Echo: Twitter, Politics and Movements

By John C Abell
July 1, 2009 |
11:58 am |
Categories: Mobile Internet, Social Media

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by friend and fellow Online News Association International Committee member Rashunda Tramble for a podcast on the impact social media is having, has had and might have on politics and governing.

We talked about the U.S. — how President Obama has shifted from social media to the traditional bully pulpit tools — and how Twitter has played a role in pushback in Iran and Moldava.

On the top-level question, my point of view is that the remarkably frictionless (and easily surreptitious) means of communication that is Twitter provides to activists new opportunities to disrupt the established order, be they legitimate or not. And that this doesn't necessarily happen overnight.

Tramble, aka the New Media Diva, is the managing editor of Security Watch, the daily online news magazine of the International Relations and Security Network (ISN).

Also, this is neither here nor there, but marvel at the audio quality: this was a Skype-to-Skype call, and I was using the Skype app on my iPhone. Had to share.

Podcast: A Web of Voices (International Relations and Security Network