CITIZEN JOURNALISM AND DIGITAL VOICES:

INSTITUTING A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS BETWEEN GLOBAL YOUTH, TECHNOLOGY

AND MEDIA FOR POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE

By Robin Worley

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The Problem

Marginalized youth without a voice:350,000 restaveks12 million AIDS

orphansAs many as 100

million kids living on the streets

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

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Significance of the Study

In the past, media has been defined by three elements: “exclusion, privilege, and maleness” (Patricia McFadden)

Media is about power Citizen journalism is shaking

the foundation of traditional journalism

The potential is there for marginalized youths to become empowered through citizen journalism

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The Purpose

Purpose--to study the impact of digital voices and how marginalized youths can participate to become empowered and change their lives.

Specifically, the focus was on Kenyan teens who are affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS.

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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

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Storytelling

Stories are powerful. They move us emotionally. They let us imagine something different than the reality before us. They can empower the storyteller.

The Story Factor by Annette Simmons--in the information age we have information overload, people are searching for meaning, not more facts

The Springboard by Steve Denning—World Bank CIO, discovered stories can help create change in an organization

A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink—lists storytelling initiatives as some of the nation’s largest organizations: 3M, NASA and Xerox

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Citizen Journalism

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

Important citizen journalism efforts: Witness.org Global Voices Online

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Research

Research Objectives : To tell the story of JUMP To share the media

artifacts produced by JUMP members

To identify how citizen media and digital stories may be effective means of empowering global youths

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Research Design

Case study research Utilization-focused

evaluation within a 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

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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

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Findings

Surprising: more positive topics and themes than negative even though the subject was HIV/AIDS.

Sharing their voices had the effect of producing hope and optimism in the young media producers.

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Findings-Personal Stories11

Negative Quotes

“It is a monster and it really does exist, not choosing who to swallow. AIDS, why choose us?!!!” (Story 24)

“I needed my father so much. I need to finish my education but he left me wondering how and why?!” (Story 21)

“As a little girl I had no voice amongst all my friends. Everyone referred to me as a dying horse.” (Story 19)

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Findings-Personal Stories13

Positive Quotes

“My main aim of joining a youth group was to know more about HIV/AIDS and also to educate other people about it…Because of my HIV/AIDS knowledge I feel very rich knowing that I achieved something in educating the family about this disease.” (Story 5)

“I love working with the community and teaching people about HIV, and this makes me feel great.” (Story 6)

“To me I am happy working under this issue and also happy to help the community as a whole.” (Story 20)

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Findings-Personal Stories15

Findings-Podcasts16

Negative Quotes

The negative topics for the podcasts and personal stories were basically the same, with the exception of one new topic introduced in the podcasts: the digital divide.

“There is a huge digital divide. It’s narrowing down. So far we have the mobile technology in the village.” (Podcast 2)

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Findings-Podcasts

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

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Positive Quotes

“We need to have young people trained in how to use the equipment and also knowing how to do media projects that then will inform the global audience about AIDS in Africa.” (Podcast 3)

“…focus on and put the spotlight on so that the other population of the world can know what is happening in Kibera.” (Podcast 4)

“We have to partner with JUMP for advocacy. We should partner jointly to fight. Our common goal is to influence and engage young people in the fight against AIDS by the use of media.” (Podcast 2)

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Findings-Videos20

On Negative Video Topics

The negative topics were the same as those identified in the personal stories and podcasts.

More positive than negative topics were found in the videos.

The overall theme was negative, i.e. HIV/AIDS, but the majority of topics were positive (optimistic, encouraging education, awareness and right choices)

“AIDS is a killer, AIDS has no healerAIDS is a killer, AIDS has no healer.” (lyrics from “Say No!”

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Findings-Videos

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

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Positive Quotes

“I have to accept it and live through it, knowing that I have to fight for myself and I have to make the future for the kids be good and bright.” (Video 2)

“As teenagers we’ll fight against this disease and make a bright future.” (Video 2)

“I just want to tell everyone out there that AIDS is real and it’s up to you and me to make a difference.” (Video 3)

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Findings-Themes fromStories, Podcasts and Videos

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

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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

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Conclusion I

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

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Recommendation

We need more youths involved in this type of program, both in developing and developed countries.

In this country we spend millions of dollars on “defensive” programs for teens, like “Scared Straight,” and “Mothers Against Drunk Driving.”

We should put more of that money into proactive programs like JUMP to inspire teens to use their energies and talents to become global partners for change.

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Conclusion II

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

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Recommendation

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.

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Dennis Kimambo, leader of JUMP Nakuru, and Alicia Keyes at MTV’s Staying Alive Convention in Canada

Final Thoughts

The hope is that by providing the means for youths to share their digital voices, they will raise them loud enough that no one can continue to ignore them, manipulate them or relegate them to marginal status.

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Together they will identify the solutions for their problems and enlist the help of global partners in eradicating the monsters in their lives and clearing the path for a brighter future.