Vlogs as CJ and tool for politicos

AlterNet has a good piece on videoblogs, discussing their potential for citizen journalism and for local political candidates.

About campaigns, the article, by Zack Pelta-Heller, says:

Two local politicians who have recently started vlogging are Boston city councilor John Tobin and New York resident Andrew Rasiej, who is running for Public Advocate in New York City. Even if you have no idea who either candidate is, their vlogs will provide voters with a fast, effective way to engage in the political process. Watching Rasiej head down to New York's city hall on the subway to speak out at a city council hearing for the city to receive a wireless internet connection is far more compelling than simply reading a summary of the hearing's minutes.

The article also quotes Senator John Edwards, who launched a vlog last month, touting it as a way to get around the filters of mainstream media:

Sen. Edwards is well aware of the impact that vlogs could have on the future of politics and journalism, commenting: "I think [vlogging] will be hugely important because it's a way to directly talk to people without someone else editing what you say or taking it out of context. ..."

Comments

[hannu leinonen]

I hope that VJ and Citj will become something else that a new tool for political candidates to leak loose stories. Blogging has become a tool for "journalist" to name a source and publish otherwise material that would be called rumors.

I hope VJ will not be used for this - too.