Politics and the Internet

The first media president in the United States was Teddy Roosevelt. He was the first President to use the power of the media to appeal directly to the American people. He understood that his forceful personality, his rambunctious family, and his many opinions made good copy for the press. He also knew that the media was a good way for him to reach out to the people, bypassing political parties and political machines. He used the media as a "bully pulpit" to influence public opinion.

That was in 1901. A century later, Barack Obama takes the seat and the media is his medium of his reach to the people not only in the United States, but all across the globe.

With modern technology, the boundaries of media are limitless as the Internet takes on a vital role that has been integrated into the lives of many, especially the lives of those who have the choice to vote in elections. Obama not only reach out to the people through online campaigns and banner ads, but he even pays a visit to local talkshows, making himself out to be a pretty laid back individual. People see him as not just their leader, a political figure, in fact he has become more of a celebrity than any other presidents before him. Despite the 'stardom', his willingness to be just himself and hang loose has bridge any form of formalities as people would see him as an equal, one of them, and feel even more comfortable with him around and as the president.

Here's a video of him on The Ellen Degeneres Show:


However, the Internet reaches out only to those who utilize it, even though a vast number of people do, these numbers are greater only in the younger generation. So to extend to the mass population, I guess President Obama has to come out with new strategies =)