presentation to chinese propagandists
DESCRIPTION
Presentation to propagandists from the Chinese Communist Party and Ministry of InformationTRANSCRIPT
UK Political Blogging
Paul Staines
University of WestminsterJune 17, 2011
Tell you about the origins of my blog
Give you my take on contemporary
UK political reporting
My thoughts on the relevance of blogging to mainstream
“newsmaking”
20s think-tanker, foreign affairs lobbyist 30s worked in City, Broker, Trader, Bonds
then Technology stocks Lived in Hong Kong and Tokyo
2003 Got married. 2004 Became a political blogger.
2006 Set up digital advertising agency
Guido Fawkes or Guy Fawkes is a very strong brand name
Most famous “anti-politics” name We celebrate Guy Fawkes’ day every
5 November with fireworks. Anti-hero. Now anti-politicians hero.
Mar
-05
May
-05
Jul-0
5
Sep-0
5
Nov-0
5
Jan-
06
Mar
-06
May
-06
Jul-0
6
Sep-0
6
Nov-0
6
Jan-
07
Mar
-07
May
-07
Jul-0
7
Sep-0
7
Nov-0
7
Jan-
08
Mar
-08
May
-08
Jul-0
8
Sep-0
8
Nov-0
8
Jan-
09
Mar
-09
May
-09
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
3,500,000
Page Loads
Unique Visitors
September 2004 Total monthly hits 600 September 2005 Total monthly hits 27,000 May 2009 3,600,000 hits
Mar
-05
May
-05
Jul-0
5
Sep-0
5
Nov-0
5
Jan-
06
Mar
-06
May
-06
Jul-0
6
Sep-0
6
Nov-0
6
Jan-
07
Mar
-07
May
-07
Jul-0
7
Sep-0
7
Nov-0
7
Jan-
08
Mar
-08
May
-08
Jul-0
8
Sep-0
8
Nov-0
8
Jan-
09
Mar
-09
May
-09
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
3,500,000
Page Loads
Unique Visitors
May 2009
Guido’s blog is political scandal central Unlike the BBC no pretence to
objectivity Aimed at journalists, Westminster
insiders (“the Village” or “the beltway”), think tank wonks, politicians,
Lobby journalists, activists, spin doctors, SpAds & broadcasters
During stressful periods it aims to be a crucial point of information for political
activists
Governing Labour Party Lost 5% in Polls following week
Conservative Party broke 40% level It was a “game-changer”
Destroyed image of PM Gordon Brown as politician with a “moral compass” Proved bloggers could get stories from within heart of Downing Street
Influence of Guido is widespread Gordon Brown used to rage about
stories My phone call is not welcome, but is
taken. As powerful as a newspaper. Populist.
Feared, not liked. We are never on message, even
though we are sympathetic to Conservative Party
(I’m more radical right-wing, Thatcherite.)
Thoughts on the business
of news and blogging.
‘News cycles’ are being replaced by ‘news streams’ just as old printed media are being replaced by news brands.
Guido’s blog is a viable business, with staff
Blogging plus traditional media pays enough
Guido sells stories to the tabloids
"How Markets and Technology Empower Ordinary People to Beat Big Media, Big Government, and Other Goliaths", by Glenn Reynolds. This is the 21st century, the days of media conglomerates making the news in a top-down Fordist fashion are over. Boutique news sources will proliferate.
The "news" is no longer what the news anchor says it is, the news is whatever is disseminated to a wide audience, Big Media is going to be disintermediated when it falls down because technology has drastically reduced the cost of dissemination. Failing to hold our political class to account was a terrible failing of Big Media in Britain.
Blogs have changed the media for good in that sense.
Platform for wannabee journalists, political malcontents, campaigners
That is a feature not a bug
Unaccountable and unedited: Accountable to readers
US has more paid bloggers than lawyers
Huffington Post has more readers than New York Times
Twitter is replacing the newswires
Relevance to China:
Vaclav Havel – live in truth Pluralism strengthens society
Uncovering corruption at grassroots
Critical feedback mechanism Gives a voice to voiceless
Stop jailing dissident voices.
My fee for this talk is being donated to