The Channel | 2009 | Issue 2

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THE CHANNEL | ISSUE 2 2009 | 51
Is the world on the verge of civic participation?
Howard Rheingold from Stanford University, one of the most important
trailblazers in Web 2.0 and author of several bestsellers covering the
effects of the Internet on society, opened the DW Global Media Forum. A
renowned social scientist and founder of several online communities, he
coined the term “smart mobs” which describes networks that help their
members communicate more efficiently with each other by using the
Internet. “Something that was never thought possible with this magnitude,
regardless of location and at a phenomenal speed,” said Rheingold.
Whether it is students protesting in Taiwan and Chile, civil unrest in France
or demonstrations in the Philippines, Rheingold believes that new
technologies change the way in which people get together, organize things
and exchange information. The 62-year-old Internet guru from California
posed the question: “Is the world on the verge of a new form of activism
and civic participation?” In his opinion, “smart mobs” have also left their
mark on politics: “The demonstrations that decided the elections in Korea
and Spain were organized via text message.”
Censorship in Zimbabwe
Even in countries where there is
strict media censorship, there are
ways to spread news and
information. In Zimbabwe, the
online community Kubatana
) is doing just
that, said Brenda Burrell, Kubatana
Technical Director. Their project is
called Freedom Fone. She told the
conference in Bonn how they are
using mobile phones to make a
difference.
Affected women feel
abused and showcased
Founder of medica mondiale
Monika Hauser called for the media
to be responsible in its interaction
with the survivors of sexual violence
during wartime. She said the media
reports far too often “in a way that
makes the affected women feel
once again abused and showcased
as an object that is attractive to the
media as well as insensitively
confronted with media curiosity.” At
the DW Global Media Forum,
Hauser, who won the Right
Livelihood Award (also known as the
Alternative Nobel Prize) in 2008 for
her commitment to survivors of
sexual violence during wartime,
reported on the situation of affected
girls and women in Liberia and the
Eastern part of the Democratic
Republic of Congo.
Feedback:
Abubakar Jijiwa
The Director General of the Voice of
Nigeria was enthusiastic about the
diversity of the event, both in its
content and the people attending.
He expressed concern, however,
about the wide gap in technological
development. "Some countries are
galloping ahead while others are
limping behind. More needs to be
done to progress development for
the poorest of the poor."
Feedback:
Isabelle Abric
Isabelle has helped develop national
news broadcasting strategies on
United Nations peacekeeping
mission in many countries. Here at
the DW Global Media Forum she
was overwhelmed by the amount of
interesting issues being addressed.
"It was very informative, almost too
dense. But I learned something in
every event I attended – about new
tools to reach people, innovative
ideas, people doing similar things in
other parts of the world, or
insightful cultural aspects."
Feedback:
Marc Hecker
Marc Hecker from the Institut Francais des Relations Internationales in
Paris said the DW Global Media Forum is a refreshing change from the
many meetings with strategists and military experts he's accustomed to.
"It's exciting to meet young bloggers from all around the world. You can feel
the Web changing things, it's not just another means of communication.
New media are bringing us to a new quality threshold. The Internet is not
only a social tool, but also facilitating funding, recruiting and the exchange
of tactics and techniques. You can feel that here."
Feedback:
Hai Ahm Abdul
The freelance consultant for Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and
Communication found the Global Media Forum a "great place for people to
tell stories from their various countries. Inside our societies there are
hindrances and pressure from governments that do not allow open
expression. Here the countries of the world can find ways to facilitate
reconciliation at home. That brings peace and understanding, which
removes conflict. We have to ensure freedom of the press, freedom of
expression, to present the true picture of what is happening in our
homelands."
Feedback:
Rose Athumani
Rose is a journalist with the Daily News in Tanzania. She found the
conference "very impressive" and learned a lot about mass media and new
media and how they are "impacting journalists in both positive and negative
ways. There are no checks for new media, which is dangerous. If we can
better merge them together it will only help our efforts to bring good
information to the public."