I have met Matthew Taylor a couple of times and will admit to quite liking him. He has always struck me as a someone with a sharp brain and a solid grasp of modernity and the need to develop a progressive political agenda. Until now that is.
Speaking at an e-democracy conference earlier this week he said:
"What is the big breakthrough, in terms of politics, on the web in the last few years? It's basically blogs which are, generally speaking, hostile and, generally speaking, basically see their job as every day exposing how venal, stupid, mendacious politicians are."
Generally speaking, that is pretty general. Generally speaking, that is not backed up by experience. Generally speaking, that is just silly.
What is missing from Matthew's analysis is a 'however' clause. For example Matthew could have gone on to say:
"However it is also true to say that blogs provide politicians with a significant opportunity to re-engage with their electorate. Blogs take the media out of the hands of the corporate world and put it into the hands of anyone with a computer and an internet connection. Politicians that seek to engage with their constituents, who are able to get almost instant feedback on local, regional or national issues are much more likely to be in a position to shape future policy in order to help meet the needs and aspirations of those they represent. Blogs offer a simple, efficient and effective means of doing this."
The truth is that there are plenty of blogs that are neither hostile nor driven by a desire to be on-line gossip columns. There are plenty of blogs that are actively entering into a dialogue with readers about how we set about shaping the political landsacpe in a modern age. I would have thought that this was something Matthew would support, indeed I would have thought that it was something he would be actively seeking to influence.
5 comments:
Mike
Couldn't agree more and I'm sure Mathew's father Laurie would scold him for making ill thought out generalizations. Blogs are extremely eclectic and varied and on balance very good for democracy. My own taste-as you might imagine- is not for the gossipy ones but like the ones which try to take political issues seriously and offer thoughtful contributions, with humour added only as a flavour not the main dish.
Quite. Surely there's a very strong case for ENCOURAGING the 'second generation', more thoughtful, blogs which, amongst others, the 'father' of the internet, Tim Berners-Lee, says are on the way?
Perhaps we need to remember that most (not of course all) first generation blogs have been written, so I'm told, by very young people - the only ones thus far who know how to 'turn the computer on'...(I jest a little). As they gain experience of both the web, and more importantly, of life, their approach may well mellow; and, whatever, they will be joined by many more business and other blogs which absolutely must be responsible and measured.
When you add to that the new-style IT networks which are now developing, say, in residents' associations and the like, you have a whole qualitative change coming about.
If a weblog is good enough for David Miliband, might it not also be good enough for Matt Taylor? (Or, come to that, the PM?)
Yours, blogging on moderately as ever,
Hilary
Mike I agree with you- I've always sought in my blog to be thoughtful and honest about ideas rather than aggressive and hostile. I do think he has a point looking at some of the blogs around, but on the other hand I think that has more to do with the fact that many people see politics as being about corruption adn not policy. But they have that in common with many members of the press. I don't and my blog doesn't seek to do that. And I think there are many others like mine and yours and Dave Hill's and Matthew Sinclair's and others out there.
skipper - I too wonder what his Dad would make of what have to be described as 'ill judged and poorly though out' comments.
Hilary - I agree entirely that what we need to do is encourage responsible blogging and that we need to encourage (insist?) that elected representatives use blogs to reconnect with their constituents.
Gracchi - gossip based blogs are what they are but they are not representative of blogging in general (to coin a phrase). I agree that there are many fine blogs out there and that we need to be networking much more effectively.
I think Matthew Taylor is absolutely right. The vast majority of political blogs and especially the widely read ones are just as he describes. There are a few that are taking a more serious line but they aren't at all widely read and most are so repetitive and predictable that they're hardly worth reading.
I disagree with you also Mike about a blog being a useful tool for politicians who "seek to engage with their constituents". There are far more effective ways which will reach far greater audiences.
One of the people who left a comment on my post on this topic likens blogging to talking 'down the pub'. I'd guess that most politicians would contact many more of their constituents by popping their heads into a few local boozers than they'd ever reach through blogging!
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