Blog Post 9

Blog Post 9

            The political campaign was an interesting workshop assignment.  The cause: the allowance of electronics in all college classes, a current matter that is of great interest and relevancy to local college students.  Party name: The Screensaver Party, a name that was both relevant to the subject we were advocating and created a heroic air to our cause.

            In developing the propaganda campaign, media channels were narrowed to social media.  It was felt that that would be the most effective and influential method in getting the party’s cause across.  According to “Media and Political Campaign Ads,” the Internet, “…may be the most powerful marketing tool in modern society. Through the Internet, candidates and other leaders can reach most of the country's population in just a few hours.” (2011, para. 2).  As such, online social media provides almost global access and allows flexibility in how the cause is presented, be it through images, videos, audio, etc.  We decided that our party would benefit from first creating various accounts, ranging from Facebook to Twitter to YouTube.  The next step in our campaign would be to recruit viewers/followers, which could be accomplished by providing informational media and finding groups that shared the same interests.  Then, we would spread our message by creating viral images, hashtags, videos, and memes that would promote out party’s cause.  Our message would highlight modern technology and progression, as well as the positive benefits on the environment.  After our social media campaign gained momentum, we would then seek other media such as news channels, print, and television time slots to further our cause and reach out to a greater range of demographics.

            Memes were a key part of our campaign as it was an inexpensive yet effective way of sharing our message.  It incorporated pop culture and humor into our message, making informational, educational, and entertaining.  Such iconic imagery also makes the campaign feel modern and familiar.  This adds to the perception people would have of our party.

            Overall, our political campaign could have a wide influential range with minimal resources.  Perhaps with more time and resources, we could further enhance and fine tune our campaign to make it even more accessible and powerful.

Link to Campaign Slideshow

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1bBoxXN6EgDFuIsu7hWJ_kLHeCqONwb1pQhh1IpIInJc/edit?usp=sharing

References

Media and Political Campaign Ads. (2011). In Gale Student Resources in Context.

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