Excellent post on the ‘After Photography‘ blog on the keys issues regarding shifts in communications on social issues. It focusses on the move away from linear witnessing towards pluralistic conversations. It comes at this via journalism but applies to the work of NGOs and activists as well. Some of my thoughts on the post are copied below.
‘Thanks for this excellent summary of the key points regarding shifts taking place in communications around social issues. I look forward to getting hold of a copy of your book to see how practically this could work. I agree that there is great potential for creating ‘conversations’ between ‘subject’, ‘reader’ and ‘journalist’, and that this could facilitate better understanding of solutions and appropriate roles for each in addressing issues. The ‘subject’ is increasingly becoming the producer of content, and a key challenge is how this content is used to maximise its impact within strategies for change? I can see the beginnings of this in social activism but it is at an embryonic stage (currently more a ‘meet & greet’ than a ‘virtuous chain of information and mobilisation’ at local, national and international levels). I come at this from a social activist perspective and can see how ‘voice’ (attained in part via new media) can empower individuals and communities impacted by rights violations, as well as better informing those wishing to be involved in a solution from a distance. The democratisation of communications will need to be supported by genuine participation in decision making and action – which is an organisational challenge. I think there needs to be a balance between ‘The Wisdom of Crowds’ (as put forward by James Surowieiki) and the potential for an overly democratised space to be usurped by interest groups (as put forward by Fareed Zakaria in ‘The Future of Freedom’). Democratisation does not necessarily lead to better representation, and requires the involvement of diverse, independent, informed and numerous voices. The level of peoples understanding and involvement is still going to vary, and although we need to aim at presenting the world more accurately we still need to provide information and opportunities for a variety of audiences to be involved – which may be purely providing funds at one end of the spectrum to dedicated in-depth activism at the other.’
Filed under: Article, Multi-media, Photography Tagged: | media, representation
