By Mark Hanson / @markhanson
I’m often asked "why is the left lagging behind the right in the ‘web war'?" I’ve answered the question many times, saying the web war is more than just Iain Dale and Guido. I might get shot down for saying so, but Iain and Guido are amazing at what they do, especially the way they compete for mindshare amongst the mainstream media. We’ve got our own rising talent in that market but there’s so much more to the web than just blogging.
I’ve talked ad nauseum here and elsewhere about new media being more about campaigning and organising than blogging, but even in the blog market, there’s so much more potential for the left than finding a Red Dale/Guido.
As ever, the US points the way. Progressives have been engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy in the form of Fox News, talk radio and some of the more rabid blog-voices since 2000, but it reached its zenith during the run-up to, and fallout from, the Iraq war. Although the likes of Drudge, Instapundit and FreeRepublic were off the mark first, the fact-checking and media-balancing sites like TalkingPointsMemo (TPM) and Center For American Progress (CAP)’s ThinkProgress blog have struck back on behalf of the progressive agenda.
TPM works impressively to provide material for local press reporters and then amplifies their reporting on a national scale. ThinkProgress is rooting out the vested interests behind the anti-Obama spokespeople (especially on healthcare) and challenging the shrill media reporting on Fox et al with fact-based rebuttal.
The lessons are being learnt here. Step forward Will Straw, who spent time with CAP in the US and is importing their model here. He is sourcing experts in policy areas that can regularly fact-check and rebut claims made in the media and offer more balanced - and at times more sober - reporting of the key issues that the mainstream media are often only willing or able to report partially. This becomes crucial as more of our ‘trusted’ media brands effectively coronate David Cameron by stepping out of his way.
Straw’s LeftFootForward set out five red lines last week in advance of the PBR that it said the Government must not cross. They were well-researched and well-argued progressive economic principles that were used to unite like-minded interests on the web. The intellectual ballast was provided by the likes of Tony Dolphin of the Institute for Public Policy Research and the forensic tax accountant, Richard Murphy.
On the day of the PBR, Straw pulled in a coalition of progressive web-voices to live debate on the PBR, with the likes of TUC’s Touchstone blog, LabourList and Liberal Conspiracy igniting debate and binding together a variety of online audiences into a more coherent and stronger - if not solid or monolithic - network of interests that is starting to act as a block.
Murphy is particularly worthy of note. His strength comes as much from his offline influence as his blog writing but the TaxResearch blog is his shop window. It’s amazing how often he comes up top in Google searches on certain subjects; a sure sign in the democtarised world of the web that he has knowledge and influence. Remember, Google is the same route used by political staff and mainstream media when looking for information on key issues, so where it points these key opinion formers and how that plays into the wider discussion is crucial.
But the biggest win comes when all these people work together in a much more efficient and scaleable way than is ever possible offline. Knowing this, there are now large, informal groups of leftie bloggers and online activists who regularly discuss crowd-sourcing investigations, amplifying each other on certain topics in the process and acting as a block to become more influential than the sum of their parts.
It’s also eye-catching how often you see [follow the links] a policy supported by Vince Cable or Jon Cruddas that has been ignited in the media by Polly Toynbee or others, is backed by the research of Richard Murphy, diffused to the grassroots by Compass and amplified in the blogospehere by LabourList, Sunny Hundal, Will Straw, and Duncan Weldon, et al - just before a letter calling for action appears in the national press signed by all of the above.
Something’s happening...
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Most of the right wing talk radio stuff (and Fox News TV) is contrived. And most of it is rubbish. And shock jocks don't represent anywhere near the majority (they get the attention because of their extremism).
From what I've observed (from 5000 miles away) the UK "blogoshpere" (I hate that word) is generally much more reasonable. Yes there have been extremities, you could argue Guido (I disagree) and certainly the early days of LabourList.
But my point is, whatever your political viewpoint, you won't need to pay 5 quid a day/week to read Polly Toynbee or Simon Heffer when you can get reasonable discussion from the left (today's LabourList, Left Foot Forward) the right
(ConHome, Dale) and the "outrageous" (Guido) for free.
