Media Literacy Thoughts 1

More important than critical media awareness is the ability to act upon that awareness. Youth ought to be able to actively participate in producing and sending messages in the public sphere, shifting media discourse in the direction of their interest. Media literacy is not only concerned with reading the media, but also writing it. Enabling citizens to be active in the public sphere, media literacy exemplifies a democratic empowerment of society.

Quotes from the summary

Quotes of the Day (from the discussions)

My addition:

K.I.S.S.
Keep It Short and Simple

and

A.C.T.
Angle. Creativity. Timing.

Tina, US: I have never used a blog because I am not sure what to write or how you get others to read/engage in it.

Xiaoyuan, China, GreenSOS: blogspot is not accessible in china; it is blocked. [In addition to Wikipedia…]

Paty - Brazil: We can say the media is fourth power

Tina, US: If used correctly, media can promote our social movements. They must be innovative and magnetic

Natalie, Brazil/Norway: i think that sometimes we can help to create momentum as well… civil society can do incredible things to build a good environment for some [issues/initiatives].

Mike Sheehan: we are training our community to create info flow and not rely on others to bring it to us

Karim / Mike Sheehan: art and culture reaches people on an emotional level...that's where transformation happens

Sarfraz Ali / Pakistan: My quote is "Every thing is possible with Genius people like eGLO Team and Participants"

Shahzaman, Pakistan, RWWO: Thank very much Karim for your invaluable input I have learnt a lot from you.

Daniel Cavallaro: what is the universal language that transcends all barriers?
Douglas Williamson, Germany, USA: love
Toluleke, Nigeria: The universal language also is value for human beings
Paty - Brazil: Karim, we have Esperanto

handbook for bloggers and cyber dissidents

In case you could not download the file which I sent you before the session, you can download it here.

Citizen Journalism at its Best

This South Korean website has become one of the country's most trusted and popular sources for news. It is 100% citizen journalism, employing no journalists! Have a look at the English language version of Ohmynews

Pangea Day

This is an amazing project! It has support from several international entertainment celebrities, as well as many respectable figures globally.
It's also a fantastic example of the media mix we talked about, using a global event, news media, Internet, and the completely new medium of 'participatory film' to promote peace. The website describes the project, which is taking place across the globe on MAY 10, 2008.

The Pangea Day Mission & Purpose

Pangea Day is a global event bringing the world together through film.

Why? In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it's easy to lose sight of what we all have in common. Pangea Day seeks to overcome that – to help people see themselves in others – through the power of film.

The Pangea Day Event

Starting at 18:00 GMT on May 10, 2008, locations in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro will be linked for a live program of powerful films, live music, and visionary speakers. The entire program will be broadcast – in seven languages – to millions of people worldwide through the internet, television, and mobile phones.

The 24 short films to be featured have been selected from an international competition that generated more than 2,500 submissions from over one hundred countries. The films were chosen based on their ability to inspire, transform, and allow us see the world through another person's eyes. Details on the Pangea Day films can be viewed here.

The program will also include a number of exceptional speakers and musical performers. Queen Noor of Jordan, CNN's Christiane Amanpour, musician/activist Bob Geldof, and Iranian rock phenom Hypernova are among those taking part.

What Will Happen After Pangea Day

People inspired by Pangea Day will have the opportunity to participate in community-building activities around the world. Through the live program, the Pangea Day web site, and self-organized local events, everyday people will be connected with extraordinary activists and organizations.

Many of the films and performances seen on Pangea Day will be made available on the Web and via mobile phone, alongside open forums for discussion and ideas for how to take social action.

A Pangea Day documentary will be created to catalyze future activities, and dozens of talented filmmakers will make strides in their careers.

History

In 2006, filmmaker Jehane Noujaim won the TED Prize, an annual award granted at the TED Conference. She was granted $100,000, and more important, a wish to change the world. Her wish was to create a day in which the world came together through film. Pangea Day grew out of that wish. Watch Jehane Noujaim’s 2006 acceptance speech now.

Karim in two places at once! Egypt and Costa Rica?

It's us!

Making Waves STORIES OF PARTICIPATORY COMMUNICATION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

Download this book here. It has some excellent examples of particpatory communication for social chage.

EPIC 2015

This is the video we watched at the beginning of the session. What does it tell us about the Internet medium, and how can this be used for positive social change?