Obama brings 'fireside chats' to the Internet
He is the first president-elect to stream radio addresses online.
Published Dec. 2, 2008
In a period of troubled economic times when many point the blame to a lack of transparency in leadership, many Americans are looking for a leader they can click on.
President-elect Barack Obama delivered his first YouTube address to online viewers Nov. 15, another way Democratic leadership has utilized new communications technologies before, during and after the election. As of Dec. 1, the address had received almost a million views on the site.
While former presidents, starting with Ronald Reagan, have been broadcasting addresses to the American public via radio every Saturday, and while archives of these addresses can be found online, Obama is the first president-elect to broadcast via streaming online video.
Change.gov, the president-elect's transition site, broadcasted Obama's Nov. 15 economy-centered address before it was posted on YouTube. The site stated weekly video addresses were to accompany traditional radio broadcasts.
Since then, Obama has posted two more addresses, one Nov. 21 and another Nov. 26. The newest elicited hundreds of text and video comments from viewers evaluating and debating Obama's address.
During the campaign, the Obama team utilized other newer technologies like Facebook and mobile alerts to communicate with supporters.
Nate Kennedy, chairman of the Young Democrats of Missouri College Federation, said these technologies engaged the younger demographic, which gave Obama his edge in the campaign.
"I think not using it alienates the younger voters," Kennedy said. "The campaign still communicated through some of the older methods, but it really connected with the youth."
Democrats were not alone in utilizing new communications technologies during the election.
Jonathan Ratliff, chairman of the MU College Republicans, said the College National Republican Committee used a "social mobilization" site similar to Facebook during the campaign.
The site, called STORM, allows users to create a profile page and communicate with other college Republicans. Ratliff said about 1,800 MU students created an account on STORM.
"During the election I used it every day," Ratliff said. "The Democrats have nothing like that."
Kennedy said the YDMCF used Facebook to help recruit new members and e-mail listservs to communicate with more involved college Democrats.
"STORM sounds kind of exclusive - College Republicans only. Using Facebook is more inclusive and open," Kennedy said.
Ratliff said he was looking forward to seeing what kinds of communication candidates would use in future elections.
"I think Obama waged a very good campaign for the 21st century," Ratliff said. "I'm excited to see what new technologies are used in 2010 and 2012."