If we only have Labour and New Labour on here it can be a bit two way , Some of the torys and others that come on here have points and debate with manners , A closed shop reflecting the plp will drive debate and suporters away , We need debate .
Danny
Any chance of staying on the fantastic right wing blogs you mention and entertaining them with your wit and intelligence?
http://redrag1.blogspot.com/
The "right-wing" blogs are more successful because they started first, and they started first because the conservative party was in opposition (and hopelessly in opposition pre-2006). As you'll probably find out soon, there's far more to protest about and discuss when you're in opposition! Left wing (and Labour) blogs have only recently started and in the past year it's clear that they're now "getting it". This site is a prime example; hopeless start, followed by scandal, and finally LL has an editor who's given good direction and lead.
The other shift is against the "dead tree press", and most notably the lobby journalists. Bloggers can connect directly with the people, without having to spin the government line. Many a time Guido has unraveled the "anonymous Downing Street source" crap spoon fed to the Lobby; he even forced one now infamous source (McBride) to resign.
Plus, as and when the MSM starts charging for its online news, this will be a great opportunity for blogs (including the likes of Labourlist, ConHome, Guido and Iain Dale) to become a real alternative news media. Why would I want to pay 5 quid a day to read the political columns of every DTP website when I can get decent left, right & center political viewpoints on sites like this for free?
thanks , I could never have come on here under the last editer, I ould have been knocked for my spelling and gramer , But now i can offer my views , even if no-one reads them at least Alex lets me have my say .
Danny
I wish more people would make the effort you do, but then why should they, unless they feel the need to contribute.
The more the merrier. It's more likely to make people sit up and pay attention where there's a clear consensus.
I tend to take the Open Source view of things, but I grant if it's clearly been lifted and used out of context I'd be a bit miffed as well.
Don't knock it. It means that rather grudgingly maybe they've spotted other people may be talented, even if they can't bring themselves to do the decent thing and acknowledge sources.
After all how long has it taken to find the Iraqi WMD 45minute claim came from a taxi driver?
(On reflection I can imagine why he wasn't credited as the source straight off.)
Have never posted on the gaurdian ( i read it online) , I only post because the MPS at westminster dont listen anymore , i want the Labour party to represent the workers and vunrable , Not the bankers , The Labour party has been hijacked by the torys , and i always try to post constructivly ( And when i do make myself look like a idiot i apologise ) .
Danny
Ps For the record danny or ricki is ok , I did post a apology on a older post saying that i messed up my rgrestraion .
'pls if i was a journalists i would e able to spell'
Do you remember the Guardian before automatic spell checkers?
Private Eye didn't re-christen it the Grauniad without a reason.
I was referring to the 97% who don't post quite as prolifically as yourself.
I wish they would, so we could get a better grasp on what people really think.
I could swear I have heard my own phrases being used and that sends me white as it shows how desperate these people are and how devoid of talent they must be.
I can confirm that i am not a journilist or a tory or a troll , I just offer my views on "New Labour" on a Labour site (pls if i was a journalists i would e able to spell )
Danny
Re the other 97%.
Hopefully most of the traffic isn't Tories and journalists.
I've noticed a few comments on the telly recently that appear to have been picked straight from these pages, sometimes as direct quotes, sometimes repeated sentiments from a comment thread.
I think a certain Mirror journalist, or whoever briefs him, must read LL.
That might reflect the country at the moment .
Alex stick to your guns and keep improving this site , You have turned this site sround and made it a great debating site with a cross-section of views .
Danny
Perhaps the comments fluctuate, but traffic is consistent. Only about 3% of people who read things will ever comment, apparently.
A
You Have me thinking now , what is a "Pol-hater" ?
Danny
I appreciate that young Will has a lot of friends trying to help him out, but LeftFootForward is at the moment a good idea, but still appears very much a work in progress.
