Ahead of 6 May 2010, there was great anticipation in media circles about the prospect of the first digital election, or even the first social media election. Most post election analyses focused on the extent to which digital media affected the final general election result – and concluded with disappointment that 2010 was not the digital triumph they had hoped for.
But this focus misses the point. In fact, 2010 was, without doubt, a media election. Presentation was key, underpinned by the televised debates, and the campaign was fought more than ever before through the media. Alongside the printed press, TV and radio, digital played its part.
This was not only a media election; it was a multi-media election.
Emma Maier – Editor, Local Government Chronicle
Lessons from election 2010: local politics and social media is a follow up to Connected Councillors: a guide to using social media to support local leadership published back in March this year.
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This report has been produced by Local Government Leadership’s 21st Century Councillor programme with it’s local election partners TweetyHall, the Local Government Chronicle and the Local Government Information Unit.
Both publications are available at:
For all reporting as it happened during the elections, visit TweetyHall at:
Steve Wakefield
The election in May was interesting as the website the straight choice published election leaflets in real time. Twitter in Swindon came into the fore, as well as blogs and http://www.talkswindon.org this allowed a real time discussion. Blogs played a real time part as well.
Cllr Steve Wakefield Ind Toothill and Westlea