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Authors, sign in!In an outstanding example of the use of online technology and social media, the Lawrence Journal World did a twitter-view with Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew about the way his office is using social media as a way to do better outreach.
Last week I emphasized the need for accessibility through technology for the Kansas State House and Senate, but the Douglas County Clerk was well on his way of advocating for greater outreach through social media as early as last year when he first began tweeting.
Now the, somewhat young, elected official is using the new world of technology in attempts to get more young people in Lawrence (home of the University of Kansas) to vote in the upcoming city elections.
Recently, he and his staff members have started posting messages on Twitter reminding Douglas County voters that advance voting was open this week at the courthouse, 1100 Mass.I know of no previous twitter-views but I have to say this must be one of the first. Shew goes further to talk about his outreach through a full on interview back and forth between the LJWorld and Shew. Most Notable:“Social media seems to be able to spread messages quickly across multiple domains,” Shew said.
His office also has been looking at ways to expand its communication reach, especially when his budget is limited.
“Governments have to start thinking outside the bricks and mortar of the courthouse to create contact points in the new information age,” he said.
"@dgcokselections: It is an additional tool for outreach, especially for mobilization of new generations of voters who communicate via social media.I applaud any elected official who is using new technologies to reach out to young people, indeed all constituents, in their district. It does us all a disservice when we can't connect with our elected members, but with further outreach on sites like Twitter, MySpace, and Facebook we all have a stronger connection to government. In the end it will grow civic engagement and hopefully civic pride.@dgcokselections: It has been gradual as we test which venues are appropriate. Using Twitter to share info that is broadcast in more traditional methods.
@dgcokselections: We are really interested in developing a full scale approach by the 2010 elections when social media will have expanded even more.
@dgcokselections: This has been in conjunction with our expanded use of the Web site to get information out to the public like online sample ballots."
Published April 3, 2009 by Sarah Burris |
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Campaigns
Grassroots Organizing
New Media
Online Organizing
Politics
Social Networking
