At this afternoon’s release event for our new study, Poli-fluentials: The New Political Influencers, Doris Spielthenner of FAS.Research presented some fascinating data about finding and activating networked, word-of-mouth, politically-charged opinion leaders. According to her presentation, as well as the two chapters she co-authored (along with Neal Gorenflo and Harald Katzmair, both of FAS.Research), Poli-fluentials are likely to be “Hubs.” That is, they are more likely to have political networks of 30 or more people.

These Hubs, according to Spielthenner, can be divided into two different categories. Each category of hubs plays a different role in the political process.

1. Community Hubs are at the center of ideological similar or homogeneous networks. In other words, their friends mostly think the same way about politics that they do. Political campaigns and advocacy groups should approach these Community Hubs with political messages and asks that mobilize their base of support.
2. Bridging Hubs are at the center of ideologically diverse or heterogeneous networks. Target Bridging Hubs with “bridging messages” – messages designed to help them reach out to and persuade people of different ideological beliefs.

Spielthenner’s organization, FAS.Research has a history of charting these types of hubs online, offline, and even through cell phone usage. To learn more about Community Hubs and Bridging hubs, check out the publication and the FAS.Research website.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 5th, 2007 at 5:25 pm and is filed under 2008 Election, Advocacy, Social Networks, Social Web. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.