On January 29, 2009, GMU and two other schools held a video conference with Jose Antonio Vargas, political reporter. He talked to our class about the latest election, and how politicians are using new media to promote themselves.

Vargas said of using new media in a politician's campaign, "it's about inviting people into the process". Before the internet became widespread, it was difficult to have a national movement. But the internet allows these people, ready and eager to spread what they believe in, a platform to reach people beyond a local level, regardless of where they live. The internet has, as Vargas said, "lowered the barrier for participation" by allowing anyone from anywhere to participate.

Another thing good about new media is the speed in which information is sent out. Vargas mentioned that the most accurate web page on Barack Obama is Wikipedia's article. Since it can be edited by anyone, anytime, the latest information can be added to Wikipedia in a flash. This quickness also gives the politicianthe chance to respond to a current problem instantly. If a problem suddenly develops, the politicians can use emails or their sites to detail what they have planned to fix it. In addition, the people can respond directly to the politician, letting their voice and opinion get heard.

Vargas mentioned that in the latest Presidential Election, Obama used new media to his advantage, using e-mails and his Blackberry to send his messages and keep on top of things. His opponent, John McCain, never attempted to. Not only is it good convenience-wise, but new media can reflect very well on a candidate. It gives the image that they are well-learned enough to know the wave of the future. Not using it could make a politician seem out of touch with the times, and if they are out of touch with the times, how could they possibly respond to today's issues?

The world is continually changing; new technology being developed every day. By keeping up on the latest technology and learning what people are using these days, a politician can easily get his messages across to the people most likely to see it.