rp09 -

re:publica'09
Shift happens!

Referenten
Andrea Goetzke
Geraldine Bastion
Programm
Tag 2
Raum Kalkscheune Kleiner Saal
Beginn 14:30
Dauer 01:00
Info
ID 379
Veranstaltungstyp Vortrag
Track Gesellschaft
Sprache deutsch
Feedback

Blogging in Africa

between power cut and politcal protest

Whilst the image of Africa as the continent of darkness and poverty persists, digital cultures have emerged in a number of countries and African activits and bloggers have begun to record their version of reality. Despite infrastructural problems, low Internet penetration and low incomes, the Internet is impacting on political and social life – examples from Kenya demonstrate how Web 2.0 technolgies are being used as tools for social and political action in environments which lack traditional pluralistic media, journalistic and political freedoms or rule of law.

Such examples include Ushahidi, an open source crowdsourcing plattform, originally created to record the outbreak of violence after the Kenyan national elections in 2008 and the work of bloggers, who for instance keep an eye on the Kenyan Parliament or examine developments in the web and mobile space in Africa.

The session will include interviews and discussions focussing on the questions:

What role do Web 2.0 technologies have on the media landscape? Are their technical or political constraitns? Given the low internet penetration, what impact do blogs, Web 2.0 campaigns or projects have on every-day life? What lessons be exchanges – what synergies can be made?

(All (virtual) participants to be confirmed)