I wrote this post about a month ago. It seems more relevant today than ever.
While most of the general populace don't read Red Alert or even know it exists, the opinion-makers certainly do. The site is read by journalists, political commentators and bloggers.
Recent efforts by some on the site have been (to put it diplomatically) unhelpful.
Am I (still) right? Should the plug be pulled?
Friday, September 23, 2011
8 comments:
I welcome comments, but I ask commenters to follow a few simple rules:
1. I delete anonymous comments. Please use either a name or moniker. I am not asking anyone to reveal their secret identity. Just don't call yourself "Anonymous".
2. Please don't abuse or defame others.
3. Moronic or nonsensical comments may be deleted.
4. I don't often exercise the heavy hand of censorship, but I do reserve the right to delete any comment I don't like, for any reason.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Agreed with you then, agree with you now. There are some MPs who understand the medium and make it work for them, and others who in painfully obvious ways do not. It would be better to encourage those who are good at it to strike out on their own with their own online vehicles.
ReplyDeleteThere is an old saw about how those who love the law and sausages should not see either one being made. Something similar applies to political activism. It's necessary and the results can be fantastic, but exposing too much of the detail can put people off the end product.
"Unhelpful"? IF; that's diplomacy on steroids!
ReplyDeleteBut Mallard has certainly made a very strong case for you today.
No the plug shouldn't be pulled, it should be fine tuned. Instead Labour should hire someone who knows a few things about blogs and social media, and use twitter a bit more. And send some decent media releases out in a timely manner, too.
ReplyDeleteThe Greens seem to manage their blog without too much trouble.
ReplyDeleteI see it as more confirming what everyone knows already. And with such a strategist you are likely to have issues, blog or no blog...
Labour should keep Red Alert but just have posts by the more stupid or junior MPs held until approved by say the Campaign Manager, to check they are okay.
ReplyDeleteOf course for that to work you need a different campaign manager.
As for using someone who knows a few things about blogs and social media..I thought that was what Clare Curran was for!!
ReplyDeleteThe site is read by journalists, political commentators and bloggers . . .
ReplyDelete. . . drawn like flies to bad meat by the near-certainty that someone will have made a prize arse of themselves.
Rather than pull the plug, I recommend a better filter.
ReplyDelete