Blogging basics for political candidates

Dave Winer of the Berkman Centre at Harvard has posted some advice to politicians about how to use the Internet, and in particular encouraging them to blog.

His main advice is

1. run a real weblog
2. get a pied piper (an experience blogger to write your main weblog)
3. include independent bloggers
4. publish advocacy guidelines
5. if you must, offer hosting, but also offer choice
6. have the candidate speak about democracy

In the UK, we already have our very own, home-grown Tom Watson, who already knows more than most about the blogging game. I hope others follow in his footsteps. Tom has recently been joined by Paul Richards, who has launched a blog called The Thinker.