I’m at the Parliament House Library for the year, as the (drumroll) 2010 Parliamentary Fellow. My research project deals with the use of “new media” by federal political players in this election year. Those players, at this stage, are MPs and the press gallery.
To this end I have joined Twitter at http://twitter.com/mumbletwits. (Just ‘mumble’ wasn’t available.) Mainly as an observer at this stage, but once I have the hang of it I’ll be judiciously tweeting.
I’ll still be Mumbling here ‘n stuff like that, but will be keeping two hats apart.
Research topic still formulating, hope to soon have a website devoted to it up soon. At the end is a published monograph.
Initial thoughts: with both journos and pollies on a learning curve, Twitter holds potential pitfalls for both, in particular with unguarded, un-thought through comments. Politicians might put their foot in it; journalists might reveal their ignorance and/or bias.
And obviously lots more besides. It is a ripper of a topic.
Mumble,
Joe Hockey has been using Twitter to feed various journalists (Latika Bourke, Caroline Ovrington) the line that Rudd was given Good News Week questions in advance of the recording:
http://twitter.com/joehockey
I saw that today and took note. Thanks, I’m interested in knowing about stuff like that.
(I had assumed everyone on that show is fed answers. It is rehearsed.)
Yes and now inquiring minds are urging her on to find out *did he get special treatment*
It’s so funny @joehockey has gone ‘dark’ and the Media ppl+(more then one) in question have been getting slammed all over the place.
Peter, the latest Spectator (cover date 20 Feb) has a droll ‘Liddle Britain’ column on political twittering. Essentially how it could liberate candidates to speak (or blurt) their minds. Except it notes that Tory HQ has already insisted that all tweets be pre-approved!