New media now a crucial tool for elections
5 Nov 2008 
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As everyone is very much aware by now, Barack Obama is now President-elect of the United States. Watching the BBC and CNN today, all the pundits are declaring this landslide victory a historic moment for Americans. Obama being the first African-American president by itself is a sure signal of change in the American political landscape. The high turnout of voters, especially among the youth, is also a very remarkable event.
But what is a truly significant fact for me is that new media is now globally recognized as a major force. Bloggers and new media practitioners have known this as an inevitability for some time now. But, with the global tri-media networks reporting about new media as part of Obama’s campaign arsenal, everyone who’s been watching the major networks is now aware of blogging and bloggers as key players in the world of information.
As the US wraps up their elections, we are now beginning preparations for Elections 2010. In the Philippines, we see a number of politicians who have already recognized the power of the blog. In Davao City, Councilor Peter Laviña holds the distinction of being the first elected official to blog. Now, there are a few more city councilors who have embraced the practice. In other key cities of the country as well, we see more and more government officials taking up blogging.
Just to caution politicians who’ve found themselves online: as Internet-based tools may be used to further election campaigns, they are also being used by citizens to monitor and to report on such activities. That’s exactly the purpose behind RP2010.com.
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Thanks for the words of encouragement! Too bad about that blog of yours — sana mabuhay ulit.
Good luck Blogie for this new blog. Im sure more 2010 blogs would be created in the next few months to follow your lead. My own Liberal President in 2010 blog created last year is now inactive. How the Obama campaign used this new electoral tool is truly amazing. Im sure there would be many Pinoy copycats for the 2010 elections.