New Media Tools for Social Promotion/Campaigning by Yelena Jetpyspayeva, M.A. NewEurasia.net Managing Editor, Journalist, blogger, BarCamp Central Asia 2009 organizer Moscow, June, 2009

New Media Tools

for Social Promotion/Campaigning

by Yelena Jetpyspayeva, M.A.

NewEurasia.net Managing Editor,

Journalist, blogger,

BarCamp Central Asia 2009 organizer

Moscow, June, 2009

Agenda What’s new about New Media? How to use? Why to use? NewEurasia.net case study

What’s new about New Media?

How to use?

Why to use?

NewEurasia.net case study

What’s new about New Media? New media is a term meant to encompass the emergence of digital , computerized , or networked information and communication technologies in the later part of the 20th century. http :// en.wikipedia.org / wiki / New_media

New media is a term meant to encompass the emergence of digital , computerized , or networked information and communication technologies in the later part of the 20th century.

http :// en.wikipedia.org / wiki / New_media

What’s new about New Media? W. Russell Neuman , John Derby Evans Professor of Media Technology , University of Michigan, USA (1991) : "We are witnessing the evolution of a universal interconnected network of audio, video, and electronic text communications that will blur the distinction between interpersonal and mass communication and between public and private communication" Neuman argues that New Media: Will alter the meaning of geographic distance. Allow for a huge increase in the volume of communication. Provide the possibility of increasing the speed of communication. Provide opportunities for interactive communication. Allow forms of communication that were previously separate to overlap and interconnect. http :// en.wikipedia.org / wiki / New_media

W. Russell Neuman , John Derby Evans Professor of Media Technology , University of Michigan, USA (1991) : "We are witnessing the evolution of a universal interconnected network of audio, video, and electronic text communications that will blur the distinction between interpersonal and mass communication and between public and private communication"

Neuman argues that New Media:

Will alter the meaning of geographic distance.

Allow for a huge increase in the volume of communication.

Provide the possibility of increasing the speed of communication.

Provide opportunities for interactive communication.

Allow forms of communication that were previously separate to overlap and interconnect.

http :// en.wikipedia.org / wiki / New_media

What’s new about New Media? Creating, building upon, sharing the information Dependant on users Multidimensional approach Creating / Giving the information Dependant on advertisers Top down approach ‘ new’ media ‘ old’ traditional media

Creating, building upon, sharing the information

Dependant on users

Multidimensional approach

Creating / Giving the information

Dependant on advertisers

Top down approach

How to use? Tools available for free to be used in every little campaign Choose what is acting the most in your campaign Choose what is close to your auditoria

Tools available for free to be used in every little campaign

Choose what is acting the most in your campaign

Choose what is close to your auditoria

Why to use? More access to information in a way people absorb the information the best Better tool to attract attention to the problem More people -> more statistics ‏ -> more control Getting into contact without mediators ‏ Independence from location and place, virtual headquarters and planning Creative mechanisms for fundraising and collective actions Sharing and spreading Etc.

More access to information in a way people absorb the information the best

Better tool to attract attention to the problem

More people -> more statistics ‏ -> more control

Getting into contact without mediators ‏

Independence from location and place, virtual headquarters and planning

Creative mechanisms for fundraising and collective actions

Sharing and spreading

Etc.

`

Useful Google Map: Embassies Accepting Injured in Iran

57 times RT the information

Straisand effect The Streisand effect is an Internet phenomenon where an attempt to censor or remove a piece of information backfires, causing the information to be widely publicized. Examples of such attempts include censoring a photograph , a number , a file , or a website (for example via a cease-and-desist letter ). Instead of being suppressed, the information quickly receives extensive publicity, often being widely mirrored across the Internet , or distributed on file-sharing networks . http :// en.wikipedia.org / wiki / Straisand_Effect

The Streisand effect is an Internet phenomenon where an attempt to censor or remove a piece of information backfires, causing the information to be widely publicized. Examples of such attempts include censoring a photograph , a number , a file , or a website (for example via a cease-and-desist letter ).

