Help me out here!
Who should I talk to at the DNC?
This year 200 influencers (including me!) are credentialed to be at the Democratic National Convention.
This level of access acknowledges the ever expanding influence of social media personalities and content creators in shaping public opinion. Traditionally, such access was reserved for old school media (there are still thousands of them at the DNC), but now, influencers will have the opportunity to report from the ground, engaging their followers with real-time updates and personal insights.
What I think is exciting about all of these influencers going to the DNC is that there are people who can package politics in a way that works for their audience. Newspapers have a very specific methodology in a way that they put out content, right? Like, it's very, very controlled and specific. But not everyone wants to consume content like that. People now want things through a more personalized lens that is catered to them. They want bias as long as that bias is coming from a person they trust. They want their information filtered through the kind of lens they personally enjoy.
I chatted about all of this on the Under the Influence podcast with Jo Piazza of
. (You can see our unedited video of the talk which involves a lot of laughing and dirty jokes below the pay wall).So for the next week I will be your boots on the ground…your eyes and ears for all things DNC and I want to know what you want me asking and doing. Consider me your representative :) Let me know in the comments and I will make sure to do my best to find what you’re looking for.
Hundreds of organizations are there holding events, pushing their cause and raising awareness about their work. There are lots of people who go to convention just to attend the parties. You have to know people to get on the invite lists for the best ones. This week there are events with John Legend and Joan Jett. People think MTS will show at Hotties for Harris and Beyonce will be on the main stage with Harris on Thurs. I’m not able to interview *those* headliners, but I do hope to get some questions in with Democratic leaders as well as the many smart politcos attending convention.
I’ve also had a bunch of people asking me for a primer. What is the DNC exactly? It’s a bunch of things all at once.
4,000 delegates are coming together to vote for who will be the party nominee. It’s largely a ritual since they already had a virtual roll call vote.
The delegates will also be voting on the party platform, the full document was released yesterday. (and it seems no one hit ctl+f to find mentions of Joe Biden’s second term. YIKES. Clearly they need more lawyers in the room) I assume it will be updated shortly since the republican media machine is going nuts.
It will include speeches to inspire and activate all of the various components of the Democratic base. There are speeches every night Monday- Thursday. Culminating in a speech by Harris accepting the nomination.
It’s a big moment for Harris, it’s the first time she will have a prime time audience with the American people as the candidate. She will lay out her vision for America and her pitch for why she should win over Donald Trump.
The big donors get suites, VIP parties and more. You need money to win a campaign and this is the opportunity to woo, reward and ask for more.
What does it mean to be credentialed?
There’s a lot of different events all over town, but the main event, the actual convention, will be held at the United Center. To have a badge that allows you into the convention is to have ‘credentials.’ (And there are different levels!) It’s not so easy to get, but people get +1s so lots of folks show up and hustle to go to one or two nights. Creators are getting a *special* creator credentials. TBD on if we have any special socialization rooms!
Why should you care?
Why do we like reality TV? Communal experiences tinged with drama and our favorite characters is fun.
It’s exciting! We are building enthusiasm!
This is the campaign in action, we are going to see how Dems are pitching themselves and Harris to America
Tell me in the coments what you want to hear from me!! Questions I can answer and more. Below the paywall you’ll find the videos of me and Jo Piazza pre-gaming summer camp for dem nerds. Thanks for your support!