In the aftermath advance of its much-as-expected drubbing in the local elections Slightly Ageing Labour is reaching reached out to its loyal bloggers:
During the week I was one of a number of bloggers who went to the first of what the Labour Party say they hope will be a regular series of briefings for Labour bloggers. I think its fair to say that the Party doesn't quite know what to make of us, or this medium.They know we're out here and they've all heard of the right wing bloggers that trade on gossip and a relationship with the mainstream media but by and large we're below the radar.
So this move is experimental, seeing how we react to each other and what sort of relationship can be developed.
I'm very glad to hear it. And I'll be watching to see if something interesting comes of it over the next few months.
Update: Antony Mayfield has done some research on links to the various political parties' blogging homes which gives some interesting context on this.
May 7, 2007 2:52 PM | Reply
It was before the drubbing, but whatever...
May 7, 2007 2:54 PM | Reply
Sorry that was me.
May 7, 2007 2:59 PM | Reply
OK - better now? :-)
May 7, 2007 4:50 PM | Reply
Oh much!
May 8, 2007 9:16 AM | Reply
The problem with the analysis that you point to is that it starts from the idea that Conservative Home and Labour Home are similar sites. They're not really. Conservative Home has a coherent editorial line while Labour Home is much more a message board for Labour activists. I'd argue that the former is more likely to attract links than the latter.
It also misses out Bloggers 4 Labour which offers another portal into the Labour 'sphere.
I'm not saying that the Tories aren't ahead in terms of thinking about and using this bit of the communication spectrum, I think they may well be. But then what else have they got to think about? In opposition communication is critical, in government there's the issue of delivery as well.