Techie
4:10 AM | Saturday | 13 March 2010

 

It's spiffier – that we know. The country's first socio-political networking site, politicalarena.com, just had an upgrade, and with the 2010 presidential elections fast approaching, it couldn't have come at a better time.

Politicalarena.com was launched in June last year to provide an additional venue for voters, especially the youth (that's us, ehem), to interact with each other and with the candidates and to get election-related information.

To better accommodate the influx of info as May draws near, politicalarena.com has undergone the following changes:

• It now shows the eight official presidential candidates, their running mates, and those running for senator.
  
• A new Issues section has been added. This is where you'd see the candidates' answers to national issues.
  
• Chat with the candidates starting February (Tuesday nights).
• The Add a Friend button enables us to expand our network.
  
• The Freedom Wall is the site's version of a shout-out box, where you can post thoughts and information that others can view.

Of course, it's better if you register first. Don't worry. Registration is short and simple, and once you're done, you'll have access to exclusive materials. You can also create your own profile, participate in forum discussions, proclaim your love support for a candidate, and even upload photos and videos. Members can even ask the candidates questions regarding different issues. Nothing beats having a direct line to them.

Here are brief descriptions of the website's sections:

• Home: Serves as the entry way to the many sections of the site. Candidates are provided with landing pages and a personal content management system from which to customize content such as their profile, photos, and blog.
• New Issues: Contains a presidentiable's platforms on several national issues, side by side with the other presidentiables' platform for easy access and reference for the members.
• Q&A: Features the most important, sensitive, and relevant issues that affect voters. It contains candidates' platforms and viewpoints, as well as their answers to specific questions as they relate to general issues.
• Forum: Enables direct interaction among site members. Hot and latest socio-political topics can be discussed. Insights and opinions on various issues can be shared.
• News: Provides visitors timely and relevant information about politics and politician members. There are two types of news feeds: Breaking News and Archive News.
• Videos: Contains audio-visual presentations and video feeds of actual interviews and interactions with politician members. Politician members and website members can upload videos files for public viewing, create a community of contributors, and post comments.
• Photos: Shows photos of politicians and members, including candid shots, and pictures with favorite candidates. Politician-members and website members can upload pictures for public viewing, create a community of contributors, and post comments and even search for tagged photos.
• Calendar: Politician members can post their schedule of activities such as appointments, meetings, and campaigns, while site visitors and members can view the details posted on the Calendar.
• Announcements: Politician members can announce activities, events, political rallies, and public notices for site visitors and members.
• Election 101: For the Commission on Elections to provide the voting public with various electoral information, answers to frequently asked questions, and a list of COC filing.
• Opinion Poll: Site visitors can share their general insights on political issues through polls. Politician members may suggest questions, which may help in formulating campaign plans and government action plans. Poll results can be viewed on the website.
• Blog: Allows politician members and site members to share their thoughts with site visitors, be it about national issues, political stand, personal opinions, or just plain talk about life.
• Testimonials: Site visitors can post support messages publicly by giving a testimonial for politician members. Testimonials submitted by site visitors can be viewed immediately in the Candidate Portal Page.
• Supporters: Just like any other social-networking site, politicalarena.com enables site members to associate with politician members by tagging themselves as "supporters." This connects supporters and politician members on a more personal level.