Can Blogs Revolutionize Progressive Politics

“Can Blogs Revolutionize Progressive Politics?”

  1. Why do the Democratic leaders embrace blogging as a potential political communication considering the traditional media landscape in politics?
           

- Democratic leaders embrace blogging as a potential political communication because it allows them to release their campaign ideas in a much easier way. This is also useful because they can connect with younger demographics by using social media websites.

2. Blogging encourages a participatory culture. In what way does the participatory culture in blogging expand digital media convergence?

- Blogging encourages digital media convergence because when someone writes on a subject, anyone who views it can post his or her thoughts on the matter. Blogs can be shared around the world and are connected with friends and family. Blogs can be passed from one person to another, and can be accessed virtually anywhere.

3. In the article, the author says: “The ability of the Internet to erase geographical distances can become a structural weakness in elections where district lines and eligibility are key.” How can blogging counter this weakness in the process of turning the net roots to grassroots?
           

-Because of the ability to access information so easily, it is much more of a regular everyday feel opposed to being complicated. Bloggers create stories so the readers have an emotional feel and are impacted by the topic. This turns net roots into grass roots because you can simply subscribe to someone’s blog and receive notifications every time they post a new story. By doing this, you can stay connected with certain blogs that interest you. This can be compared to when you subscribe to a magazine or newspaper. You subscribe because you are interested in the news or stories you are receiving from the author.
 

4. The author spends the second half of the article discussing the lack of diversity in current blogosphere dominated by elite bloggers. Please use the concept of digital convergence to explain how blogs can become the real bearer of freedom, democracy, egalitarianism, and participation in the new media communication?
            

-Blogs can become a huge bearer because absolutely anyone has access to a computer, can share the information they have in their thoughts. Anyone can make comments on the blogs containing their own thoughts as well. It can turn into an endless debate or conversation over a story. If you are trying to receive opinions, a blog is the perfect place. Blogs are a perfect outlet for digital media convergence because of its accessible and astounding opportunities.