DIGITAL SPIN:
Politics in Cyberspace
By Theta Pavis
Special to WHYY

Some people are calling the Republican gathering that starts today "the last television convention and the first Internet convention." While many TV networks plan on minimal coverage, scores of new Web-based media have arrived in Philadelphia to cover the event.

One example is ABC, one of the network's that made headlines recently when it announced that it would scale back on its traditional convention broadcasts. While there will be less reporting on television, it's a completely different story over at ABCnews.com

Speaking at a forum on the "Cyber Political Revolution -- 2000 and Beyond" in Philadelphia yesterday, ABC's Ann Compton said the dot-com side of her news room has "flooded" the city. ABCnews.com will run five Internet-only convention broadcasts every day (two with Sam Donaldson).

ABC television, meanwhile, is slated to carry Monday Night Football, with Peter Jennings squeezing some reporting in at halftime.

"Two, three years ago, we were viewed as a stepchild," added Kirk Spitzer, politics editor for USATODAY.com. He said the Web site is far more respected -- and integrated -- in the news operation now.

Yesterday's event was hosted by The Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan, free-press foundation. Speakers said the Internet is not only changing journalism, but is also beginning to transform politics.

Haley Barbour, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said the ability for candidates to fundraise and make direct contact with voters over the Internet is having an enormous impact.

"We had 5 million hits a day on our (RNC) site in 1996, and it will be more now," Barbour said. One benefit for the party: Email is much cheaper than direct mail or phone campaigns.

Barbour and others said that one of the newest ways candidates are using technology is by sending video emails. The short videos are highly compressed and can be sent as attachments.

Bill Jones, California's secretary of state, said online voting continues to be explored while many states, including his, are putting more and more information online. For example, campaign finance documents and information about lobbyists in California are online for anyone to search.

"It's providing sunshine to a system that's been criticized for so long," Jones said.

Adam Clayton Powell III, vice president of The Freedom Forum, pointed out that a searchable database of donors is already available on George W. Bush's Web site.

Related Links:
abcnews.go.com

usatoday.com

freedomforum.org

freedomchannel.com A free, nonpartisan site that introduces video-on-demand into American politics.

webwhiteblue.org A site that provides a compilation of political reporting from different media outlets.

politicsonline.com Provides stories on e-politics and tools for building political sites.