Even with the staggering numbers that we have seen over the past year (the newspaper industry shed an estimated 15,970 jobs in 2008, and 8,484 through April of this year), it is important to remember that the future of quality journalism does not depend on the future of newspapers. People have gotten used to getting the news they want, whenever, however and wherever they want. This change is here to stay. The discussion needs to move from “How do we save newspapers?” to “How do we strengthen journalism — regardless of which platform it is delivered on…”

We must not act as if we are still operating in the old content economy, as opposed to the new link economy. The survival of the industry cannot be found by “protecting” content behind walled gardens. The future is a linked economy – it is search engines, online advertising, citizen journalism and foundation supported investigative funds.

Arianna firmly believes in a hybrid future:

where old media players embrace the ways of new media (including transparency, interactivity, and immediacy) and new media companies adopt the best practices of old media (including fairness, accuracy, and high-impact investigative journalism). The emphasis should not be on subsidizing what exists now, but on how to rededicate ourselves to the highest calling of journalists — which is to ferret out the truth, wherever it leads. Even if it means losing our all-access-pass to the halls of power.

Unfortunately, this is a concept that has fallen out of favor with too many journalists who, like Pontius Pilat, wash their hands of finding the truth and instead are obsessed with a false view of “balance” and the misguided notion that every story has two sides. And that the truth can be found somewhere in the middle. But not every story has two sides and the truth is often found lurking in the shadows.

[tags] huffington, news, senate,arianna[/tags]

The soldiers’ testimonies described cold-blooded murder of Gaza civilians and unreasonable commands passed during the operation. This lead to a promise by the military to form an investigation which was recently concluded, resulting in no file charges against any of the soldiers as their descriptions were based on hearsay. Their names have not been released in order to protect their identity, and the military investigative police did not publish any more information about the case.

Zamir’s efforts haven’t sat well with a certain patriotic constituency within Israeli society. The IDF is seen as a sacred national institution that is beyond reproach. I’m sure Zamir didn’t expect to be lionized for his efforts, he probably didn’t expect to be vilified either. Not only have Israelis accused him of smearing the IDF, they’ve accused him of aiding and abetting the nation’s enemies who are only waiting to pounce upon such stories to justify their hatred of Israel. The IDF itself initiated this campaign by revealing that Zamir had been imprisoned briefly in the 1990s when he refused to guard a settler group holding a provocative religious ceremony at Joseph’s Tomb. They attempted to shoot the messenger. (link)

While doing research for my Global Voices Online post, I scoured through Israblog, Tapuz and other Hebrew portals, trying to find posts from soldier first-hand witnesses who wrote about their experiences in Gaza. To my dismay, I could not find any. It is such a taboo topic; an Israeli must not help those haters validate their claims against our country. We were all soldiers. We all realize that these situations are not black and white. And even if these stories are somewhat true on a micro level, it is certainly not an IDF-wide phenomenon. But when they are taken out of context and amplified to the masses, it is easy to forget the source, while letting our emotions play out. Especially when messages are rapidly amplified through Twitter, the effects can be devastating ( a.k.a. what we saw last week re: #amazonFail)

Ever more often, we are witnessing the implications of living in a society with fast-paced, worldwide media coverage that can easily spin stories out from their original context. This is precisely how a closed door session between school colleagues turns into a worldwide news sensation against the reputation of one of the most powerful armies in the world. We must remember that the truth usually lies somewhere in-between, and make an effort to fact-check before letting our emotions passionately take over our logic.

Here’s a link to my GVO article:

[tags]Israel,global voices oline,testimonials,context,idf,soldiers,war,palestine,gaza[/tags]

Alfred Sirleaf is the managing editor of The Daily Talk, a white plywood shed trumpeting the latest headlines along Tubman Boulevard, one of Monrovia main thoroughfares. “Those who don’t have opportunity to buy newspaper, go on the Internet, who can’t afford to buy generator to buy TV,” he said, describing just about everyone in this battered city, “I do all the dirty work for them, and I just give them exactly what they want.”

