LANSING – While security advisers in Washington, D.C., grapple with the president’s desire to use a Blackberry, in Michigan all four legislative caucuses are finding new ways to message by tapping into the power of technology.

The explosion of technology, from Facebook and Twitter to podcasts and blogging, has made its own impression on the new way to communicate with the masses, says Bill Nowling, spokesperson for House Republicans.

“We have the ability to put content right on people’s desktops. You have to package what you’re providing in a way that people want to consume it,” he said.

And nowadays that means through every medium possible. Nowling says there is still a role for traditional big media news outlets, but even the way his caucus is providing news to those entities is evolving.

Case in point, reporters have received a few traditional news releases in the past couple weeks from the caucus, but with a twist: there’s a link to the caucus’ website where the public can check out what a particular lawmaker had to say about a certain topic. The video files include messages from House Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer (R-Bellaire) about the start of the 95th Legislature, along with Rep. Chuck Moss’ (R-Birmingham) comments about the Revenue Estimating Conference.

Nowling said along with what’s provided in the release, they’re urging reporters to quote the lawmaker from what he or she said in the video message. The medium also works for radio and broadcast reporters too because they have sound and video.

Tom Lenard, spokesperson for Senate Democrats, said they started adding more videos and podcasts to their website last session and plan to continue doing more this term.

Besides video providing “more bang for the buck,” Lenard said people can also see what Senate Democrats have to say via video in other mediums. The caucus has its own YouTube page, which currently features about 75 video clips about what different Senate Democrats are doing legislatively.

Senate Republicans are currently working on an entire overhaul of their caucus website as well as member’s pages, which spokesperson Kristyn Ladd said builds on the caucus’ use of weekly member podcasts, an online photo gallery and e-newsletter.

While using an online newsletter can reach a wider audience, Ladd said it also saves money by cutting out printing and mailing costs.

The e-newsletters, which can range in topics as diverse as a legislator’s district, are also a way to draw people back to the caucus’ website where there is even more information, Lenard said.

House Democrats have also expanded the use of their website in recent years to include RSS feeds, video content and podcasts, said spokesperson Katie Carey.

“We will continue using our Web site and other means to reach out to the people of Michigan and ensure they are kept up to date on the work we’re doing in the Michigan House to make our state a better place to live, work and raise a family,” she said.

On top of the official caucus’ efforts to stretch their technological legs, individual lawmakers have reached out to constituents through blogging and social networking sites like Facebook.

More than 40 legislators have their own Facebook page, which allows friends not only to see what a particular lawmaker’s “status” is, but to share in their family photos, favorite groups, causes, music and more.

Some lawmakers also have created their own blogs or started posting messages on blogs such as Right Michigan and Michigan Liberal.

While some caucuses are looking to create their own Facebook page, most of that content now is member-driven.

“Blogging, Twitter…it has to be organic,” Nowling said, adding staff is available to teach their members how to use the different communication tools.

That seems to be true for all the caucuses, as communication staff look to maximize their members’ messaging.

Asked whether opening up lawmakers more to the public through the use of technology can have a downside, like someone disagreeing with them vehemently on a blog post, everyone interviewed said there is that risk but all are more open to spurring a debate across the state.

“The rewards of reaching out to other people…it’s worth the risk of people not agreeing with you,” Lenard said.

This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com

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