Does Web 2.0 Work in Politics?
The political world says that its trying to incorporate interaction and interactivity into online politics. So far, all we've seen is marketing in the name of Web 2.0. Can Web 2.0 work in the political space to build authentic collaborations between citizens and government? Or has it just another marketing gimmick?
Chair: Charles Ellison - Co-host, Blackpolicy.org
Mr. Ellison is a widely-known and reputable public policy analyst, media and government relations expert with over a decade of experience. Based in Washington, D.C., Mr. Ellison serves as a Senior Advisor to the Center for African American Policy at the University of Denver (CAAP-DU). He is also a CAAP Senior Fellow in Public Policy and Chief Editor of the center’s popular flagship website Blackpolicy.org, providing key government relations support on major policy issues important to the Center. He is Chief Editor and Contributor to the ASCENT Journal of Public Policy at AscentPress.org and served as managing editor for the 2005 release on modern political development titled “Standing in the Gap - Leadership in the 21st Century” by ASCENT Press.
Mr. Ellison is a critically-acclaimed author, co-host of the weekly Blackpolicy.org LIVE on XM Channel 130 (POTUS ‘08) and a frequent analyst for XM Radio. He is considered a leading expert on the use of technology in modern politics; e-governance; African American political development; the intersection of media, pop-culture and politics; modern American political and public policy trends; the U.S. Congress; state, local and federal political campaign trends. His highly anticipated political thriller, TANTRUM, is scheduled for release in February 2008.
A former local news radio correspondent and 2000 recipient of the Washington, D.C. “Top 40 Under 40” Award, Mr. Ellison is a former Congressional staffer, award-winning Internet content executive and former public relations director for Mt. Nebo Records, catapulting it from small, independent status to international rotation and recognition. He is a former associate producer for C-SPAN Networks and former marketing and public relations director for Votenet Solutions, Inc. As a commentator and lecturer, he has been featured in numerous television, radio and publishing venues, including: XM Radio, BlackAmericaWeb.com, The Source, Salon.com, BET, ABC News, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Washington Business Journal, Roll Call, National Journal, George Magazine, Pacifica Radio and National Public Radio, among others.
As a Visiting Fellow, Charles will interact with GW students, faculty and research staff through a variety of special projects and discourse on relevant topics. He plans to complete a major study on ethnic political activity trends in the U.S. titled “Ethnicity and Poli-fluentials” as a follow-up to IPDI’s highly regarded Polifluentials: The New Political Kingmakers study, released in October 2007. He will also serve as a contributing editor to the Institute’s blog at www.ipdi.org and provide critical advisement on several major national projects currently planned by the Institute, using his media and public relations background in an effort to maximize IPDI’s visibility.
Lisa Stone - CEO and Co-founder, BlogHer
The originator of BlogHer, journalist and blogger Lisa Stone leads product development and works across the organization as CEO to advocate for bloggers and partners that fulfill our vision. Before BlogHer.com and BlogHerAds.com, Lisa helped launch three sponsored blogging networks: American Lawyer Media| Law.com's legal blog network (2004), Knight Ridder Digital's Thatsracin.com (2005), and Glam Media (2005). Previously, while executive producer and Editor in Chief/VP, Programming for Women.com (acquired by iVillage in 2001), Lisa launched an 18-channel network and helped grow it to a Top 30 site, overseeing all original content programming and newsletters, including a team of 25 and an annual budget of $3 MM.
She launched successful online networks and interactive programming for many national brands, including Hearst and Rodale magazines, E! Television/Online, HBO's Sex and the City and Bloomberg. Her team's best-known work included Bachelors of Silicon Valley, The Women.com | Bloomberg Index, R U A 10? and Majority 2000, an election initiative with Good Housekeeping, Gallup and CBS Good Morning America. Lisa has written for The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, CNN, The Oakland Tribune, Publisher's Weekly and Frommer's, among other publications. She is the first internet journalist awarded a Nieman Fellowship by Harvard University. Lisa's personal blog, Surfette, began as an extension of her 2004 convention blog for the Los Angeles Times. Lisa also blogs on BlogHer, often on politics and media.
Patrick Hynes, President of New Media Strategies
Patrick Hynes is the President of New Media Strategics. He serves as the blog outreach consultant for Sen. John McCain’s campaign for president. He is the founder and proprietor of the blog Ankle Biting Pundits. Patrick lives in New Hampshire with his wife Michelle and their daughters Rose (3) and Grace (1).
An experienced political operative and consultant, Patrick has helped hundreds of candidates win public office. National Journal described Patrick as “a hack with a pretty good record of electing Republicans.” The American Conservative called Patrick “an expert on evangelical voting patterns.” And Campaigns & Elections named Patrick a “Rising Star in American Politics.”
Patrick is the author of the book In Defense of the Religious Right (Nelson Current). Patrick’s other writings have been published in the New York Post, the Financial Times, USA Today, the American Spectator, Townhall.com, TCS Daily, the Concord Monitor, and the New Hampshire Union Leader, among other venues.
Patrick has appeared as a guest on Fox News Channel’s Hannity & Colmes, ABC World News Tonight, Good Morning America, CNN Talk Back Live, C-SPAN’s Washington Journal, C-SPAN 2’s After Words, and even E!.
Princella Smith - Chief Advocate, American Solutions for Winning the Future
Princella Smith serves as Chief Advocate for the Platform of the American People at American Solutions, an organization founded by former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich.
Additionally, Princella serves as a guest lecturer for The Leadership Institute, an organization founded by Morton Blackwell committed to identifying, recruiting, training and placing conservatives in the public policy process.
She is a frequent guest speaker for various groups and organizations and is a Visiting Fellow for the Independent Women's Forum’s campus program. She also serves as a national media political contributor for the organization.
During her collegiate years, Princella participated heavily in statewide and national government including national internships. She was propelled into the national spotlight in 2004 when she won MTV’s ‘Stand Up and Holla” essay/speech contest and became a primetime speaker at the Republican National Convention in New York City.
During the 2006 elections, Princella served as the E-Campaign Director for Michael Steele’s senate race in Maryland, managing all electronic communications for the campaign, including the official campaign website. She also served as the director of Students for Steele throughout the campaign.
Princella has been featured and/or written for several national media outlets including FOX News, CNN, CBS, MSNBC, NPR, the New York Times, USA Today, XM Satellite Radio, and The Chronicle of Higher Education among others.
Princella is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, where she majored in Political Science and was the offensive player of the year for the Lady Tigers basketball team.
David Pierpont - Online Advocacy Manager, National Wildlife Federation
David Pierpont joined the National Wildlife Federation as a social networking expert to expand the organization’s outreach to supporters on political legislation around global warming, protecting wildlife and connecting people with nature. David is currently building and beta testing an online community for their activist supporters to take action on legislative objectives while deepening their relationship with the organization.
David has been developing and consulting on online communities since 1998, starting with sports related sites then later moving to political communities. David also worked with Alan Rosenblatt, Ph.D. on the Internet Advocacy Center as a consultant and fellow.
During the 2004 Presidential Campaign, David served as the account manager for SoapboxSBX. He worked with the National Press Corps to help set up technology support for national debates and traveled with several campaign including Dean, Kerry and Edwards to help create wifi hotspots for the press to file their stories at every campaign stop.
David graduated from George Mason University with a B.A. in Government and Politics.
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