Internet spells end for political spin, says Joe Trippi

[T_i_B]

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/media/story/0,,2101828,00.html

Internet activism is spelling the end for the age of spin, the online campaign guru Joe Trippi will warn British politicians today, suggesting that the rules for dealing with "old media" no longer apply.

"The game has changed in a way the top needs to understand," he told the Guardian. "It may take a disaster: a leader saying something ridiculous in an unregulated moment, thinking no press are there, and then realising a person in the UK with a video cellphone could destroy you, getting passed through social networks.

"We are now moving to a medium where authenticity is king, from what things look like to what's real ... You have to be 'on' 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

But Mr Trippi believes the influence of the established media is waning and argues that politicians must allow activists to build their own online communities, not simply use the net to disseminate information. He argues that, in an age of declining deference and empowered individuals, most voters will trust the opinion of peers who endorse a politician much more than a "top-down" message.

[MGKrebs]

1. What the hell is he talking about?

There is no spin on the internet? It's true that much more is "recorded" now, but that isn't anything like the end of spin.

[T_i_B]

2. I was going to make a comment on that point

but decided to just post the article. The "End of Spin" part of the article appears to be the headline only. Nonetheless, some good points are contained in the article provided you can get past the headline.