This document provides an overview of social media tools that could be used for election administration. It discusses how the media landscape is changing with declines in newspapers and rise of tools like blogs, podcasts, RSS, social networking sites, wikis, YouTube and Twitter. The document outlines these tools and provides examples of how the Mayo Clinic has used social media. It suggests that election administrators could use blogs for voter education and updates, Twitter for mini-updates and feedback, and YouTube for training videos. The overall cost to implement these tools is estimated at $300.
1. Investigating and Applying
Social Media Tools in
Election Administration
Lee Aase
Chancellor, Social Media University, Global
May 29, 2009
2. About Lee Aase
Political Science, B.S.
14 Years in Politics and
Government at all levels
Campaigns and Government Offices
Congress
Minnesota Senate
Ramsey (MN) County
3. Answering Your Questions
Why should I care about
social media?
What are social media?
Should we get engaged?
How can I get started?
4. Agenda
Surveying the changing media landscape
Overview of Tools
The MacGyver Mindset
Mayo Clinic as a Case Study
Election Impact of Social Media
“MacGyver” Suggestions for Election
Adminstrators
5.
6. Changing Media
Landscape
Massive newspaper
layoffs/buyouts
Star Tribune
Pioneer Press
Los Angeles Times
11. Chicago Tribune Values
2000: Buys LA Times
for $8 billion
2007: Sam Zell buys
Tribune (with Times)
for $8.2 billion
12. Media Values
Wall Street Journal = $5
billion
Chicago Tribune = $8 billion
Star Tribune = $0.53 billion
Total for all 3 < Facebook
($240 million for 1.6 percent)
13. Facebook Demographics
More than 200 million active users
More than half visit site daily
More than 2/3 outside of college
Over 35 fastest-growing demographic
15. Intro to Blogs
Just an easy-to-publish Web site that
allows comments
Blogs in Plain English, Lee LeFever,
Common Craft
16. RSS = Really Simple
Syndication
Lets you easily track dozens
of blogs or other web sites
Truly opt-in “email”
RSS “baked in” IE7, Safari
Google Reader, Newsgator,
Attensa are free options
17. Podcasts
TiVo for Audio (and now video)
Don’t need an iPod
Series of segments to which
you can subscribe via RSS
iTunes free for PC or Mac
34. Getting Started with
Blogging
Personal blog since July ’06
Asked to Develop Public Affairs
Department blog in Dec. ’06
How do you do it without IT
Support?
45. Key Tool: Flip Video Camera
Highly Affordable
Recording interviews (with tripod) improves
existing processes
Provides potential blog resources
Audio of full interview
Video excerpts
Limited group of video editors to ease adoption,
ensure quality
47. A Taste of Tweetcamp
Understanding the Twitter
Phenomenon
Exploring Applications
48. Twitter vs. Facebook
Facebook is primarily for
strengthening existing connections
(or re-establishing former ones.)
For your friends.
Twitter enables you to connect
with people who have common
interests. For the friends you
don’t know yet.
49. Twitter vs. Blogs
Twitter is a micro-blogging platform.
Limited length reduces writer’s/artist’s block
Blogs provide opportunity for more
thoughtful reflection and development
Tweeting = great way to take notes on a
live event
Blog = platform for review/synthesis
Twitter = great for spreading word about
posts
50. 5 Reasons Twitter is
Better than Email
“Brevity is the soul of wit” - and of Twitter
No expectation to read and respond to everything
Conversations open and discoverable
Direct messages can reach recipients with priority
Blocking or unfollowing punishes abuses
51. More Reasons to Care
Twitter traffic grew 33 percent in 1 month
Whether Twitter remains the “hot” platform
or not, this type of communication tool will
grow in importance
52. Twitter Hashtags
Enable easy gathering, especially around an event,
such as:
#journchat
#hcsm
#mhsfellows
#LeeAaseIsReallyWonderful - unused to date
Follow in search.twitter.com - try searching for
#tweetcamp2 now! Or log into room on
Tweetchat.com
Create a hashtag simply by using it in a tweet
53. Twitter Etiquette
Generally follow your followers
Following not = endorsement
Auto d to new followers = Not Cool
“Protecting” updates also = Not Cool
Replying (@) = Cool
Re-Tweet (RT) to credit sources, help followers
find interesting tweeters also = Cool
Don’t conceal work affiliation
58. Case Study #2: Tweetup
in Baltimore
Me: Are you based in Baltimore?
Me: I’m going to be there Tuesday for this conference.
(asae.center.or/hcc) on a panel RU available late pm?
Me: I’m flying out Tues at 6:45 p.m. Any avail in the later
afternoon? I think my panel is done about 2:30
60. Case Study #4:
Contributing to Virality
Alerted to interesting video of older couple
playing piano in Gonda atrium.
Embedded in Sharing Mayo Clinic, posted to
Mayo Clinic Facebook page, and Tweeted
1,005 views in six months up to 4/7/09.
69. “Your kids are not
smarter than you are.
They’re just not afraid
to look dumb.”
-- Lee Aase, Chancellor, Social
Media University, Global (SMUG)
70. How can you practically use
social media for Election
Administration?
Blog for voter education, in-depth news
Twitter for:
Alerting followers to blog posts
Mini-updates, reporting precinct results
Conversations/Feedback
YouTube - incorporate with blog for election judge
training videos, curriculum
71. Total Cost for Blog,
Twitter, Facebook,
YouTube and Camera:
$300.00
72. Immediate Application
Get a FREE RSS reader, subscribe to feeds
Get iTunes (FREE), subscribe to podcasts
Start a FREE personal blog
Open a FREE YouTube account and upload a video
Open a FREE profile on Facebook and “friend” me
Open a Twitter account and “follow” me
73. Your SMUG Example
Origins in “12-Step Program” and Facebook 101
seminar
Social media for lifelong learners
Free Tuition (Room & Board not incl.)
Google Lee Aase or SMUG U to audit classes,
apply for admission
Established Jan. 24, 2008
social-media-university-global.org