Leaders should embrace Facebook , Twitter
Jun 09, 2011
THE recent online spat between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and British columnist, Ian Birrell, portends the inevitable, if uncomfortable presence of social media in our lives.
By Stephen Ssenkaaba
THE recent online spat between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and British columnist, Ian Birrell, portends the inevitable, if uncomfortable presence of social media in our lives.
Previously, public figures engaged with ordinary people at highly orchestrated functions.
They stood at the podium and spoke through blaring loudspeakers, usually not to but at the audience-the positioning of such podiums on raised grounds with the ‘big-man’ soaring above the crowds and looking down on his audience, often a poignant metaphor for the kind of relationship between the powerful and the ordinary folk.
The room for feedback was never there and the communication process was at best one-sided.
Then came Twitter, Facebook, the blogosphere and other social media. The barriers were broken. In their interactive nature, new media technologies broke the cocoon that sheltered many otherwise inaccessible people. They offered a chance to a vast number of people to reach those that they did not imagine ever interacting with.
They also gave users chance to communicate without the threat of censorship. Today, social media have become important channels for public expression of opinions and ideas on issues affecting them. The posts have been shifted and the keys to the gates of information have been handed to the people. They can search, create, post and exchange information as and when they please.
For leaders this is both a challenge and an opportunity- a challenge to deal with the uncontrollable channels of communication, but also an opportunity to use the new media channels to their advantage.
Leaders could be more proactive and engage with the public over social networks. Ministers, MPs, councillors could do well with active Twitter and Facebook accounts, where they, on occasion, personally engage with people without using pseudonyms.
People would be happy to sign up to Kampala Mayor Elias Lukwago’s Twitter account just so they can know what he is up to. So many would happily chat with Justice minister Kahinda Otafiire on Facebook to ask questions and share ideas.
This would not only help such leaders to understand their people’s needs, it would also enhance accountability. Most leaders have not considered this option, but it is a very proactive way of keeping in touch with a significant constituency.
The writer is a journalist
THE recent online spat between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and British columnist, Ian Birrell, portends the inevitable, if uncomfortable presence of social media in our lives.
Previously, public figures engaged with ordinary people at highly orchestrated functions.
They stood at the podium and spoke through blaring loudspeakers, usually not to but at the audience-the positioning of such podiums on raised grounds with the ‘big-man’ soaring above the crowds and looking down on his audience, often a poignant metaphor for the kind of relationship between the powerful and the ordinary folk.
The room for feedback was never there and the communication process was at best one-sided.
Then came Twitter, Facebook, the blogosphere and other social media. The barriers were broken. In their interactive nature, new media technologies broke the cocoon that sheltered many otherwise inaccessible people. They offered a chance to a vast number of people to reach those that they did not imagine ever interacting with.
They also gave users chance to communicate without the threat of censorship. Today, social media have become important channels for public expression of opinions and ideas on issues affecting them. The posts have been shifted and the keys to the gates of information have been handed to the people. They can search, create, post and exchange information as and when they please.
For leaders this is both a challenge and an opportunity- a challenge to deal with the uncontrollable channels of communication, but also an opportunity to use the new media channels to their advantage.
Leaders could be more proactive and engage with the public over social networks. Ministers, MPs, councillors could do well with active Twitter and Facebook accounts, where they, on occasion, personally engage with people without using pseudonyms.
People would be happy to sign up to Kampala Mayor Elias Lukwago’s Twitter account just so they can know what he is up to. So many would happily chat with Justice minister Kahinda Otafiire on Facebook to ask questions and share ideas.
This would not only help such leaders to understand their people’s needs, it would also enhance accountability. Most leaders have not considered this option, but it is a very proactive way of keeping in touch with a significant constituency.
The writer is a journalist