Alfred’s solution to dispersing information to the people around him is simple yet highly effective. He also seems to have made a business model out of this board, charging for advertisement space on the bottom. Alfred wants to make sure every Liberian can keep up with the news and play a part in the country’s young democratic government, but in a way that wholly depends on what type of information he displays.

But there are so many advantages to providing “analog” news:

Alfred serves as a reminder to the rest of us, that simple is often better, just because it works. The lack of electricity never throws him off. The lack of funding means he’s creative in ways that he recruits people from around the city and country to report news to him. He uses his cell phone as the major point of connection between him and the 10,000 (he says) that read his blackboard daily. (link)

[tags]mobile, development, blogger, analog, africa,news[/tags]

Happy reading.

[tags]nytimes,gvo,global,voices,online,journalism,censorship[/tags]

I am a big sucker for the New York times audio+visual slideshows. The interactive environment that the NYTimes has built is a fantastic way to receive personal stories – stunning photos, solid narration and lots of links to videos and texts. I almost want to build something similar for GVO. With the joint forces of the 100+ Authors from around the world, the slideshow can concentrate on a different topic every time. Its creator will need to fetch a variety of CC flickr photos, and attach a short recording of the topic. There could be additional links to videos and other stories on the topic – A visual representation of a story for those readers who engage with the content better through images rather than text.

Below, a screenshot from the NYTimes Interactive slideshow about life in Gaza. Shortly narrated at first, then accompanied by four different perspectives on people who live in Gaza.

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Conclusion? I need many more hours in the day. On my list of to-do’s – find an effective, open source tool that would allow us to create these visual-audio slideshows for GVO. If that doesn’t exist… well… build it.

[tags]audio,news,global,voices,online,visual,slideshow,gvo[/tags]

When do you get to hear about life in Madagascar? Or those communities recovering from the war in Bolivia? or even about daily life in Iran. Rising Voices provides micro-grants to a chosen number of projects on a bi-yearly basis. All projects deal with one major topic – providing regular people around the world the knowledge and toolset to share their stories; amplify their voices.

Rising Voices seeks to empower under-represented communities to make their voices heard online by 1.) providing financial support to outreach projects, 2.) developing a series of participatory media tutorials, and 3.) cultivating a network of passionate citizen media activists to help encourage and support the replication of outreach trainings.

Below is a trailer highlighting several of the Rising Voices projects. David has challenged the GV community to translate it into over 50 different languages. I did my share – Hebrew text available (using the fantastic dotSUB service). I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to translate subtitles.

Keep up the amazing work David!

[tags]risingvoices, rising, voices, GVO, globalvoicesonline, citizen, journalism, third, world, citizen, media [/tags]

Sam described some of the issues Witness deals with, working with online video, and introduced their recent web-video platform, the hub. Sam’s vision of video, is a tool for change. He mentioned the importance of smart narrowcasting rather than the usual broadcasting. When Narrowcasting, one concentrating on a smaller audience, to which the content is more relevant, rather than trying to produce content that speaks to a larger crowd (which is *usually* much more difficult to create). He stresses the importance of video having a reason and speaking directly to a particular audience. Some of the challenges Witness is currently facing deals with creating effective content used in courts discussions on human rights in Africa. How can you capture someone’s testimony effectively abd then project it directly within a judicial discussion?

The Hub is Witness’s solution, a site that provides the context that youtube lacks. Whenever a video on a “different topic” ( for instance human rights issues…) is uploaded to youtube, it is usually followed by a trail of nasty comments. When taken out of context and placed in the generic pool of youtube videos, a social activism clip does poorly, both in hits and in sparking conversation (Sam gave statistics for this – something like 10 times less views on average). I don’t fully agree with this statement, although it might work out when looking at the average. From my perspective it is a matter of production and knowing how to create and enticing narrative that will grab a wide audience.

