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I want to take this opportunity to bring to the attention of the New Tactics network a wonderful analysis and resource regarding ways in which NGOs have been evolving and adapting communication tactics -- particularly utilizing photos, video and other visual images to move their social activism goals forward. The Rights Exposure Project has been a year-long exploration by Rob Godden. He has written a very thought provoking blog post summarizing his reflections. For NGOs thinking about how they can better use visual media to reach their social activism goals, this is a post well worth reading: ‘Real lives are like novels not legal documents’ – How NGOs should be using photos and video in social activism. 

I was particularly struck by one of Rob's concluding remarks, 

"As 2009 comes to an end although I have not managed to answer my two initial questions I feel I have managed to map the terrain enough to know which direction I think we should be heading. I have seen separate initiatives that if combined could represent effective and credible delivery systems for advocacy, bringing together hard copy research with digital evidence and stories. Some of these include substantial participation by the rights claimants and offer genuine opportunities for them to tell their stories, not just as a one off but consistently in the future. I have also come across examples of work that brings together different media content to paint a more complex and compelling story that engages its audience for a longer sustainable ride rather than to jolt them into action. It is refreshing to see peoples’ lives told in complex shades of grey as in a novel rather than the black and white of international legal conventions." 

Over the course of the last year, The Rights Exposure Project has provided great examples and ideas that could be ripe for adapting, transfering, and combining into new contexts, issues and campaigns.  This kind of sharing and exchange is exciting.