Social Media's Impact on Charlotte Politics

Charlotte City Councilman Warren Cooksey hosted an insightful community conversation this morning about social media’s impact on Charlotte politics. Jenifer Daniels (a.k.a. @TheFriendRaiser), who advised City Councilman-elect David Howard’s campaign, was his guest speaker.

Let’s keep this important conversation going. Here are seven more questions about social media’s impact on local government to spur dialogue. Won’t you please weigh in?

Question #1:

Let’s talk about the media: How are tools like Twitter changing news coverage of Charlotte politics, and what effect, if any, has that had on the democratic process?

Question #2:

When you discuss the Charlotte social media “scene,” many of the same names come up again and again. To what extent have we created a new ruling elite and – intentionally or unintentionally – marginalized other voices?

Question #3:

Since Twitter unveiled its new Lists feature, the largest, most comprehensive list of Charlotte area Twitter users I’ve found has fewer than 500 users listed. Surely there are more Twitter users in Charlotte – even the Observer’s online Twitter directory for Charlotte lists only 700 members – but in a mayoral race that had over 106,000 voters, do we over-estimate Twitter’s impact?

Question #4:

Beyond Twitter and Facebook…what other social media channels are having the most significant impact on local government, from elections to civic involvement to actual governance?

Question #5:

In what ways have candidates and elected officials had to adapt and adjust due to the influence of social media?

Question #6:

2008 and 2009 saw dramatic changes in the news industry. Print, radio and TV channels saw SIGNIFICANT staff cuts. The latest in a series of buyouts at The Observer prompted many Tweets that asked “Does anybody still work at The Observer?” To say the news business has endured a financial crisis and an identity crisis would be an understatement. Do the local press still possess the manpower and will power to adequately cover all areas of local government? If not, how will that role be filled, and what role will social media play?

Question #7:

There is a large segment of this community for whom Facebook, Twitter, etc. are overwhelming. Some have never heard the term “social media” before today. Many are not interested in learning yet another new technology. With respect to local government and social media, is this a case of “the train’s leaving the station, and you better be on board?” How do we ensure government is still accessible to those who prefer to interact “the old-fashioned way.”

  • RichTucker

    Great Post.

    All good questions. I think Twitter's impact is overestimated most of the time. It has been well hyped by all of us who use it. But I think that the value of Twitter is much larger than the 700 Charlotte Users in a directory. Main-stream “old” media pays a lot of attention to it. So, as a candidate who is using Twitter well it can lead to press about certain tweets and the fact that they are a forward thinking Politician utilizing new tools to engage in conversation with the voters.

    Just the fact that a Politician is engaging in open conversation on Twitter makes them appear more trust worthy, transparent, and accessible. All Traits that I look for in an elected Leader. I also find that the users of Twitter are early adopters who are influential offline. That 700 number is small, but a lot of those 700 are content creators on blogs, videos, flickr, Radio, etc.

    For Politician looking to go from a Local Level, to a State or National level then Social Media is the best way to get your “brand” and message out beyond your current elected level.

    Do you think it is OK for your Elected City Officials to be growing their followers at a state or national level?

    Rich Tucker

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  • RichTucker

    Great Post.

    All good questions. I think Twitter's impact is overestimated most of the time. It has been well hyped by all of us who use it. But I think that the value of Twitter is much larger than the 700 Charlotte Users in a directory. Main-stream “old” media pays a lot of attention to it. So, as a candidate who is using Twitter well it can lead to press about certain tweets and the fact that they are a forward thinking Politician utilizing new tools to engage in conversation with the voters.

    Just the fact that a Politician is engaging in open conversation on Twitter makes them appear more trust worthy, transparent, and accessible. All Traits that I look for in an elected Leader. I also find that the users of Twitter are early adopters who are influential offline. That 700 number is small, but a lot of those 700 are content creators on blogs, videos, flickr, Radio, etc.

    For Politician looking to go from a Local Level, to a State or National level then Social Media is the best way to get your “brand” and message out beyond your current elected level.

    Do you think it is OK for your Elected City Officials to be growing their followers at a state or national level?

    Rich Tucker

  • RichTucker

    Great Post.

    All good questions. I think Twitter's impact is overestimated most of the time. It has been well hyped by all of us who use it. But I think that the value of Twitter is much larger than the 700 Charlotte Users in a directory. Main-stream “old” media pays a lot of attention to it. So, as a candidate who is using Twitter well it can lead to press about certain tweets and the fact that they are a forward thinking Politician utilizing new tools to engage in conversation with the voters.

    Just the fact that a Politician is engaging in open conversation on Twitter makes them appear more trust worthy, transparent, and accessible. All Traits that I look for in an elected Leader. I also find that the users of Twitter are early adopters who are influential offline. That 700 number is small, but a lot of those 700 are content creators on blogs, videos, flickr, Radio, etc.

    For Politician looking to go from a Local Level, to a State or National level then Social Media is the best way to get your “brand” and message out beyond your current elected level.

    Do you think it is OK for your Elected City Officials to be growing their followers at a state or national level?

    Rich Tucker