It should be encouraged, but there is a risk it will lose credibility before it finds any if hyped up too soon. Just ask people to give it a look and if it is the right thing at the right time it will gain momentum.
Unfortunately like many in the government, it struggles when it has to deal with issues relating to working outside anything to do with finance and pure politics. It's fixable but clearly not a priority.
(Your article has prompted me to check the latest status on it's progress.)
Unfortunately there is a fundemental truth some on the left seem to forget, and have become paranoid about.
The government is the establishment. Everybody wants a go at it, all of the time. Left leaning activities on the web will really take off only when the government is a Tory one.
When the right wing ones start to decline and the left leaning ones increase their traffic, that will be an indication that the tide is turning back to the left.
At the moment, even Compass is not very busy, but doing very nicely thank you, if compared with other left leaning blogs.
LL is I understand still the busiest left leaning site, but even this sees it's traffic drop away quickly if a few prolific people aren't around to keep the comments threads going.
I dont what a 2pol hater is ? but he does give his view on politics( As do you , Mr Dale , the Gaurdian and the other media /MPS /blogs and as he isint with any party in parliment its a bit more unbiased ( The comments are different) .
Danny
I agree on some comment ( try saying bankrupt on Mr Fawkes site) Moderation , But i also belive that evryone (labour/New Labour/lib dems /Bnp and all other partys ) should have a voice , We need to encourge people into the polictol process even is it through Mr fawkes or any other blog .
Danny
I do disagree with you on that. Personally, I feel that there has to be some moderation in order for it to feel 'safe' to comment - that's my view anyway......
"I'm yet to be convinced."
And rightly so. The only occasions when a "blogosphere story" comes into prominence is when the mainstream media (press and TV) pick up on those occasions and (i) stick the story through people's letterboxes and (ii) beam it into their living rooms.
You can be sure that when "the pick-up" does occur, there are movers, shakers and spinners who have brought "the story" to the attention of the media, either Labour or Conservative sympathising as the case may be.
I think there are a lot of angry voters , And while some of the comments are a bit distatful we should not deny tem a voice , As for Mr Fawkes at least he doesnt spin like our leadership , All blogs have there charatistics , This blog used to have a editer that called people "Window*****s" , Alex has made this more friendly and welcoming and should be proud of the hard work he has done .
Danny
he reason other sites (conhome/Guidofawkes) Do well is that they are not the goverment , Conhome bulit its base from being against it leader at the time ( cant remeber who) , Its no good trying to copy President Obama , He Had not been in power for the preceding 12 years , This and other labour sites will flourish when we are in opposition and then maybe the leadership of the party reconnect with the voters .
Danny
I'm yet to be convinced that all this activity will actually turn into votes. I'm yet to be convinced that the left or right really understands what they are trying to achieve and who they are meant to be appealing to.
For example the above post. It may be all very worthy but what does a average voter think of compass issuing a press release? Not much I would guess.
Another example - GoFourth run by Prescott and Campbell. Does it make any difference? From what I see Campbells own blog is much more successful and the press only call on prescott and his GoFourth project when its a slow news day.
Does Guido or Dale really make a difference? They may.
The main difference between them and the left is that they have looser connection to the Tories and secondly they are invited on the TV much much more.
The other difference is that in the case of Dale he is much more nuanced than say this place. Look at his post on the latest polling. Cautious, well reasoned. Contrast and compare to the poll reports here. No offence to Alex, because Alex knows what is what, but if I was a floating voter anymore (i've now decided for sure) I know which would be more attractive.
As for fact checking - this is a gap the right seem to be plugging but mud sticks. Thats why people like Alistair Campbell do what they do. Fact checking becomes secondary. If your message resonates then you can say practically anything.
And finally we come to money. The right has it. The left doesn't. End of story.
Get a grip fish-man, life in a bowl must be pretty much like a conservative agenda.
Labourlist is full of disaffected Labourites. And this site is pre censored .. sorry moderated.
You can be far more free on the right wing sites.. and they are more alive....
As for Compass? Economic drivel.