Back in 2008, Barack Obama’s team has developed a free to use application for the iPhone. It serves as a political tool aiming to get votes in conjunction with the election. Not only did Obama use the mainstream print and broadcast media for his campaign, he fully utilized the function and benefit of the new media.
The application allows people to research Obama’s position, campaign videos and news updates (Hansell 2008). According to Obama, this tool is designed to help and encourage the people to become more directly involved in the campaign in order to make a change to the country (Shiels 2008).
The features include:-
- Call Friends: An option to help organize contacts by battleground states. The
- Call Stats: This allows the user to check on the total number of Obama ’08 Call Friends nationwide and also compare the number of calls with other users.
- Get involved: By participating and show support to the candidate.
- Receive Updates: Users will get the latest updates and announcements through text messages as well as email.
- News: National and local campaign news on full coverage for the users to access.
- Media: Users are able to browse and view the photos and videos of the election campaign.
- Issues: Get to know more facts about Barack Obama plans for issues that
Obama announced his choice for Joe Biden to run for vice-president post via text message. This act of his has made headlines thus proved that he’s a fan of advanced technology in campaign (Shiels 2008). No doubt that this application has actually helped Obama to boost his election campaign. At the end of the day he won the election and became the President of America.
The candidates have slowly adapting new media to promote and encourage the people to participate and make a change. From web to Youtube to social networking sites like Facebook, these candidates have certainly raised their profiles using the new media.
References
Hansell, S 2008, ‘It’s Obama on the iPhone’, The New York Times, viewed 18 November 2009, < http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/02/its-obama-on-the-iphone/>
Shiels, M 2008, ‘Obama Uses iPhone to Win Support’, British Broadcasting Corporation, viewed 18 November 2009, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7649753.stm>
Turner, J 2008, ‘Obama Launches iPhone App, Makes Everyone A Campaign Worker’, Jack & Jill Politics, viewed 18 November 2009, <http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/10/obama-launches-iphone-app-makes-everyone-a-campaign-worker/>
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