The internet is an amazing way of bringing together people with common interests and concerns. I’ve written before about the BBC’s attempt at promoting political activism – a site which both brings people together and provides material for programmes if they raise significant issues or achieve anything.
Now research by the University of Technology of Compiègne (UTC) suggests that websites played an important role in swinging public opinion against Europe’s constitutional treaty in the recent referendum.
The Financial Times (13/07/2005) quotes Franck Ghitalla who led the study:
“I hope that politicians realise that the internet is a political territory that must be used. In terms of political marketing, the Yes campaign did not have a good strategy.”
Many of the sites set up during the French referendum on the European constitution contained a mass of documentary information. 2.5m web pages were analysed for the study. It also found that the web was mainly an instrument of the left – anti-globalisation campaigners, trade unionists and radical leftwing parties. The study concluded that few websites set up by established media organisations were deemed authoritative.
Matt
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