In August IPDI will proudly host two of its Ideas Series Book Discussions — an evening wine and cheese discussion with David Perlmutter, author of Blogwars, on Monday, August 11 and a brown bag lunch discussion with Colin Delany, author of Online Politics 101 on Wednesday, August 13.

Here are the details:

IPDI Book Discussion on Blogwars with David Perlmutter - Monday, August 11
Monday, August 11
4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
The library of the Graduate School of Political Management
4th Floor
GWU’s Media and Public Affairs Building
805 21st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20052
RSVP REQUIRED to julie@ipdi.org

David Perlmutter is a professor at the William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications, University of Kansas. He received his BA and MA from the University of Pennsylvania and his Ph.D. He writes a regular column, “P&T Confidential,” for the Chronicle of Higher Education. He is editor of the blog of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas (http://www.doleinstituteblog.org/ ) and his own blog about online politics, http://policybyblog.squarespace.com/.

Blogwars: The New Political Battleground
In Blogwars, David D. Perlmutter examines this rapidly burgeoning phenomenon, exploring the degree to which blogs influence–or fail to influence–American political life. Challenging the hype, Perlmutter points out that blogs are not that powerful by traditional political measures: while bloggers can offer cogent and convincing arguments and bring before their readers information not readily available elsewhere, they have no financial, moral, social, or cultural leverage to compel readers to engage in any particular political behavior. Indeed, blogs have scored mixed results in their past political crusades. But in the end, Perlmutter argues that blogs, in their wide dissemination of information and opinions, actually serve to improve democracy and enrich political culture.

IPDI Book Discussion on Online Politics 101 with Colin Delany - Wednesday, August 13

Wednesday, August 11

Noon-1:30pm

The library of the Graduate School of Political Management

4th Floor

GWU’s Media and Public Affairs Building

805 21st Street, NW

Washington, DC 20052

RSVP REQUIRED to julie@ipdi.org

Colin Delany is founder and editor of Epolitics.com, a site that focuses on the tools and tactics of Internet politics and online advocacy. Launched in July of 2006, Epolitics.com received the Golden Dot Award as “Best Blog - National Politics” at the 2007 Politics Online Conference. The site also features the “Online Politics 101″ e-book.

About Online Politics 101

“Online Politics 101: The Tools and Tactics of Online Advocacy,” looks comprehensively at the Internet political organizing methods that work today, with new sections including tools such as Facebook, Twitter and online advertising. Other chapters explore topics including online video, viral marketing and online fundraising. The 52-page, free handbook also discusses topics ranging from the essentials of building an effective campaign website to the use of blogs to promote candidates and issues. “Online Politics 101″ promotes an integrated approach to online campaigning at all levels, from individual activists to national campaigns.