Yesterday was one of those “run around” days. The morning was spent at the Silicon Valley Foundation. They are preparing to enter the Knight Community Challenge and believing in the mission of the Knight Foundation – I was happy to help them think critically about the information needs of communities.
I wish I could remember the name of the person who said this but it was the take-away quote of the morning for me: “Community organizing IS media.”
I’m not sure what “community organizing” used to represent to past generations. I suspect to my parents (hippies) it meant protesting. You’d organize a community to march down the street. You’d organize a rally and picket the war.
My generation doesn’t picket. The revolution will not be televised, it will be uploaded. Community organizing is now an act of media. It might not even be so at a conscious level – media might not be the goal, but it is certainly the means to an end.
It’s often said that the job description for journalists are changing and that part of the new job is ‘community manager’ – sometimes called the ‘network weaver.’
What they do is organize communities – and while it might not FEEL like media, it is. We may not call them “journalists” but they are helping to inform citizens so they can make decisions in a healthy democracy. They collect, filter and distribute information. Sounds like journalism to me.
Dave, I’m going to make a sign that says, “Community organizing IS media” and put it up on our office wall. I’m not sure that the act of organizing is media itself, but I’m placing big bets that organizing communities enables media to exist at the very least.
Dave said…
“We may not call them “journalists” but they are helping to inform citizens so they can make decisions in a healthy democracy. They collect, filter and distribute information. Sounds like journalism to me.”
It also sound a lot like librarianship to me. Expect an invitation to speak to my graduate library and information sciences course I’ll be teaching this fall on Community Engagement that I’ll be teaching at the University of Illinois. Lots of interesting parallels between citizen journalism and the field of community informatics.
Cheers,
Taylor
This is a very timely post for me. We are about to hire one more person for our web department (only a part-timer but better than nothing since up until now I’ve been the only “web person” in the newsroom.) Not sure what the job title will be but it should be “community manager” (“community advocate”?) since he will be asked to reach out to the community by attending meetings, making calls, sending emails, creating a network, etc.
Community organizing does not = protesting. It is literally about building connections between individuals to create powerful movements that outlast short-term campaigns and create real change.
See Saul Alinky’s 1972 book “Rules for Radicals.” He didn’t invent organizing but he surely mastered the art.
That said, I think making media can be a form of community organizing, but I don’t see organizing as media. I look at the interactivity and empowerment of Web 2.0 as an organizing tool in that it helps people connect to each other (building movements) and lift up their collective voices.
“The revolution will not be televised, it will be uploaded.”
Exactly. There are still some young people who will go out and picket, but most of their protests come in the form of online petitions and groups.
Think of how people — young and not so young — use Facebook to organize their peers and support/advocate causes. You’re much more likely to see college students show their support for McCain or Obama on Facebook than by using a pin, bumper sticker or yard sign (how many college students have yards anyway?)
So, I guess you could also say, “Upload is the new campaign ‘button.’ “
Dave, we’d like to invite you to become one of our Authors in Alexandria. You may mirror your existing posts from here or elsewhere or produce original posts there, as you desire. For your contributions and participation we will blogroll you with no reciprocation required. Come contribute your perspectives and opinions to the ongoing conversations there. Full invitations and instructions have been extended by email.
Might want to check out the Network Weaver Checklist at http://www.networkweaving.com/june.html Would love to hear feedback on the role.