Welcome Kelly Ripley Feller to Miranda
Miranda Literary Magazine would like to welcome Kelly Ripley Feller as a new media correspondent. Read her article “Riding The Wave: An Ongoing Look at how Social Media is Transforming Politics : The Power of the People: US Presidential Politics in Second Life.” Kelly has enjoyed a fulfilling and diverse professional career managing marketing and communications strategies for organizations that include non-profit, natural foods, healthcare, and high technology. She has worked with a variety of technology companies including Intel, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Intuit, SAS Software, Symantec, and IBM. Today she manages social media programs for a Fortune 100 technology company and writes about social media, marketing, business, Second Life, and politics in her dwindling spare time. An enthusiastic live music lover and classical singer, Kelly performs at local schools and senior homes and is a hospice volunteer for veterans. She has been active in Second Life for over a year and a half—the equivalent of several lifetimes in that virtual realm. She lives outside of Portland, OR with her husband and son, and holds a BA in Communications and Political Science from the University of Michigan.
The Author’s Second Life Avatar “Cindy”
March 24, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Kelly,
I read your article, and was most impressed by the movement I saw within your authorial position about 3/4’s of the way through. Your point, “On the contrary, true social media is not just a communication channel, but also incorporates an element of community interaction and ongoing and contributory conversations. And in this, Second Life is no exception[,]” is spot on not only in terms of SL and politics, but social media in general IMHO. The attempt to control the message or the medium by the sponsor (read corporate, educational, political, communal) misses the larger reality about about how this medium has the potential, through generative, spontaneous, and perhaps radical engagement, to fundamentally alter the was grassroots initiatives interface with the dominant society (whatever that is these days). Perhaps that is why the Obama youtube video, created and produced by his supporters, smacks as so much more authentic than the glittery conference center on a Second Life island.
I would also like to know (and you propose to cover this in the next installment–I also think you have blogged about it elsewhere) how supporters of these candidates are using the web 2.0 aspects of social media to create community, chart their strategic course and enact change.
Aaron
April 10, 2008 at 10:58 am
Great questions Aaron!
I am interested in how the use of social media and Web 2.0 might further enter into Obama’s campaign. I think he’s on the right track, and definitely ahead of Hilary, but more can be done for sure. I think the majority of the task lies in the hands of his supporters. The systems are in place– he is on facebook and many other netwtorking sites. It’s a matter of leveraging his “brand,” which already has a very powerful identity. But he’s not reaching everybody online– especially not the tough 50 to 60 somethings and older white men. I think he also needs some viral TV ads to replace Hill’s 3 o’clock nightmare sketch.