The Social Media President : Barack Obama and the Politics of Digital Engagement

The proliferation of social media has altered the way that people interact with each other - leveling the channels of communication to allow an individual to be "friends" with a sitting president. In a world where a citizen can message Barack Obama directly, this book addresses the new channels of communication in politics, and what they offer. Prominent in Barack Obama's political campaigns and presidency has been a promise to use social media tools to engage American citizens in the business of democratic governance, stirring the hopes of millions who believe in the democratizing potential of information and communication technology. Yet what has become of these promises? To what extent have they been realized? Shattering views of social media as a cure-all for limits on citizen deliberation and governmental representation, The Social Media President: Barack Obama and the Politics of Digital Engagement analyzes the White House's use of Twitter and other online tools for a wide range of policy initiatives and strategic campaigns. Drawing on interviews, case studies and social-media content, the authors provide a bold take on a subject too frequently prone to exaggerated expectations. By examining presidential campaigns since 1992 and the actions of President Obama since taking office in 2009, a clearer picture emerges about the strengths and weaknesses of social media for public engagement. In terms of setting national policy, or getting systematic citizen input, a social media-enabled future would not only be difficult to implement with foreseeable technology, it could actually erode democratic institutions of voting and representation. Yet social media's prominence continues to grow and it is destined to play an ever-larger role in political rhetoric, campaign strategies, governance appeals and public debate. The thoughtful attention the authors provide to the successes, limitations and missed opportunities of the Obama Administration should command the interest of concerned scholars, practitioners and citizens everywhere Prominent In Barack Obama's Political Campaigns And Presidency Has Been A Promise To Use Social Media Tools To Engage American Citizens In The Business Of Democratic Governance, Stirring The Hopes Of Millions Who Believe In The Democratizing Potential Of Information And Communication Technology. Yet What Has Become Of These Promises? To What Extent Have They Been Realized? Shattering Views Of Social Media As A Cure-all For Limits On Citizen Deliberation And Governmental Representation, The Social Media President: Barack Obama And The Politics Of Digital Engagement Analyzes The White House's Use Of Twitter And Other Online Tools For A Wide Range Of Policy Initiatives And Strategic Campaigns. Drawing On Interviews, Case Studies And Social-media Content, The Authors Provide A Bold Take On A Subject Too Frequently Prone To Exaggerated Expectations. By Examining Presidential Campaigns Since 1992 And The Actions Of President Obama Since Taking Office In 2009, A Clearer Picture Emerges About The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Social Media For Public Engagement. In Terms Of Setting National Policy, Or Getting Systematic Citizen Input, A Social Media-enabled Future Would Not Only Be Difficult To Implement With Foreseeable Technology, It Could Actually Erode Democratic Institutions Of Voting And Representation. Yet Social Media's Prominence Continues To Grow And It Is Destined To Play An Ever-larger Role In Political Rhetoric, Campaign Strategies, Governance Appeals And Public Debate. The Thoughtful Attention The Authors Provide To The Successes, Limitations And Missed Opportunities Of The Obama Administration Should Command The Interest Of Concerned Scholars, Practitioners And Citizens Everywhere.--publishers Website Part 1. Framing The Issue -- Introduction And Overview -- Situating Social Media And Citizen Participation In The Obama Era -- Digital Media And Electoral Politics: An Abbreviated History -- Part 2. The Obama Presidency -- Framing The People's White House: Crowdsourcing And The Citizen's Briefing Book -- White House Online Town Hall -- Grand Challenges: Crowdsourcing A Vision For Science And Technology -- The Supreme Court Vacancies And Healthcare Debate -- Social Media Modalities: Examples And Patterns From The Obama White House -- Propagation Of Social Media Modalities In The Federal Government -- Part 3. Perspectives And Outlook On The Social Media President -- Analytical Perspectives -- Conclusions And Implications. James E. Katz, Michael Barris, And Anshul Jain. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-x Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Introduction and Overview....Pages 3-10 Situating Social Media and Citizen Participation in the Obama Era....Pages 11-19 Digital Media and Electoral Politics: An Abbreviated History....Pages 21-38 Front Matter....Pages 39-39 Framing the “People’s White House”: Crowdsourcing and the Citizen’s Briefing Book....Pages 41-50 White House Online Town Hall....Pages 51-61 Grand Challenges: Crowdsourcing a Vision for Science and Technology....Pages 63-71 The Supreme Court Vacancies and the Healthcare Debate....Pages 73-84 Social Media Modalities: Examples and Patterns from the Obama White House....Pages 85-108 Propagation of Social Media Modalities in the Federal Government....Pages 109-126 Front Matter....Pages 127-127 Analytical Perspectives....Pages 129-151 Conclusions and Implications....Pages 153-170 Back Matter....Pages 171-215 Review: "The Social Media President is a fascinating and instructive analysis and critique of the use of social media by President Obama. I heartily recommend it."--Fred I. Greenstein, Professor of Politics Emeritus, Princeton University, USA "Obama's political campaign machine broke all sorts of fundraising records and media outreach goals. But as The Social Media President reveals, the more important and lasting story has to do with the transformation of the office of the presidency. There are important differences between the role of digital media in Obama's campaign and his administration. These authors reveal that while some presidential initiatives have made innovative use of social media, even the highest political office holder in the land can't crowd-source everything."--Philip N. Howard, Professor, University of Washington, USA "The Social Media President is a fascinating and instructive analysis and critique of the use of social media by President Obama. I heartily recommend it." - Fred I. Greenstein, Professor of Politics Emeritus, Princeton University, USA "Obama's political campaign machine broke all sorts of fundraising records and media outreach goals. But as The Social Media President reveals, the more important and lasting story has to do with the transformation of the office of the presidency. There are important differences between the role of digital media in Obama's campaign and his administration. These authors reveal that while some presidential initiatives have made innovative use of social media, even the highest political office holder in the land can't crowd-source everything." - Philip N. Howard, Professor, University of Washington, USA