unicornnews: CWE use Obama's viral firm

The Communication Workers’ Union is planning on using online PR as well as more traditional union techniques for voicing its disapproval of government plans to part-privatise the Post Office. To that end they have hired the services of the same company who managed Barack Obama’s acclaimed viral communications activity during last year’s presidential elections in the US.

Blue State Digital, a technology company who specialise in providing both tools and guidance for online communication campaigns, mainly for political and pressure groups, got quite a bit of coverage in the US when they provided the backend to Obama’s online activity, and in doing so won him both on-the-street advocates from outside the typical political community and over $3 million in grass-roots contributions.

The CWU hope that they can use Blue Stage Digital’s web tools and methodology to rally opposition to the 30% Post Office sell-off proposals, presumably by transforming isolated supporters of their campaign into one coordinated group.

A CWU spokesperson confirmed their intent to use BSD’s services, telling the Guardian: “People do appreciate getting information direct from source through online contact. It does personalise it and it does mean we are able to reach more people. We recognise that online campaigning has a huge part to play in reaching the British public”.

Posted Wednesday March 4 2009 by Chris Cooke

Related categories: Digital PR & Viral Marketing Political Communications