YouTube shaping the political landscape

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - In it's relatively short existence, YouTube has changed the landscape of media in the United States and has made it possible to broadcast yourself and become your own journalist.

Now, there is evidence that the website may be changing the face of American politics too.

Today at UMass Amherst, techies from across the world gathered to discuss the role of YouTube in politics. The conference addressed whether YouTube has a big impact on campaigns. There have been a number of case studies examining the relationship between the two.

"Whats important about YouTube is that individuals are sending around these links by e-mail and the number of views these particular videos have don't decline as they would in normal media cycles," said Richard Roberts, the Chair of New Media Digital Culture at UNI Amsterdam.

Thursday at UMass Amherst, techies from across the world gathered to discuss the role of YouTube in politics.

The international conference features 10 case studies of YouTube in politics. It runs until Friday.