Media hacker

Media hacking refers to the usage of various electronic media in an innovative or otherwise abnormal fashion for the purpose of conveying a message to as large a number of people as possible, primarily achieved via the Web. A popular and effective means of media hacking is posting on a blog, as one is usually controlled by one or more independent individuals, uninfluenced by outside parties. The concept of social bookmarking, as well as Web-based Internet forums, may cause such a message to be seen by users of other sites as well, increasing its total reach.

Use in Politics

Media hacking is commonly employed for political purposes, by both political parties and political dissidents. A good example of this is the 2008 US Election, in which both the Democrats and Republicans used a wide variety of different media in order to convey relevant messages to an increasingly Internet-oriented audience. At the same time, political dissidents used blogs and other social media like Twitter in order to reply on an individual basis to the Presidential candidates. In particular, sites like Twitter are proving important means in gauging popular support for the candidates, though the site is often used for dissident purposes rather than a show of positive support.

Mobile technology has also become subject to media hacking for political purposes. SMS has been widely used by political dissidents as a means of quickly and effectively organising smart mobs for political action. This has been most effective in the Philippines, where SMS media hacking has twice had a significant impact on whether or not the country's Presidents are elected or removed from office. Examples like this exemplify the role that media hacking has in political situations.

See also

• Bohan, S. (2005). "Media Hacking". SeanBohan.com. http://www.seanbohan.com/?p=6. Retrieved February 9, 2007. 
• Heavens, A. (2005). "Hacking Baby Cheetahs and Hunger Strikes". Meskel Square. http://www.meskelsquare.com/archives/2005/11/hacking_baby_cheetahs_and_hung.html. Retrieved February 9, 2007.