CITIZEN JOURNALISM AND DIGITAL VOICES:

INSTITUTING A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS BETWEEN GLOBAL YOUTH,

TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA FOR POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE

By Robin Worley

2/4/2009

The Problem

Marginalized youth without a voice: 350,000 restaveks 12 million AIDS orphans As many as 100 million

kids living on the streets Significance of the study The Purpose: studying

the impact of digital voices and how marginalized youths can participate to become empowered and change their lives. Focus on Kenyan teens who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.

I’ll add photos as soon as my computer is fixed and I can access them.

State of the World’s Children (UNICEF)

Why should we focus on young people in developing countries? Poverty-2.2 billion living below

the poverty line of $1 per day, and 1 billion of these are children.

Education—In 2006 there were 93 million primary school aged kids out of school. Over 90 million of these kids are in developing countries.

Gender equity-equal educational access for girls

Access to healthcare-Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Before one can reach her potential, she must have basic needs met: food, shelter, health.

Storytelling

The power of stories: they move us emotionally. They let us imagine something different than the reality before us. They can empower the storyteller.

Stories throughout history: myths, fairytales and the hero’s journey.

Stories in the information age: information overload, people are searching for meaning, not more facts.

Change initiated through storytelling-Steve Denning, World Bank CIO, discovered it can help create change in an organization.

2/4/2009

Citizen Journalism

What is it? Non-professionals collect, report, analyze and disseminate news and information.

Why has it emerged? Limitations facing

citizen journalists Why become a

citizen journalist?

Research

Research Objectives : To tell the story of

JUMP To share the media

artifacts produced by JUMP members

To identify whether citizen media and digital stories are effective means of empowering global youths

Research Design

Utilization-focused evaluation with case study research. Patton asks, “How do

we know what is good?”

Inspired by the action research process: researcher identifies a social problem and conducts a research project aimed to provide a solution.

Data Sources

The People—called JUMPers: 11 students from Kauai 12 students from Nakuru 10-15 from Kibera 10-15 from Mombasa Group leaders, chaperones,

mentors The Artifacts

Podcasts-8 podcasts lasting between 3-12 minutes

Video- 4 videos Stories-24 personal stories

from Kenyan teens Field notes of the researcher Observations

Findings-Personal Stories

Findings-Personal Stories

Findings-Personal Stories

Findings-Podcasts

Findings-Podcasts

Podcasts at http://jump.libsyn.com/

Findings-Videos

Findings-Videos

View videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/JUMPtoChangetheWorld

Findings-Themes fromStories, Podcasts and Videos

The Negative Themes HIV/AIDS is the common enemy Victimization Anonymity

The Positive Themes: Clear mission to defeat HIV/AIDS and create

a better future Self-confidence Solution-oriented, optimistic Social change agents Voice Strength in unity From local to global

Findings-Themes fromStories, Podcasts and Videos

Conclusions

Conclusion I: Being a social change agent brings out the best in people: courage, self-sacrifice, strength, faith, collaboration, compassion, optimism and hope.

Conclusions

Conclusion II: Citizen journalism and digital storytelling are effective means of empowering global youths to create positive social change.

Recommendations

It takes ongoing support and resources to maintain a program like JUMP and propel if forward.

A network of supportive nonprofit organizations, along with media and technology corporations, should be created to work together to uplift youth groups in developing countries who are striving to make their voices heard on a global level.