TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Obama Takes Radio Address Online

ADVERTISEMENT

The Washington Post

Published: December 15, 2008

WASHINGTON - In the 26 years since the weekly radio address became a White House staple, presidents have often treated the speech to the nation as a task rather than an opportunity.

Not so with President-elect Barack Obama, who has been using his four minutes of weekend airtime not only to speak directly to the American people, but also to create news.

The incoming president's approach to the address also differs in how content is presented, by marrying the 100-year-old technology of radio to 21st-century tools: The speech is still beamed out to radio stations nationwide on Saturday mornings, but it is also recorded for digital video and audio downloads from YouTube, iTunes and the like, so people can access it however they want.

"One of the fundamental precepts of our campaign was to use the new technology to reinvigorate our democracy. That's a commitment we will bring to this administration," senior Obama adviser David Axelrod said.

In its availability and immediacy, online video is a powerful newsmaking tool, said Dan Pfeiffer, the incoming White House deputy communications director.

"Turning the weekly radio address from audio to video and making it on-demand has turned the radio address from a blip on the radar to something that can be a major newsmaking event any Saturday we choose," he said.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT