ABSTRACT
Much like traditional communication technologies of their time, the interactive features of Web 2.0 technologies open the doors for average citizens to participate in the democratic process in ways never thought possible. Hopes for a better democracy have shifted to new media with the anticipation of encouraging participation, giving voices to marginalized groups (Dahlberg, 2007) and producing more informed citizens (Racine Group, 2002; Minow & LaMay, 2008). Web 2.0 technologies add a new dimension to political campaigns whereby citizens can view and listen to political messages as well as produce and distribute the messages themselves. Today, user-generated, video-sharing Web sites like YouTube allow citizens to generate and post their own political or social commentary.
