Using documentary-style storytelling, which can last for several minutes, candidates have found a successful alternative to the traditional model of raising huge sums of money that get spent on expensive, 30-second television commercials.
The videos are chiefly intended as ads, but they also served a fund-raising purpose. For a fraction of the cost, these videos can help to spread a candidate’s story in a way that is easily shareable and can inspire donations.
—Viral Videos Are Replacing Pricey Political Ads. They’re Cheaper, and They Work.
It would be great if political candidates didn’t need huge sums of money to run for office. Fingers crossed.
September 15, 2018
isn’t it the truth! but the way things are going in politics in general I can’t see it happening in our lifetime. and that’s a shame.
you don’t get the best person. you get the one who threw the most money at it.
We’ll have to see. I thought this article is encouraging.
different countries have different styles – here one the big adverts in that line is the large billboard – usually tacked to a residential fence or put up with wood stakes… there might be a grouping together … always with a face (often get defaced) the name of candidate, maybe there political leaning, not much else (all can be defaced, often with letters erased or other letters added, so it makes no sense …
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96896349/a-beginners-guide-to-2017-election-campaign-billboard-vandalism
We have vandalism like that on the local level. Mostly it’s that signs get stolen.
they also often get the axe – if they are placed on stakes – https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11725322
Thanks for the links!
As tammy j says, it’s the money that makes the difference, and that just shouldn’t be the case!
That’s certainly been true so far, but who knows if technology might change the unbalance.
I think money has definitely always made the difference.
In the past.
But… I think that social media has created a shift.
People are able to get their message out there without the cost.
Not so much the politicians believing in working the system in the traditional way but the supporters of people who would have never had the funds to be heard. Young people are sharing information on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
They don’t watch traditional ads on TV. Something happens now and it’s splashed on social media and suddenly people are organizing events, walks, races and such, on the spot. They can rally a movement within hours.
I think we are already seeing how fast things can happen.
It’s like the Me too Movement. That just blew up and powerful men who sexually harassed women, started dropping like flies.
Of course it doesn’t translate to the average person yet, but it’s a start.
And… all these millennials need to vote or it won’t matter.
But I have faith that things will change and eventually get better.
I agree that it has to translate into votes, which is why campaigns are focusing on stirring people to vote. In the long run millennials will be more affected than we will be.
One way or the other money must get spent and when someone spends he treats it like an investment for future returns. One needs to find out what those returns are and for whom? If that transparency can come in into our political lives, we can become idealistic again. Otherwise, I maintain that all democracies in the world are nothing but plutocracies veiled.
Campaign finance reform and transparency hasn’t a chance here with our present Supreme Court and our changing judiciary (Trump will have a lasting effect here, he’s appointing young judges who will be around for years). https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/15/john-roberts-campaign-finance-crossroads-825761
I agree, political candidates shouldn’t need exorbitant sums of money to run a campaign. It must discourage so many good candidates – especially Independent candidates who don’t have access to the huge funds of political parties.
Yes, hopefully the new technology can help them.