Last but not least: New media as a campaign helper

As a community platform, Facebook is no longer just for private entertainment. Experienced stalkers can be found on the network, as can HR professionals. Barack Obama also uses Facebook. According to Joe Rospars, who is responsible for new media in Obama's media campaign, thousands of people wanted to be involved in the campaign after Obama announced his candidacy. In the end, 13 million people were sent emails. Thanks to his Internet community, he was able to raise 500 million dollars online from three million donors. In addition, 45,000 groups were formed online. This movement led to 200,000 events being organized and millions of minute videos being made. Obama also owes his election to the White House to the new media. Swiss politics, on the other hand, is still barely present on platforms such as Facebook or YouTube. According to the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, just one in five federal parliamentarians has a Facebook profile. According to Zurich professor Patrick Donges, who has studied political communication in Switzerland, the financial possibilities as well as the political and media structures stand in the way of the kind of grassroots movement that emerged during Obama's election campaign. Rospars now wants to implement his model in Europe too. His company Blue Star Digital recently opened an office in London after five branches in the USA.