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Dean’s blogger

3 comments on Dean’s blogger

Dean’s blogger
: Dean’s blogger, Matthew Gross, who did a spectacular job creating the candidate’s online presence, is back blogging on his own site (which I take as a sign, don’t you?).

He’s repeating the Trippi mantra: broadcast bad, internet good… broadcast bad, internet good… broadcast bad, internet good. I take that as disingenuous, though. Dean spent a fortune on TV. It didn’t take because the candidate didn’t take.

And the internet strategy is really just a variant of a broadcast strategy: a way to get your message out to as many people as possible as efficiently as possible.

Broadcast was cheaper and more efficient and effective than whistle-stop tours. And the internet is cheaper and more efficient (but not yet more effective) than broadcast. But it’s still about getting the candidate’s message out.

It’s not the medium that’s the problem. It’s the message. And no, the medum is not the message. Dean tried to make it the message. But it didn’t work.

: Here’s Gross’ exit interview with the American Prospect.

3 responses to “Dean’s blogger”

  1. Matt Avatar
    Matt

    “And the internet strategy is really just a variant of a broadcast strategy: a way to get your message out to as many people as possible as efficiently as possible.”
    Yes and no. Broadcast: you’re talking to many people with one message. I’m good. The way the internet is supposed to work: you’re talking to a smaller niche of people about issues as they relate to the niche.
    The problem was the Dean campaign got confused and saw the niche as Dean supporters and that’s it. As they say, they were preaching to the choir.

  2. RK Avatar
    RK

    >> 600,000 people shook the very foundation of political power in this country.
    Really? This seems over the top. I am not a political geek, but out here in California, I felt that the election of Arnold seems more momentous, more surprising, and more populist. The Dean phenomenon seems like the craze for boy bands in the late 90’s. In five years, we would wonder what the fuss was about.

  3. hugh macleod Avatar
    hugh macleod

    God, those Deanies seem very terribly impressed with themselves.
    “We taste like honey! Mmmmm…lick, lick.”
    It’s really off-putting, y’know.