Henry Jenkins, in return, talked about the importance of having a site like youtube as point of intersection – this meeting point for diverse communities. He recognizes the potential of change when everyday citizens have the opportunity to participate and create content that is seen by and affects masses. He stresses the importance of achieving diversity, and maintaining it even through the many obstacles that exist. Jenkins is optimistic that we can move from a narcicistic, self-indulging youtube to a group-friendly platform. However there are obstacles along the way:

1) Participation Gap – digital divide, access to using technology. If nowadays anyone can produce media, why don’t they all do it? There is still a lack of access to skills and to educational opportunities. Digital Media Literacy is extremely important.
2) Top videos on sites – everyone voting is a problematic method. What are better ways to present minorities in a participatory culture? Youtube masks minority perspectives.
3) Hate speach that surrounds diversity – you’re made fun of and receive racist comments if you are different, sadly. The web enhances social behavior, from which the nastiness is certainly present in forums and the commenting space of popular sites. On the other hand, if we create safe little enclaves, they will be excluded from the conversation. It is important for human rights videos to stay within the main turf, and bubble up more, even on youtube. Moving sideways, or out is problematic.

I want more talk about production and less about access
Access is pretty much taken care of. The tools exist, they are becoming more and more ubiquitous, and are reaching a wide array of users worldwide. While it is extremely easy to upload a video to the web, it is still very difficult to produce it. To make it good. Making an engaging video is much more difficult that it seems. It is a bottleneck which is not catching up fast enough to the rise of the sheer amounts of raw data. I want to see more tools that help with scripting, framing shots, weaving engaging narratives and editing. That is the part which usually makes video content memorable. We are already in a world overloaded with far too much content. Online production tools like Kaltura, youtube remixer and jumpcut are a good start, but the pressure is on… and it is only growing.

[tags] video247, summit, DIY, video, Jenkins, Henry, Sam, Gregory, youtube[/tags]

When the East German government announced on November 9, 1989, after several weeks of civil unrest, that entering West Berlin would be permitted, crowds of East Germans climbed onto and crossed the wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere. Over the next few weeks, parts of the wall were chipped away by a euphoric public and by souvenir hunters; industrial equipment was later used to remove almost all of the rest of it. The fall of the Berlin wall paved the way for German reunification, which was formally concluded on October 3, 1990. (source)

The beginning of this scenario sounds awfully similar to the current situation unraveling in the Gaza Strip. For the past 10 days, there has been a free flow of Palestinians in and out of Egypt, through a section of the wall which was brought down by Hamas (picture above taken by Haitham Gabr). Yet the complexity of this story is much greater. Egypt is roped in, forced to take responsibility for the Palestinians, after failing to close down the border again (which resulted in clashes where 38 Egyptians and 6 Palestinians were wounded).

Ever since Hamas took over power in the Gaza Strip, Israel has tightened its closure on the border, not willing to participate in any form of cooperation with a State run by a terrorist organization that does not accept its right to exist. Through constant missile attacks, Israel still provided Gaza with basic amenities – Gas for power, Medical and food supplies. After continuous rocket attacks, Israel decided to tighten the closure over Gaza and not provide Gas nor other supplies. In return, Hamas took down the wall on the border with Egypt, thus forming a new reality, roping Egypt into the situation.

In his book, the True Believer, Eric Hoffer argues that mass movements such as fascism and communism spread by promising a glorious future. To do so, they need to devalue both the past and the present. Mass movements appeal to frustrated people who are dissatisfied with their current state, but are capable of a strong belief in the future. In a highly networked world, it is difficult for regimes to keep people from knowing fact from fiction, and believing in possibilities for different presents. I wonder what it will take to provide Gaza residents with reasons for hope. Do they not remember the days prior to the Intefada? Their economic prosperity and stability when allowed freely to work within Israel and sell their goods? Do they not remember the success of their businesses? I know that many regret voting for Hamas, but just how DID they manage to win the elections, and how can Israel negotiate with a regime that does not support its existence?

Its hard for me to stay optimistic with the current situation in Gaza. One journalist wrote an eyewitness account stating:

Today I have seen people shot before my eyes, I heard the screams of terrified women and children in a burning building, and I argued with gunmen who wanted to take over my home. I have seen a lot in my years as a journalist in Gaza, but this is the worst it’s been.

