MaRS

While the Internet has played a role in elections for well over a decade, we've now reached a turning point where the influence of technology on politics is pronounced and pervasive. We're witnessing the emergence of the Permanent Campaign, a non-stop political battle for attention, momentum and influence. This “Cloud Campaign” involves a combination of a traditional campaign team with an autonomous and diffuse coalition of bloggers, micro-fundraisers, and grassroots video journalists.

The emergence of social media provides a cohesive and cultural layer that can harness the long tail of the cloud campaign towards rapid response fundraising. Ron Paul used this technique to raise the most money amongst Republican candidate in the fourth quarter of 2007 (including a one day total of $6 million), and Democrat front runner Barack Obama in January of this year raised $28 million online (out of $32 million total), almost entirely from first time donors.

This event brings together a wide range of participants to discuss the current and growing influence of technology on politics, with a particular eye on the current U.S. Presidential election and the upcoming Canadian federal election.

Speakers/Panelists

• Keynote & panelist Dr. Greg Elmer, Infoscape Research Lab, Ryerson University
• Panel Discussion hosted by Jesse Hirsh, broadcaster, researcher, Internet evangelist & founder of Openflows Networks Ltd
• Additional panelists to include business innovators whose technologies have the potential to dramatically change the political landscape. Panelists include:
  • Andrew Coyne - National Editor of Maclean's magazine
  • Andrew Cherwenka - VP Business Development at Trapeze
  • Andrea Moffat - President and owner of Divercity Consultants
  • Gillian Moody - PR Professional
  • Omar Ha-Redeye - First-year law student at the University of Western Ontario
  • Stephen Taylor - The Blogging Tories

Keynote Speaker

Professor Greg Elmer discusses his research findings on the concept of the Permanent Campaign.  Greg Elmer (PhD, University of Massachusetts) is Bell Globemedia Research Chair and Director of the Infoscape research lab, Ryerson University, Toronto. He also teaches in the graduate program in Communication and Culture, York & Ryerson Universities and the School of Radio, TV Arts.

Format

This event is structured to balance the need for focused discussion with the benefits of interactivity and audience engagement.  In addition to the keynote presentation, the event features a hosted interactive discussion with a diverse set of panelists.  The discussion is framed as a debate on the influence of technology in general, as well as the impact and use of specific techniques and tools.

Part of the MaRS Emerging Technologies Series