Has Twitter given us a better communications network for direct communication to politicians, journalists and people of influence? My answer is yes based on my experience at my account but here's my credentials first.
I thought when I joined Dailykos that my id number of 19K+ meant that I was the new kid on the block and had missed the party. For 2003 and early 2004 I had been buried in the Wes Clark to the extent I didn't rehab after two heart attacks during the campaign. After his campaign ended I started The Political Dogfight to help fight the 2004 fight but sitting down this time. And I hadn't paid much attention to DK. Well, obviously the progressive community has exploded.
[more and Twitters influence on me...]
I managed to keep up my own Political Dogfight blog active and attracted a following. In 2005 I augmented it with a podcast blog, The Insurgent Political Campaign. It focused on my thoughts and tactics on how to organize a district prior to even having a candidate. It got some good attention as well and seems to have changed a few strategies-tactics. It does need a complete revision at this point. Many of it's points are valid but the world has changed. After that I founded Political Interviews. [It is down for reworking.]
Now I am publishing new content news stories, interviews and commentary at Polcampaign. I hope many take a look from time to time. Now on to Twitter....
I was also late to the Twitter game. Yet in the few months,and not many of them, I've been able to follow news more closely and have more direct contact with both politicians and journalists than I ever did as a 'blogger'...a term now used in disrepute in many circles. It shouldn't be but it is...
I follow about 170 people over 3/4's of them journalists (#journotwits) and politicians (#politwits)and I have about the some following me. Some of each have really learned how to use that 140 character medium. Senator Claire McCaskell is one that really uses it well on a personal and professional level. Barbara Boxer is becoming more active. Now many others are jumping in. It's hard to keep up with them.
One of the most effective ways to find people you want to follow is to examine the people someone else is following. I use the technique all the time. When I follow someone I like, I want to see who they are following.
I have the best of the people I follow sent to my phone where I can make a quick reply if I think necessary. Want to talk with Joe Scarborough? Sign up. What to get an idea to Senator Dodd? Sign up. He's becoming more directly active and I believe is using it himself and reading his responses. And the list goes on.
I would ask the DK community that are interested to follow me at Twitter/com/stuart_oneill There is a ratings system for Twitter and by that system my Twit account is rated at 93/100 and is one of the "Wests Coast Elite". Get an account and Follow me then get into who I follow and you'll find a lot of good sources.
Will this ever replace the good solid blog? Of course not. Real long form news and commentary has to be a helluva lot more than 140 characters. I will be keeping Polcampaign busy, leaving both of the others up and Twittering my head off trying to get behind the scenes.
Those to don't like this post. Fine. Bye.
Yet I think this, Twitter, is one part of the new social network that can directly access people we want to influence. That's what we really want don't we?