Instead of being suppressed, the information quickly receives extensive publicity, often being widely mirrored across the Internet , or distributed on file-sharing networks .

http :// en.wikipedia.org / wiki / Straisand_Effect

What best describes your view of online / new media journalism and its role in your community? 2007 Newsroom Barometer, World Editors Forum and Reuters

Because of the possibility to interact with readers online, it has been said that: "News is no longer a lecture, it is a conversation" (Dan Gillmor). How do you view the effects of this phenomenon on quality journalism? 2007 Newsroom Barometer, World Editors Forum and Reuters

Do you think that the majority of news (print and online) will be free in the future? 2007 Newsroom Barometer, World Editors Forum and Reuters

Trends Journalists are no longer control the information Citizen journalism When to report than what to report matters most (speed) Sites -> blogs -> microblogs/thumblogs/surveillance, etc.

Journalists are no longer control the information

Citizen journalism

When to report than what to report matters most (speed)

Sites -> blogs -> microblogs/thumblogs/surveillance, etc.

Media Situation in Central Asia: Overview Declared democracies but authoritarian in practice regimes Weak traditional media (official news + entertainment) Country coverage mostly by state-owned media Censorship and restrictive media laws ‘ Closed countries’ in terms of information (‘happy life’ inside the country, ‘no freedom of speech’ from outside perspective)

Declared democracies but authoritarian in practice regimes

Weak traditional media (official news + entertainment)

Country coverage mostly by state-owned media

Censorship and restrictive media laws

‘ Closed countries’ in terms of information (‘happy life’ inside the country, ‘no freedom of speech’ from outside perspective)

New Media Contest Internet penetration growth (Kazakhstan: from 6% (2005) to 1 4 % (2008)) Active youth with firm civil position + opinion leaders Reporting from the country = Civil journalism Difficulties : Lack of New Media knowledge High costs for Internet Introduction of restrictive Internet regulations LJ blockage since 7.10.2008 in Kazakhstan (+Kyrgyzstan)

Internet penetration growth (Kazakhstan: from 6% (2005) to 1 4 % (2008))

Active youth with firm civil position + opinion leaders

Reporting from the country = Civil journalism

Difficulties :

Lack of New Media knowledge

High costs for Internet

Introduction of restrictive Internet regulations

LJ blockage since 7.10.2008 in Kazakhstan (+Kyrgyzstan)

www.neweurasia.net “ neweurasia is a network of weblogs coordinated and written by bright young individuals from Central Asia together with their peers around the globe. neweurasia has many faces, but one uniting aim: bringing together young, committed people from around the world in the hope of offering these young thinkers space to publish their ideas on Central Asia ” . Ben Paarman, 27 y.o., the founder. a former student of Development Studies at Cambridge University and Development Economics at SOAS . C urrently resides in The Hague / Netherlands, where works as a political analyst focusing on emerging markets. Contact Ben at ben (at) neweurasia (dot) net http :// www.paarmann.info /

“ neweurasia is a network of weblogs coordinated and written by bright young individuals from Central Asia together with their peers around the globe.

neweurasia has many faces, but one uniting aim: bringing together young, committed people from around the world in the hope of offering these young thinkers space to publish their ideas on Central Asia ” .

Ben Paarman, 27 y.o., the founder.

a former student of Development Studies at Cambridge University

and Development Economics at SOAS .

C urrently resides in The Hague / Netherlands, where works

as a political analyst focusing on emerging markets.

Contact Ben at ben (at) neweurasia (dot) net

http :// www.paarmann.info /

Who are we? Founded in 2005 by US and EU students to report from and on Central Asia; Original principle: one country, one blog; main site as the «hub»; T eamed up with Transitions Online (TOL, Media NGO from Prague) in 2006, employed «bridge bloggers» - paid bloggers who head the country sections; Funded by Hivos and OSI.

Founded in 2005 by US and EU students to report from and on Central Asia;

Original principle: one country, one blog; main site as the «hub»;

T eamed up with Transitions Online (TOL, Media NGO from Prague) in 2006, employed «bridge bloggers» - paid bloggers who head the country sections;

Funded by Hivos and OSI.

Achievements Steady news flow, increasing visitor numbers, launch of Russian and Kazakh/Kyrgyz/Uzbek/Tajik language versions; B locked in Uzbekistan since summer 2006; Altogether 50 training sessions, seminars and conferences (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) reaching 600+ people; ‘ Best Blog’ contest, specific country highlights, mainstream media attention.

