Politics In Social Networking: GetMyVote

Our Politics and Social Networking series now includes a mention for revered channel NPR (National Public Radio). NPR has added a social network to its roster that is geared to the political set, called GetMyVote. The site brings the concept of social interaction online to a new level.

NPR has given users a place to upload video, audio and text files that are directed at the candidates. The purpose is to give people a chance to let the politicians know what would sway their vote. It's a unique platform to speak out for what you believe on a site sponsored by a well respected organization, and it is attracting people of all ages and all walks of life so far.

One nice feature added by NPR is portability. It has made a variety of widgets that local governments can grab and take to their own site for use with their local candidates. This makes the idea uniquely accessible to a variety of people it might not otherwise reach, and gives politicians more and better ways to connect with voters.

The site is watched by NPR staff. As interesting videos, audio files and written messages come up they are aggregated to the home page. This is a nice way to showcase comments that might otherwise be lost, and generates interest that makes the observer want to click deeper into the site to see more messages to the candidates.

The site offers users ways to interact with the commentaries by leaving comments, rating commentaries, tagging commentaries, and recommending commentaries. The site even offers a way to embed the commentaries on other sites, making arguments for and against the candidates more organic. As the debate rages on the web about the issue of conversation, NPR makes their thoughts on the issue clearly known by calling the embed feature "Steal This ".

NPR covered all of the social media basics, including features like the ubiquitous tag cloud and heavy user interaction. With portability and heavy rotation on their radio spots now that the beta is public, this political social site could hit a nerve in giving voters a voice. NPR may have just coined a winner by sticking to the basics and using what they know to make an interactive social media site thatnot only works, but draws voters into the conversation.