YouTube starts to make its mark on Politics

Just like Blogs and internet money were the latest greatest thing during the 2004 election. YouTube and Google video promise to reshape the political landscape in the upcoming mid term election of 2006.

Next to teeny bopper clips, humor clips, and political video clips are one of the largest groups on YouTube (especially the anti-Bush variety of clips).

Now a new group known as TAKE BACK THE CAPITOL is sponsoring a contest as part of the launch of their new site. They will be collecting clips aimed at 'overturning Republican control of congress in the November 2006 election.' Their contest will offer cash prizes of $500, $250 and $100.

Their simply looking for short 12 second videos to help make the point. Now in general this is a great campaign promotion from the perspective of design (not siding for or against their goal - well OK, I'm for the campaign, afterall this is an editorial blog!).

The beauty of this promotion is that the group will gather up content directed at their website, that content is a grass roots collections of regular people expressing their view. The genius of the idea is that if successful they will receive hundreds of short videos, and might latch on to that one great viral video that will circulate around and around the country, world and internet making their point for them. No ad firms necessary just the power of the people's creativity and ability to circulate information in digital form through the new medium of YouTube.