Steady news flow, increasing visitor numbers, launch of Russian and Kazakh/Kyrgyz/Uzbek/Tajik language versions;

B locked in Uzbekistan since summer 2006;

Altogether 50 training sessions, seminars and conferences (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) reaching 600+ people;

‘ Best Blog’ contest, specific country highlights, mainstream media attention.

Training sessions Traffic Unique pageviews

Training sessions

Traffic

Unique pageviews

International audience Kazakhstan blogs dominant

International audience

Kazakhstan blogs dominant

Current technological limits Multi-install Wordpress hard to maintain; Few (useful) «Web 2.0» features; No clear navigation between languages; How can we highlight the various forms of content we have?

Current technological limits

Multi-install Wordpress hard to maintain;

Few (useful) «Web 2.0» features;

No clear navigation between languages;

How can we highlight the various forms of content we have?

Difficulties Are we a blog? A news-site? A webzine? Who do we publish for? Central Asia or Europe/US? What’s our editorial mission? How can we make sure there is real dialogue between the readerships? How can we retain our position as the «region’s premier blogging network»? Do we want to «spin off» successful local language blogs into separate and independent projects? Finally, where will we be in one year’s time?

Are we a blog? A news-site? A webzine?

Who do we publish for? Central Asia or Europe/US?

What’s our editorial mission?

How can we make sure there is real dialogue between the readerships?

How can we retain our position as the «region’s premier blogging network»?

Do we want to «spin off» successful local language blogs into separate and independent projects?

Finally, where will we be in one year’s time?

Modifying neweurasia.net New one-installation Wordpress blog hub uniting all different country sections; More «newsy» look, clear hierarchy of stories; New theme-based navigation; Better and cleaner photo, video and podcast integration;

Modifying neweurasia.net

New one-installation Wordpress blog hub uniting all different country sections;

More «newsy» look, clear hierarchy of stories;

New theme-based navigation;

Better and cleaner photo, video and podcast integration;

Modifications: tech/managerial Change towards more «quality blogging» - original stories + exclusive photo/video content; Clear hierarcy : Managing editors (Russian, English) Country editors (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) BridgeBloggers Bloggers; Better integration with diff.types of media: developing stories out of blog posts, offering monetary and development rewards to bloggers; More translations -> more flow of information between the different audiences; Day-by-day development and exchange : newsletter, sharing results, real team work!! (twitter, flickr, etc.)

Change towards more «quality blogging» - original stories + exclusive photo/video content;

Clear hierarcy :

Managing editors (Russian, English)

Country editors (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan)

BridgeBloggers

Bloggers;

Better integration with diff.types of media: developing stories out of blog posts, offering monetary and development rewards to bloggers;

More translations -> more flow of information between the different audiences;

Day-by-day development and exchange : newsletter, sharing results, real team work!! (twitter, flickr, etc.)

Showcasing the potential of «quality» citizen media by compiling and editing a book of 60-odd best posts Further monitoring of the local blogospheres and cooperation with Global Voices

Showcasing the potential of «quality» citizen media by compiling and editing a book of 60-odd best posts

Further monitoring of the local blogospheres and cooperation with Global Voices

+ sharing, emailing, personal talkings, social networking, etc.

Blog with us! Interested in blogging for NewEurasia.net? Get in contact with Managing Board: Christopher Schwartz [email_address] for English Yelena Jetpyspayeva [email_address] for Russian

Interested in blogging for NewEurasia.net?

Get in contact with Managing Board:

Christopher Schwartz [email_address] for English

Yelena Jetpyspayeva [email_address] for Russian

Tools Blogging, etc. Social bookmarking, etc. Sharing, etc. Social networking, etc. Campaigning, etc. Facebook Delicious Twitter + more and more tools in the nearest future available for free use and integration into the ‘global network’

Blogging, etc.

Social bookmarking, etc.

Sharing, etc.

Social networking, etc.

Campaigning, etc.

Facebook Delicious Twitter + more and more tools in the nearest future available for free use and integration into the ‘global network’

Thank you!

Thank you!