Tumblr’s GIFs entered the 2012 political conversation. (Flickr Creative Commons: elephantonadiet)
The 2012 debates were definitely important for momentum in the campaign. But in covering them, we know that one or two moments make for the lasting impressions (Romney’s Big Bird; Biden’s malarkey). Tumblr has made GIFs and memes so popular that they have become part of the political conversation–and the website hasn’t stopped there.
They’ve hired people to blog about the election, and in doing so have furthered the notion of social media’s primacy in the future of journalism.
YouTube has an election channel, and Yahoo provides extensive news coverage to go with its email services.
While everyone’s still feeling out the best way to use digital tools for journalism, we need to be watching for successful prototypes of what may be successful soon. Since the 2008 election, social media has earned the respect it’s always deserved. Now what’s next?
About Michael Juliani
