• Wall Street Journal, Detroit Free-Press , Friday, December 5, 2008 10:46 AM

Ford, General Motors and Chrysler are making their case on the Web as well as in Congress. The Big Three have launched campaigns making their individual cases for a federal bailout on several Web sites, including Google and its YouTube video site, blogs, Facebook and Twitter, Emily Steel reports.

Ford last week placed a video on YouTube featuring CEO Alan Mulally and launched a Web site, TheFordStory.com, that differentiates itself from GM and Chrysler. A Google search for such terms as "auto bailout," and "cash flow" brings up a link to the site. The company also has enlisted members of its staff to respond to blog postings and messages on Twitter.

"The auto makers in general have gotten a black eye in the media, and we didn't feel like we were getting a fair shake," says Scott Monty, global digital and multimedia communications manager at Ford.

Chrysler's efforts include posting to its blog, creating a new YouTube channel called Grab Democracy, as well as a Web site to promote its position. It has also launched a virtual road show.

GM, meanwhile, is running ads tied to search terms about the auto bailout, the United Auto Workers and the economy, posting videos on YouTube and buying ads on the third-party sites where Google sells space to drive users to its GMFactsandFiction.com.

Meanwhile, key senators said they would consider approving at least some of the $34 billion Detroit automakers want in government aid, the Free-Press reports.

The Big Three CEOs are back on the congressional hot seat this morning. The Free-Press is providing live coverage here.

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