based in Jacksonville, FL..we are bloggers, video bloggers, photo bloggers...we are brown
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Global Perspectives: An African Look at Social Media, the Press, and Social Movements at November 11, 2011 Florida Times Union featuring 14 African Journalist from the Edward R Murrow Program for Journalists. The event was sponsored by www.globaljax.org
The countries included Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Dijbouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo
Even with an interpreter, it was a very lively conversation about the use of social media (blogging) and social networking (facebook and twitter) in their west African countries. In addition to maintaining connections with family and friends, these tools are also used for social change as it relates to politics and government. Even though many of the countries are developing, there is an increase in internet use and social media especially by younger age groups and in urban areas. The government (i.e. the presidents of these countries) are also using the tools to connect with their constituents and communicate their issues. And journalist are also using these tools because while due to the illiteracy issue and oral tradition, radio is still dominant it is less expensive to access online then print media.
