Mondo Times Media Poll Archive

This poll ran from June 21 to July 1, 2007.

Mondo Stars Poll Results

"The influence of the established media is waning." True 458/64% False 257/36%

Votes: 715

Joe Trippi, the man who used the Internet to build a grassroots movement for Howard Dean's bid for the 2004 U.S. presidential nomination. He created an official blog, raised huge amounts of money in small donations and used Meetup and other social networks to allow volunteers to organize themselves.

Trippi was speaking in London on June 13, 2007, as reported by The Guardian newspaper. Tania Branigan wrote that Trippi "believes the influence of the established media is waning and argues that politicians must allow activists to build their own online communities, not simply use the net to disseminate information. He argues that, in an age of declining deference and empowered individuals, most voters will trust the opinion of peers who endorse a politician much more than a "top-down" message."

Internet activism is spelling the end for the age of spin, according to Trippi. The previous day, British Prime Minister Tony Blair attacked the mainstream media as a "feral beast" which requires new regulation and lamented his lack of success in bypassing it through web sites and press conferences.

Speaking of the Howard Dean campaign in 2004, Trippi flattered himself by saying "The candidate lost, but the campaign won." Trippi has now joined the John Edwards campaign.

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