This is hardly the Berlin wall coming down, nor are there any possibilities for peace in the near future. This is a population with no hope, caught in the middle of extremist agenda, brought unto themselves from a place of no hope.

I too, have lost my hope long ago.

Alan Kay, מממציאי ×ª×›× ×•×Ÿ מכוון-אובייקטים אמר פעם ש”×˜×›× ×•×œ×•×’×™×” היא כל מה שלא ×”×™×” ×›×©× ×™×™× ×• ילדים“. הגדרה זו × ×•×’×¢×ª ×‘× ×§×•×“×” מאוד חשובה – מהות ×”×˜×›× ×•×œ×•×’×™×” תלויה במשתמש והיא × ×ª×ž×›×ª ×¢”×™ × ×•×¨×ž×•×ª חברתיות קיימות. ××ž× × כאשר ×”× ×•×¨×ž×•×ª ×ž×©×ª× ×•×ª, ×× ×• מוצאים את ×¢×¦×ž× ×• במצב חדש בו × ×•×¦×¨×ª ×”×ª× ×”×’×•×ª חדשה. במצב ×”× ×•×›×—×™, לכל אדם יש גישה לבמה – ×©×™× ×•×™ ממודל של one to many אל many to many. חסון עושה טעות גדולה כשהוא מגדיר אתר עם מעל 50,000 מבקרים ביום ×›”עיתון”. הגדרה זו חסרת כל הגיון . האם ×”×›×•×•× ×” ל- 50,000 מבקרים ×©×•× ×™×? דף אחד או על האתר כולו? מה עם אתר ×©× ×ž×¦× על שרתים בחו”ל אך מושך אליו משתמשים מהארץ? לצערי, במקום שהממשלה תבחן את ×™×ª×¨×•× ×•×ª המצב החדש ×•×ª× ×¡×” להציע פתרון הולם לבעיה שהוגדרה, הם בוחרים בדרך של איסור ×¢”×™ חקיקה. במקום להבין את המשתמשים ואת ×”×˜×›× ×•×œ×•×’×™×”, הם ×ž× ×¡×™× להתאים חוקים ×™×©× ×™× ×œ×˜×›× ×•×œ×•×’×™×” חדשה. הם רוצים לקחת ××•×ª× ×• אחורה, לתקופת usenet בה לכל אחד ×”×™×” זיהוי חד-משמעי. במקום להיות אסירי תודה לעובדה שבארץ יש קהל מסור שמגיב בהתלהטות לחדשות – מצב הפוך לקיים בארה”ב – הם הורסים את תרבות הדיון (×©×œ×¦×¢×¨×™× ×• לא תמיד תרבותית… וכאן בעצם שורש הבעיה).

חסון מציין ×›×™ “אסור ×œ× ×• ×œ× ×¦×œ ולהפוך את הרשת לכלי משחית ורוע”.

מר חסון, אתה צריך להבין ×©×”×”×ª× ×”×’×•×ª ×‘××™× ×˜×¨× ×˜ משקפת × ×•×¨×ž×•×ª חברתיות. ישראלים אוהבים להגיב ולהגיד את דעתם. ×”××™×˜× ×¨×˜ מהווה פלטפורמה שרק מעצימה את ×”×”×ª× ×”×’×•×ª הישראלית. ואין מה לעשות, היא ×¨×¢×©× ×™×ª ובוטה. ואת ×–×” לא תוכל ×œ×©× ×•×ª. החוק המוצע רחוק מלהיות פתרון ×œ×”×ª× ×”×’×•×ª שהיא כל כך ×ž×•×‘× ×™×ª בתוך החברה הישראלית. הרי ברור ×›×™ אם חס וחלילה חוק ×–×” יעבור, קיימים מכלול אפשרויות לעקוף אותו.

