News Report #1

Obama poised to be first “wired” president
January 15, 2009-01-19
By Brandon Griggs
CNN http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/01/15/obama.internet.president/index.html

In the midst of the information age, it seems everything is digital and easily accessible on several different types of media mediums. With these media barriers broken and nothing in his way, Barak Obama has begun and will continue to communicate directly with the public through a YouTube channel as well as his own personal Facebook page. Yes, president-elect, Barak Obama can be your friend on Facebook as well. Using these mediums and reaching out to Americans directly will skip the traditional media filters that have reported to the public before. The effect of this new approach of using technology to face the public directly will bring Americans closer to Democracy, and into the agenda of Obama.

Obama has already started strong in his online campaign, “friend-ing” more than 1 million MySpace friends and 3.7 million supports on his Facebook page. The online communication is opening up a two-way communication for Americans and their President. This communication is not taken lightly either, a blog can be found at Change.gov, the official site of the president-elect’s transition team, with postings of ideas from people that are rated. These top rated ideas are to be gathered into a briefing book and then given to Obama. This new approach to direct communication is tearing down the walls of media, creating a new transparency, and stronger voice of the people. It is forecasted these technologies will be continued to be used, in addition to new technologies by future presidents.

The initiative of Obama to reach out to the public and inform them directly really appeals to me, and makes me feel more involved and have a voice in my government. I am looking forward to the effect this will have on his office as well as Americans. I hope that people feel more informed and comfortable with the direction due to the availability of information.

-TJ