The New blue Media

Taken from the ABC radio national presented by Anthony Funnel talks about the influence of the New Blue Media on the US elections, for more check out http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2395910.htm#transcript

The New Blue Media is a term coined by Ted Hamm (2008) describing the Pro-Democrat alternative media outlets. He says that these media outlet form a political coalition aimed at defeating Republicans in the election.

The Obama iphone app,courtesy of Zdnet.com

The usage of new media as a platform for politics has grown everywhere in the world even in Malaysia. This is due to the coercive regulations, which are implemented that curtail press freedom and independence in writing new stories (Lay Kim, 2001).

This political new media landscape also provides a shielding to politicians who are portrayed in a bad light by the mainstream press, as they remain critical on the coverage of traditional media (Harris, 2006).

The usage of new media by the Malaysian politicians in the recent March general elections proved successful as they managed to wrest five states from the ruling coalition. The usage of SMS (Short Messaging Service), YouTube and blogs to disseminate their views and opinions across managed to persuade many Malaysians and fence sitters to vote for the opposition (Wai, 2008).

References:

HAMM, T. (2008). The new blue media: how Michael Moore, MoveOn.org, Jon Stewart and company are transforming progressive politics. New York, New Press.

Harris, J. (2006). New Media A Weapon in New World Of Politics. Washington Post.com [Online] 6th October. Available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/05/AR2006100501811.html [Accessed on 6th November 2008]

KIM, W. L. (2002). Media and democracy in Malaysia. Communication Abstracts. 25, 3-140.

Wai, C. (2008). Denial syndrome must end. The Star Online, [Online] 14th March. Available at: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/14/election2008/20637966&sec=election2008 [Accessed on 6th November 2008]