Rubbish TV

I've been investigating MPs on YouTube. Liam Byrne has his own Rubbish TV. And no, it's nothing to do with Jeremy Kyle.

MPs on YouTube

Why do people assume that if I don't blog for a while it's an avoidance tactic? Fact is, on Fridays there's just not the time. The ITV folk who interviewed me today (for next week's The West this Week, a piece on MPs' use of new media) had also interviewed David Heathcote-Amory, who'd said he didn't blog or have a website as 'he preferred to spend the time out and about meeting his constituents'. So if I'm caught wandering the streets of east Bristol at midnight, looking for some voters to talk to, you'll know I've taken his advice to heart.

The ITV folk also asked about YouTube - apparently my Lib Dem neighbour is on it. (I know he used to have a scary video on his website which started talking when you least expected it). And the award-winning Derek Wyatt not only has Derek Wyatt TV but is on YouTube too.

I'm yet to be convinced...

Good technology

The Bristol Blogger has been having a bit of a rant on his site (a 'self-declared rant' in fact) about the Council producing a DVD on recycling. MPs get sent loads of such things. We don't watch them. We don't have time. A few get chucked at researchers, and I try to convince them that yes, I really do expect them to take them home and watch them. Most recently there was one on the Regional Spatial Strategy - what's not exciting about that? (And yes, I know the RSS is important - but essential Saturday night viewing? No).

At the last couple of elections Labour - and I guess the Tories too - produced videos of candidates in marginal seats, distributing them to 1000s of households. I wonder how many got watched? One of my colleagues in fact produced a DVD of his TV highlights, set to the tune of 'Search for a Hero' by M-People (which is enough to put anyone off). Can you imagine mine? Here's a clip of Kerry talking about buses on Points West... And here's another.... And another....

Anyway, what does work - for me at least - are emails with links to YouTube clips. But only if it's something like seals being clubbed, where you need to see it for yourself. And only if they're short. I can't quite see the Regional Spatial Strategy being a YouTube hit.

Vogue

Doing the rounds at Westminster... Project Make McCain Exciting.