I read the following headline in my digital newsletter today:
'Government slammed for £160,000 digital-czar job posting'
Crikey, I thought - is that the price of a job posting these days? - no wonder people are a bit upset - back to the Sunday Times we go....
On closer inspection, the government has created a new post for a Digital Czar to help the government connect with people through the digital social environment - on such things such as Twitter, Facebook etc
Is this a grotesque use of public money, as one opponent exclaimed? - well no, I don't think it is.
If the role is to genuinely engage the public in dialogue, share information and involve them in the democratic environment, staving off apathy in the process, then it is to be welcomed.
Enabling participation and giving people a voice is one of the most positive lessons we can take from Obama's recent election campaign.
In a similar vein, is the future use of technology and social media in Labour's future re-election campaign.
What I found interesting last week was Obama's marketing guru Thomas Gensemer pitching for Gordon Brown/Labour party business.
Gensemer makes the point himself, that there must be, in conjunction, with the smart use of technology a clear message and objective.
For all the Twittering , Facebooking, iphone apps and mybarackobma.com sites in the world, unless the message and content is genuine and compelling, the desired result or election win, through clever uses of social media and technology is by no means guaranteed.
Back to the Digital Czar job:....
'This role is not for everyone - success will be achieved by influence and encouragement, not by issuing instructions from the centre.'
Should make it interesting ;0)
Hmmmm email for an information pack....not very digital and not very engaging. Would suggest that the lucky appointee (should they manage to negotiate the application process) had their work cut out
Posted by: Matt | 23/02/2009 at 06:23 PM