How to use the web to save democracy! (SK did it yesterday!)

HERE is what we need to do - South Korea just kicked out the conservatives and we can too!!

I read the blog of a New Media consultant pretty regularly. He's been posting a lot about citizen journalism in South Korea. They just had an election that kicked out the conservatives in a landslide and they did it largely with internet stuff influencing voters!!!

There are so many smart people here on DU. How can we replicate this model??

Here is part of the blog entry:

Dick Cheney's visit to South Korea today comes amidst a huge political change taking place within our ally. The liberal Uri Party swept into power today in the National Assembly elections, ending 44 years of conservative rule in the country. What you'll likely NOT read is that this was accomplished largely through the steady efforts of a New Media entity that fought the conservative press in South Korea. OhmyNews! is an Internet-based media company that took on the giants and won in its bid for
influence. In so doing, it has involved young people in the political process in record numbers and turned the whole culture on its ear. It's a wake-up call for traditional media everywhere.


He also has posted a larger piece today about how they did it:

http://donatacom.com/papers/pomo22.htm

I'd love to get your take on this. :hi:

and it will be forums like DU that tip the balance

:toast:

is very interesting -- they use citizen reporters in a way sort of like we DUers operate, only more formally.

We have to have some marketing and coding geniuses around here -- how can we replicate it??

This is sooooo exciting to me -- a major ally of ours has booted out their conservatives with overwhelming percentages. :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

and for that we need people to care and be informed. There is too much apathy and ignorance in this country.

If more people would care about what is going on in our country and make an effort to stay informed and vote, then assholes like Bush would not have a snowball's chance in hell.

I'm not explaining it well enough -- just read the essay (sorry) -- but they used the internet, something that people DO care about (if time spent on it is evidence of caring) to get people to care enough to get active.

<>

http://www.blackboxvoting.org

http://babelfish.altavista.com
choose Korean to English
enter http://ohmynews.com

Usually voting percentages run in the 20-30% range. Today voter participation was close to 60% with the younger voters making the big difference.

MTV is running a GOTV campaign and some of the rap singers are joining the bandwagon. BushCo is sending his "Reggie" van out trying to register young voters.

I see the biggest problem being that the campaign platform has nothing to entice young voters.

mentions the way that the libs in SK used technology -- mostly internet, but also cell phones, ring tones, and participation to get young people jazzed.

I was not a Deaniac, but I respect he way he got people involved. I wish I had the money and/or the funds to replicate the OhMyNews citizen journalism model here.

This concept, which I've read about for the first time here, is really exciting and the perfect form of journalism for Gen Y-ers, born 1980 and before. It could also be a powerful force, as it is in South Korea. Talk about the idea, and think about possibilities -- a connection to MoveOn? a way for Ted Turner to invest and make journalistic history again? a project for a Journalism School looking to pioneer a journalism for the future? a venture a Silicon-Valley type might be interested in helping start? Your enthusiasm alone might provide the spark needed to bring this model to the U.S.!

would need to be found.

:shrug:

at a school that would probably not be a good place to start this project, but she suggests that a college or university would be a good place to start, and doesn't see where a great deal of money would be needed. Most schools fund experimental projects that involve students (often a few thousand dollars), and students, if interested, can work for free. If the project got started, some way would have to be found to get the word out, and involve others. Just a thought --

I'm going to e-mail some Communications departments at liberal schools today!! :hi:

I've been so busy that I didn't connect the Cheney visit and the election results. Am I correct in my understanding that yet another nation has revolted against conservatism?

What makes me the happiest is that it was people like us (I may be wrong, but I see DUers as 20 or 30 somethings who are internet-savvy for the most part) who did it!!

one problem in replicating the SK model that I can see is that SK is more wired than the US. I believe that they are more likely to be web savvy that the average American.

The second, more complicated issue is the nature of US society compared to SK. In areas like religious, ethnic, nationalist, linguistic preferences, the US is more complex. The perfect example of a country at the extreme of differentiation amongst its people is India. Here, 400 languages and dialects are spoken. How does one reach the people with a message?

Having said that, I think its just a metter of time. The web is the only possible salvation of democracy. And we might be further along than many of us would believe. Regardless, we will keep fighting. South Korea is another encouraging sign.

p.s. - I am enjoying your card very much. :hi:

I'm glad!! :hi:

:kick:

I am sooooooooo happy for South Korea!! :D

:kick:

His web organization and grassroots fund raising skills were incredible.

This is vitally important in terms of grassroots change in America, promoting small donation contributions to get off the tit of corporate/wealthy donations and finally to make an end-run around the whore media.