NEW MEDIA IS NOT EVERYTHING

PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), March 3 (Bernama) -- A good political campaign can
be made stronger with the utilisation of new media such as websites and
internets and other online tools.

So says, Roger Fisk, the former national director of special events for
United States President Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

However, he said that new media, which was widely used during Obama's
campaign and was one of the main factors for Obama's success in the presidential
election, was not everything.

He said human interaction and people-to-people connection such as canvassing
support from door to door by volunteers were still very much important to the
success of any political campaign.

"I think a good campaign can be stronger with new media but I don't think
new media can make a strong campaign. I think anyone who is thinking that this
(new media) is the core of the things...he is making a major mistake," he told
reporters at a press conference here MOnday.

He was sharing his campaign experience in the Obama's team in an event
themed "Obama-Magic In KL: Featuring Roger Fisk and the Road to the White
House," organised by the Marketing Magazine.

Roger Fisk was hired as the National Director of the Special Events for the
Barack Obama Presidential Campaign in what would become a history-making
finance department.

Here, he managed a nationwide, grassroots fundraising team that
revolutionised modern political fundraising totaling US$100 million in 11 months
while building the largest donor base in American history.

"No matter what technology comes along in American politics (or
globally)...I don't think that anything is ever going to replace human
interaction," said the 41-year-old who chose not to join the Obama
administration after a gruelling campaign to 32 states in the US.

"I am tired...I want to take a break. I am more than happy to be home than
run around 24/7 (working round-the-clock)," he said.

Asked whether the new media would mean the end of the traditional media
such as print media, Fisk said he did not think so.

"I think nothing will ever replace the value of something that you can hold
(like newspapers). So, I think the print or the old media would always have a
place. It is a question on how they work out their relationship with people
around them," he said.

Fisk also said that he did not think that anyone in the future could run a
political campaign without an online component.

"(However)...the online (internet) stuff is still the frosting and if you
think it is the cake...you made a big mistake," he said.

Meanwhile, speaking at the panel discussion titled, 'Is there Hope for
Change' at the event, former minister Mohd Zaid Ibrahim said that people in this
country got excited when talking about hope and change.

"The question is whether we are prepared to pay the price...," he said.

Blogger A. Kadir Jasin said he was optimistic and positive about change.
-- BERNAMA