Obama to Address the Nation Each Week on YouTube
President elect Obama will bring the President's weekly "fireside chat" into the 21st century by offering it not just on the radio, but in video on YouTube as well. It's as if the new populist President really cares whether the next generation has a connection to what he's doing. That's where the people are - on YouTube, on MySpace and on Facebook.
More people will watch the President's talks than ever before, and they will post video responses. That's pretty remarkable.
The Washington Post covered Obama's plans this morning and reported that a number of other officials in the administration will be posting regular videos as well. We found the story via some light coverage at CNet.
Is This For Real?
Some people are already saying that posting to YouTube is just the strategy of the week for pandering to young people. They point out that Obama's account on Twitter, almost the most popular account on the service, has been dead silent since the election ended.
Posting to YouTube is different though. It's repurposing media, cross posting it, it's simple. The Obama campaign has already posted almost 2000 videos to its YouTube account. The administration should use a cross-posting video publishing tool like TubeMogul to publish everywhere. The weekly talks should be live broadcast on UStream and archived in high def on Hulu. That's not crazy talk, that's all relatively simple and obvious. Video experts could probably come up with even more effective plans.
It's hard to know if the political policies of the next administration will be radically different from the last one, but at the very least the technology of the Presidency should be more contemporary and relevant than has ever been the case before.
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This is fantastic, if true. I wondered, as a history graduate student, how much longer the weekly radio addresses would last. This seems to answer my question.
I'm glad that he is taking a 21st Century approach to everything. It's about time our leaders catch up and play in the level playing field that is out there today. To not do so and stick with 20th Century media is not only foolish, it's downright insane to think you can really reach the people!
Rex
This is great and makes sense - it is the next evolutionary step from the current podcasts from whitehouse.gov:
http://www.mefeedia.com/channels/whitehouse/
(YES, there is a Barney Cam...)
Let's hope Pres. Obama does a video podcast and uses TubeMogul, as you said.
At the same time, the Obama MUST continue the weekly radio addresses and other means of reaching the majority of the population--especially his more conservative and vociferous critics (a member of the Catholic Church suggested Obama voters abstain from communion util they have completed penance, http://twurl.nl/eo4wd1). Conversation with only one portion of the electorate is what killed the current administration. Obama is hopefully smart enough to converse with all parts of the electorate in order to hear all sidea and present cogent arguments for forward progress.
We have the opportunity to renew, refresh and redefine participatory democracy and representative government. It takes the right leadership and the right participation from its constituency. Now is the time to bring them together. Dare I say yes we can.
President Bush has been doing this for a long time using podcasts. You can download his weekly radio address from whitehouse.gov/podcasts or subscribe to it on iTunes. Who wants to watch a talking head give a speech? I guess if you've got nothing better to do on a Saturday...
I'd prefer blip.tv (or revver.com) for archiving -- both let you download the media in Flash or MP4 format. blip is a big hit with programmers, from the look of it -- lots of programming language screencasts there.
This is great. Finally we are having a 21st century president who will actually make the effort to connect and keep the voters in touch with his policies and agenda. It looks like its gonna be an interesting four years of an Obama administration.
It is indeed fascinating to watch how the new Presidency is reaching out to the public in new ways. But I noticed one detail: It is not possible for users to comment on the first weekly address video on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd8f9Zqap6U)
Why is that?
The Russian president Medvedev is doing video address since two months already. It's not on YouTube though, but on their own site and they promise to make it possible to leave comments soon. But it's not really about them being interested in our opinion at that point. It's more about them finding more channels to communicate their message.
http://www.kremlin.ru/sdocs/vappears.shtml
Hello, I am not sure if this is where I want to leave this message or not. I would like to write directly to Presedent-Elect Obama. I am 62 years old and have been following this economic crisis as most Americans. My concern is, we can spend billions of dollars bailing out companies, banks and "the big three" auto industries.
I recently was forced to seek help from a credit counseling service because I am struggling to make my mortgage payments and was told I don't qualify because as he put it..."I am being punished for paying my mortgage"....help only comes when the home is in foreclosure...
So let me understand, the government helps industries that are obviously run by inadequate, money-hungry CEOs who are only interested in fattening their wallets, who will not give up their luxuries, come out with millions of dollars in severance packages after forcing the company into its current state....but won't help the individual who is really making an effort.
Mr. Obama, please help explain this to me....I voted for you and deserve an answer.
Sincerly,
Kathy Parlatore
5 Acorn Drive
Kingston, NH 03848
I am not sure why my address came up on my comment but would like it taken off. How do I do this?
Thank you.