Social Media and Social Change

Blogging, Compositional Guidelines, Interview Tips

Blogging for change

What ?

Why ?

– With examples

How ?

What ? Web + log = blog

Form of self publishing

Individual and collective

Multimedia (text, video, image, links)

Post in reverse chronological order

Utilize interactivity – comments, pings, trackbacks

Bias is transparent

Subject can be about anything - war, politics, culture

Free (blogging services -wordpress, blogger, livejournal)

Why ?

visibly engaging platform

expressive forms of communication

participation and social interaction

community building (blogroll)

give voice, freedom of opinion and expression

Blogging and Journalism

Quick and responsive to current events - blogs break stories

Focus attention on small stories until they catch on

– “dig up the lead” as opposed to “burying the lead”

Unconstrained by journalistic conventions like good taste, accountability, objectivity

– Unabashedly biased (honest, direct, opinionated)

Invert hierarchies of MSM (become legitimate sources)

Example:

Global Voices Online (click through link) – International blogging network (over 200

bloggers)

• Bridgebloggers -making bridges between languages and cultures

• Work closely with MSM

– Supplementary rather than oppositional to traditional press

How ?: getting a blog

Go to the website http://wordpress.com

Click on the orange button “Sign up now”

Fill out form (user name, password, email address)

– Check box “Legal Flotsam”

– Check box “Gimme a blog!”

Click “Next”

How ? (part 2)

Choose blog domain name

– e.g.,reallycoolclass.wordpress.com

Choose blog title

– e.g., reallycoolclass

Click “Sign Up”

How ? (part 2)

Choose a blog domain name

Go to email address to activate blog

How ? (part 2 cont.)

Go to worpress.com

Sign in (with user name and password)

You'll see this drop down menu – click “my blog”

Ta da!

How ? (part 3) create content

Add a new post (you can also edit first post)

Part 4 (optional) invite friends

Go to dashboard

Part 4 (optional) invite friends

User>Invites

Part 4 (optional) invite friends

Select “add user as contributor” (later change role to editor)

Using Video for change

“Powerful images and stories have unrivaled candid authority that can help prompt awareness, concern and action.”

Example: Witness (click through)

Composition Basics

Different types of shotsEstablishingClose -ups

CompositionRule of thirdsForeground/background (depth)

Framing for interviews (balance)HeadroomNoseroom

Establishing Shot

p. 2

p. 3

Different types of shots

XLS

LS

MS

MCU

CU

ECU

Rule of Thirds

p. 2

p. 3

F and B

p. 2

p. 3

p. 4

p. 5

Head Room

p. 2

p. 3

p. 4

HR rule of thirds

p. 2

p. 3

NoseRoom

p.1

p.2

p. 3

p. 4

Examples

Cincylight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXxvLmaelrEDonde Yo Vivi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc_yPxlXXAw

Interview tips

See handoutShot sheet (posted to wiki)