeli politics and social media, and the overall theme is that is clear, straightforward and open. Just like social media needs to be; especially when dealing with global political communications, or international political leaders being active in New Media. It's about being clear, honest and fully transparent. I am planning to address a question Benjamin Netanyahu soon, and hopefully he will respond. On a last note, I want to suggest a bit of housekeeping. ...

Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, came out with a video on April 15th in asking people to send YouTube videos and tell the GOP why they "Can't Afford 4 More Years". The winning submission will receive a $100 gift certificate to the GOPStore.com and could be showcased in the GOP.com website. My first comment is that this contest seems outdated. Yet another example of a safe political communications strategy in trying to copy-paste tried ideas. This has already been done before, it's not innovative or cool anymore, and by the looks of it, with 3,355 views of the Reince Priebus video in 6 days, the Video contest is not going to be a success. It all seems really amateur in setting up a YouTube contest. But worry not, I am sure the GOP online communications team is only just beginning, that's right, Reince Priebus also opened a facebook page ; I bet this comes really handy in getting the video contest " viral ". I don...

I have been paying close attention to the communications & multimedia campaign from the White House and I really enjoy the West Wing Week , a video diary that is produced by the White House communications staff. The series aims to be " your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. " You can watch the latest episode of West Wing Week (1/21/11 or "A Rather Large Painting") here: Browsing YouTube, I came across the CNN White House week in review. Which is basically the exact same weekly diary, but produced by professional journalists. You can watch the CNN piece here: I believe that the White House production is far more better, covers more issues, has access to the President that mainstream media journalists do not, and offers a view that was not previously offered from mainstream media. The White House West Wing Week came out yesterday, the 20th of January, and the CNN White House week in review, came out today, the 21st of Januar...

Yesterday the townhall: "Ask The Chairman: A Virtual Town Hall" ended. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen received 16 video questions . Have a look at the teaser: And just when the pentagon virtual town-hall ended, another defense and security online event began! It's President Obama now, with the "Troop Town Hall". Were these two events coordinated? It doesn't seem so. Why flood the online town-halls with defense and security issues now? If people already directed their questions to Admiral Mullen, does the Whitehouse expect them to direct more (and different) questions to President Obama? I must say that this might be a communications overkill on the outreach to enlisted personnel and their families.

Keeping with current events, I want to share with you a speech that President-elect Barack Obama gave at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington, DC.

It is going to be the first YouTube election! An election that user generated content will play a role, not only in communications, but also in generating buzz and making the elections count, not only for the candidates, but for the people. Video Your Vote is an excellent tool to use in order to View early voting View notable Voters Voting perspectives from first time voters Watch voter Intimidation Report polling problems and Report registration Problems Be sure to also see some other very interesting websites on the theme of "Video the Vote": Election Protection BallotVox Video the Vote Wired's Threat Level New York Times Polling Place Photo Project YouTube's Video Your Vote   Our Vote Live MyFairElection.com Voter Suppression Wiki Twitter Vote Report The Role of Citizen Media in Ensuring Fair Elections Not all states permit to video your vote, with some of them not allowing to video the choice you make. Anyway, you can always upload a video stat...

Just take a look at the last 8 YouTube videos from the 2 campaigns... see anything interesting? McCain's videos (by far) are the most popular... Now, why is that, well first of all the McCain campaign has uploaded videos creating TV buzz (most interesting the Celeb & The One video), second, all of the McCain videos are fun, specific, and single issued, Thirdly, the Obama campaign continues to work very hard to create viral videos with Barack backstage, and with the campaign eating at a diner. Now is the time to attack! YouTube can be fun and creative, but, most importantly, it can carry your message. The McCain videos do just that, they carry the message, that it why the are popular.