Because Professor Kathy has encouraged us to “move beyond the blog” this week, I would like to discuss YouTube’s impact on politics and particularly this presidential election. Young voters have responded particularly well to Obama’s campaign, creating powerful and sometimes silly YouTube videos that have permeated not just the web, but also mainstream media.

The first example comes from the artist’s Will.I.Am “Yes We Can Song” that was inspired by Senator Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and especially the speech Obama gave following the New Hampshire primary. Collaborating with a plethora of celebrities, the video overlaps the singing voices with Obama’s speech. Obama’s speech alludes to various historical figures that struggled for freedom like President Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. I believe that this video holds great power (as an avid Obama supporter, this video almost brought me to tears!), receiving over 7 million hits. As we have discussed in class, online media is always accessible, unlike the medium of television, making it more influential. Watch the video yourself. I believe that this form of campaigning would be appealing to young voters since it is emotional, highlighting Obama’s message of hope, “But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope…we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea — Yes. We. Can.”

My second example comes from the “I Got a Crush… On Obama” by Obama Girl YouTube video. Receiving 5 million hits on YouTube, teen Amber Lee Ettinger dances scantily clad, sings and professes her love for Obama. Sure, this seems like an innocent, low-production video, but Obama Girl has been catapulted to fame. She has recently been featured on Fox News and MSNBC. When asked if her videos helped Obama’s campaign, she replied that it “made him more out there… this video was viral… allowed people to discuss campaign”. Obama’s campaign has even contacted her producer. Also, other politicians are seeing the value of her video; Mike Gravel, former Alaska senator, supports these Obama Girl videos by dancing the “Soulja Boy Dance” in the background. Ridiculous? Yes. But powerful. And obviously effective.

How/why do you think these YouTube video producers are considered journalists?

What are other examples of YouTube’s effect on politics?

How do you think YouTube will provide a platform for journalism in the future?

What are other examples of Netvideo’s effect on politics?