The Debates on YouTube

Article contributed by
guest blogger Jen Williams; media
consultant and marketing professional.

If there’s ever been a time to stop using the term “new media,” it’s today. When YouTube becomes a format for presidential debates, one can hardly continue to distinguish the Internet from mainstream media.

Long a tool for spreading political propaganda, garnishing financial support for candidates and “getting out the vote,” the Internet has now been elevated to the status of representing democratic government in its truest form. By giving not only a voice, but also a face, to the voting public, it’s allowed them direct access to candidates in an unprecedented way.

I’ll agree with all the news pundits in their assessment that the format of Tuesday’s debate on CNN was really all that was new about it. The candidates themselves didn’t say much that was unexpected or different from anything they’ve been saying recently. Whether they’re simply attempting to establish consistency or they intentionally avoided anything earth-shattering, it was probably a wise move. The format itself is what made Tuesday’s debate historical, and anything that was said will be overshadowed by that fact alone.

The Republicans might benefit, therefore, for getting their shot at the same format second, because the novelty will have worn off a bit and people might actually pay more attention to what they say, as opposed to how the questions are delivered. It will be interesting to see if they, like their Democratic counterparts, receive questions from rock-singing constituents and snowmen.

Regardless, while those of us who work in media might have known that the terms “mainstream” and “new” media became archaic long ago, the rest of the world can no longer deny it.