Comments on: Social media and social justice

By: Burgo

Burgo — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:35:48 +0000

Barry, great post… and I’m sorry to derail the conversation here slightly, but hopefully Mark is still monitoring the comments here; if he is, Mark, could I just ask, are you aware that the Project Toto blog is currently blocking search engines from indexing still? Was that an oversight when setting up WordPress for it (privacy settings) or a conscious decision? Just thought I should bring it up in case

By: Michael Quall

Michael Quall — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:49:33 +0000

i think we’re also at a nexus where two worlds are still trying to figure each other out.

‘old school’ community development and social justice practitioners are still ‘discovering’ social media and such fandangled stuff, and deciding for themselves if it fits their ‘capacity building’ and ‘sustainability’ ethos and methodologies. [social media as a tool]

on the other hand, new media pioneers are discovering that what they do can have a positive impact on the world, and address issues that they have always cared about, but their ‘field of expertise’ has not previously contributed to in an overt way. and they like the feeling it gives them. [social media as a career]

both perspectives are equally valid, and both can have positive lasting effects on communities, and on issues of substance.

i like barry’s analogy of ‘producer’, because I’ve always thought of myself as ‘director’ – seeing the big picture, picking the tools, guiding the direction, analysing the results. but even good producers and directors need good talent – new, fresh and local mixed with the hardened, experienced imports.

By: Barry

Barry — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:31:38 +0000

@Harriet Yes! that’s exactly what I’m getting at.

@Tyler yes, definitely.I certainly not saying that high profile people should not get involved, but finding a balance where you can help without overriding the voices of other people can be hard.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:21:07 +0000

I agree Barry. There are times when these high-profile social media proponents” can use their influence to lead a project into a place where people can become more engaged and their voices heard more clearly. Some people probably find it more difficult to step back though.

By: Barry

Barry — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:18:11 +0000

Hey thanks Mark! and kudos to ActionAid for undertaking the project.

By: Harriet Wakelam

Harriet Wakelam — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:13:33 +0000

I thoroughly enjoyed your post. The term social media producer encompasses the message that effective use of data, whether blog/image/twitter is about constructing meaning around message, as opposed to pushing a story.

By: Mark Chenery

Mark Chenery — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:51:16 +0000

Thanks for a well thought-through comment on how social media experts/gurus/producers (whatever you call them) can help support social justice causes.

It’s important in all this debate about who’s shown what support to who, to remember why ActionAid is doing this project in the first place.

It’s not about Stilgherrian. It’s not about the next outreach blogger. It’s not about the Australian social media community as such.

The real reason we’re undertaking Project TOTO, is to give Australians an insight into life in a developing country – specifically what poverty and injustice really means and what can be done about it.

The real success measure, therefore, is the support we give to our outpost blogs. At the moment, that means our Tanzania bloggers – Albert and Abdul http://blogs.actionaid.org.au/tanzania

I’m happy to say they have had good support so far and I hope that continues. Thanks to everyone that’s commented on their blog and shown support in other ways.