הבעיה הגדולה היא ×”× ×¡×™×•×Ÿ ×”×–×” להתאים את חוקים ×”×™×©× ×™× לשימוש ×‘×˜×›× ×•×œ×•×’×™×” חדשה. ×™×•× ×ª×Ÿ ×§×œ×™× ×’×¨ מתאר את המהפכה הזו בצורה ×ž×¦×•×™× ×ª:

לאזרח הקטן היתה את ×”××™× ×˜×¨× ×˜, אותו אמצעי ×˜×›× ×•×œ×•×’×™ ודמוקרטי שהוא × ×™×™×˜×¨×œ×™ ×ž×‘×—×™× ×” אידיאולוגית וכל מה שהוא מאפשר ×–×” לכל אדם לקבל במה. ×× ×©×™× התחילו לשתף פעולה, ×× ×©×™× יצרו, כתבו, שיתפו תוכן, הביאו להתרוממות רוח, ×•×”×ž×‘× ×” הישן הבין שהוא הולך לקרוס. ×”×ž×‘× ×” הישן קם היום ומחזיר מלחמה.

×”×ž×‘× ×” הישן משיב מלחמה לא רק בארץ. יש מספיק דוגמאות ×‘×ž×“×™× ×•×ª כמו יפן, אוסטרליה ו-ארה”ב. והקהילה מחזירה אש. דוגמא ×ž×¦×•×™× ×ª פורסמה ×œ××—×¨×•× ×” באתר הגדג’טים של ×‘×•×™× ×’-×‘×•×™× ×’, בה הכתב × ×™×¡×” להעלות את × ×•×©× הפילטר ×©×ž×ª×›× × ×ª חברת at&t על תוכן ×”××™× ×˜×¨× ×˜ שמספקת למשתמשיה. חברו צילם את הראיון, שכמובן, לא ×”×’×™×¢ למסכי הטלויזיה (×”× ×©×œ×˜×™× בחלקם ×¢”×™ חברת at&t ), אך פורסם באתר הפופולארי ×‘×•×™× ×’ ×‘×•×™× ×’ וזכה לתפוצה × ×¨×—×‘×ª! זו משמעות חופש ביטוי שלא תלוי בחברות הגדולות או בממשלה. סוף סוף יש סיכוי לאיזון.

הפתרון שחברי ×”×›× ×¡×ª מחפשים כרוך בפיתוח ×”×˜×›× ×•×œ×•×’×™×” ולא ×‘×©×™× ×•×™ תצורת המשתמשים בה. כאשר מוצגת ×˜×›× ×•×œ×•×’×™×” חדישה, מפתה ויעילה, היא תמשוך משתמשים. כאשר ×˜×›× ×•×œ×•×’×™×” מספקת תועלת, היא מושכת משתמשים. על הממשלה להבין שהחברה בארץ רוצה במה ורוצה להביע את דעתה. ×™×”×™×” חכם מצידכם לחשוב על פתרון ×˜×›× ×•×œ×•×’×™ המציג את טקסטי הטוקבקים בצורה בה למשתמש המזוהה תפוצה רחבה יותר מאשר ×”×× ×•× ×™×ž×™. כמו ש-גל מור מדגיש, “אחד ×”×ž××¤×™×™× ×™× של ×”×× ×•× ×™×ž×™×•×ª המוחלטת היא אי × ×©×™××” באחריות על הדברים ×©× ×›×ª×‘×•. ×× ×•× ×™×ž×™×•×ª מוחלטת משחררת את הרוע המוחלט אצל ×× ×©×™× מסוימים.” תצרו תמריץ למשתמשים להזדהות ולהיות חלק מדיון שמתקיים.

×× ×™ בעד פיתוח כלים חדשים שיתמכו בטוקבטים ויצ’פרו את אלו המשתתפים בשיחה . התחלתי פרויקט קטן שעובר על טוקבקים מאיזור אתר ×”-latimes העוסק בפריימריז האמריקאים ומציג את הטקסטים בצורה ×ž×¢× ×™×™× ×ª (באתר המקורי, יש מספר עצום של תגובות שקשה מאוד לקרא). אשמח לשמוע כל ביקורת שהיא.