• by Tameka Kee , May 2, 2007

Washingtonpost.com introduced enhancements to its Politics section on Tuesday, expanding the video content and other interactive tools in the latest effort to maximize the Web's new status as a "go-to" source of political information.

The Web site rolled out three major video initiatives with the aim of providing more in-depth coverage of the 2008 presidential and congressional campaigns.

The first is "PostTalk," a streaming video program produced at the Web site's new Arlington, Va. studio. The show will feature interviews with presidential candidates, congressional leaders and other political newsmakers.

Another is a Webcast of "Story Conference," a roundtable discussion of the latest campaign trail developments, by a rotating crew of The Post's online and print reporters. The two programs will alternate bi-weekly, providing a background context to flesh out the site's breaking news coverage.

Finally, washingtonpost.com will host user-generated content from YouTube through a partnership with video weblog PrezVid.com.

"One of the first initiatives we'll be making--is to invite voters to ask questions and invite candidates to answer," said media critic and PrezVid co-founder Jeff Jarvis.

Much like the recently announced Yahoo/HuffPo/Slate online debates, these new developments represent deliberate efforts by major media outlets to connect Web site visitors and politicians in an unprecedented way--and it doesn't end with video.

"It is important we offer readers a unique blend of news and analysis, video, photos, databases and other interactive features as part of our comprehensive political coverage," said executive editor Jim Brady.

To that end, the Politics section is also adding two tools to aid readers in forming their own conclusions about political developments.

"Behind the Numbers" spotlights interesting data from current polls and campaign financial reports, while the "Campaign Tracker" feature allows readers to follow the stumping course of the candidates as they travel the country.

A recent Pew Internet & American Life Project study found that the number of Americans listing the Internet as their primary source of political news doubled between the most recent mid-term elections--a growing population that news organizations like washingtonpost.com are striving to serve.