Thank you for viewing this conversation by New Tactics, MobileActive and other practitioners for an online dialogue on Using Mobile Phones for Citizen Media.
Summary of the Dialogue
Information is a powerful commodity for human rights defenders. Receiving and sharing information is at the heart of human rights work. Modern technology, such as the mobile phone, and the global distribution of the internet. Provides new opportunities for citizens to actively participate in journalism. The mobile phone is arguably the most accessible form of information communication technology and a popular tool for receiving and sharing information.
Human rights practitioners are finding innovative ways to utilize mobile phones to amplify the voices of communities around the world in order to collect and disseminate news and information. Readers are able to text in editorial comments that are then published in the Namibia print paper in Namibia. In Guatemala, radio listeners text in their comments that are then read on-air. In India, mobile phones circumvent a radio news ban and allow people to both access news and record information. These are just a few examples of how practitioners are using mobile phones to get and provide information and news from and to citizens.
With the growing use of mobile phones for citizen media comes new risks, challenges and opportunities. This online dialogue provided a space to discuss stories, tactics and resources for using mobile phones for citizen media, as well as a space to discuss mobile risk assessment and security.
What is citizen media and why are mobile phones being used to do it?
Citizen media includes various platforms, types, and purposes, enabling communities to share stories and participate in relevant discussions. Mobile phones play a major role in enabling citizens to send news reports, photos, and messages to radio stations. In areas with limited internet, mobile phones provide a key communication tool, especially for rural residents with access. They also allow citizens to upload and delete stories quickly, reducing risks to their safety in sensitive situations. Mobile-based citizen media enhances traditional media and supports human rights efforts in oppressive areas like Libya. Programs such as Al Jazeera integrate citizen content, with the Arab Spring’s coverage heavily reliant on these contributions.
How do you design citizen media?
When designing citizen media tactics. It is important to plan carefully and train and protect human rights practitioners in the field. The Global Press Institute (GPI) offers a distinguished array of specialty reporting seminars for citizen journalists, promoting responsible reporting methods and focus strategies that prevent inaccurate reporting.
Training and education on the use of mobile phones for citizen media is one important part of a successful citizen media strategy. Another is collecting and using of information, for which Tactical Tech, has developed a 50 minute film 10 Tactics for Turning Information into Action to serve as a resource for trainers to get participants thinking outside of the box. Teaching underrepresented communities how to use digital tools for different purposes has had remarkable results in empowering, engaging and mobilizing citizens. With similar results to community radio, citizen media is an easier, more personalized and often more effective tool of news sharing and connecting with audiences.
Two mobile tools used in citizen media are SMS hubs and short code. SMS hubs are interfaces for managing interactions with others via SMS. Examples include Frontline SMS, a simple, free and efficient software that allows a sender to send a message to large groups of people. A short code is a phone number but shorter and easier to remember. It is often done through a mobile operator and many radio stations have them. For example, after the Haiti earthquake in 2010, the Red Cross had a short code (90999) that people could text to donate $10.
Share your stories. How are you using mobile phones for citizen media?
In Mali, rural residents are connected to Bamako, the capital, by SMS on Ségou Info Blog. Participants send an SMS to a local number which is retyped and published on the blog, however, photos require a different process. This method gets new bloggers used to creating information, expressing their concerns and needs, and raises awareness of the local populationes on practices which are not favorable to them. A challenge of working in the rural areas is that these societies tend to be secretive about their cultures and traditions, something that is addressed by better informing these citizens of the benefits of participating and the impact of their SMS messages.
The Namibian, an independent newspaper in Namibia, gives its readers the ability to quickly respond to articles by texting in their comments. The text messages best representing the responses are published in the (print) newspaper, as well as on the Namibian’s web page. The program has been very popular, and has allowed many more Namibians to have their views expressed.. Challenges remain, including evaluating the legitimacy and accuracy of citizen media, claims by some Namibian government officials that the newspaper itself was writing the comments to criticize the government, and choosing the language in which to publish the comments.
In California, a software enabled people to capture instances of police misconduct at DUI checkpoints. After the evidence was posted online, a legal analysis was obtained, all receiving a lot of media attention. The result was a collaboration with legal groups to bring about a policy change in the state.
In Burma, Outer Voices worked at the Thai/ Burma border documenting the elections from the perspective of the ethnic groups, and in the process, helped to fund the Karen groups who had contacts inside the ethnic areas, providing on going updates by mobile phone about election related human rights violations as they occurred. The Karen Information Center recorded, logged and translated the calls, and then gave them to journalists for first hand reporting. The process built a stronger internal network for the Karen groups who continue to use it in resisting attacks on villages. This is just one example of how mobile phones are being used to ensure transparency in election monitoring. It also shows the importance of engaging the media.
Freedom Fone is a tool that facilitates two way, phone based information services using interactive audio voice menus, voice messages, SMS and polls. It is user-friendly, inexpensive and does not require Internet access for users and callers alike. Equal Access in Cambodia is using Freedom Fone for a youth radio program to explore life skills, education and civic participation themes in an engaging and entertaining format while Centre for Economic Prosperity in Tanzania is preparing to use Freedom Fone to monitor corruption, particularly of the traffic department stopping and bribing truck drivers in Tanzania. In Zimbabwe, Kubatana, a human rights network has combined Freedom Fone with SMS and email to get information out to subscribers, such as a Q & A information sharing on the new constitution with callers.
Risks
Using mobile phones for citizen media can be risky, especially when taking photos or videos, requiring ethical decisions. Security concerns include protecting phones and sensitive media stored on them. Tactical Tech offers tips for securing phones, such as staying aware of surroundings, noting serial numbers, changing phones often, and disabling Wi-Fi/Bluetooth. Their Security-in-a-Box toolkit explains mobile phone vulnerabilities and offers strategies to protect communication and data.
Mobile networks can also pose risks. Governments or third parties may manipulate network operators to compromise safety, as they store data. If compromised, this data could track, prosecute, or harm individuals, making SMS less secure for avoiding censorship or surveillance.
Challenges
One challenge in using mobile phones for citizen media is getting content to mainstream news organizations in real-time and engaging the media in human rights issues. For example, Maher Arar’s media campaign in 2002 led to his return to Canada after being subjected to rendition and torture, despite security agencies’ opposition. Similarly, in South Korea, the Korean Women Workers Associations United (KWWAU) used media to gain support for minimum wage reforms, showing how media can amplify human rights campaigns.
Another challenge is the risk of censorship. While mobile networks bypass government control over traditional media, they can also lead to violence or increased censorship. Some news organizations use online or SMS broadcasts to avoid government interference, but results are mixed. Governments may shut down mobile services, as seen in Egypt, or use them to spread propaganda. Additionally, the mandatory registration of SIM cards with official IDs increases the risk of surveillance.
Lastly, a common challenge is the cost of sending SMS messages, which can add up for citizen media programs. However, for many citizens, SMS remains the most affordable and accessible communication option.
Opportunites
Despite these challenges and risks, mobile phones offer significant opportunities for bypassing censorship and amplifying citizen voices. In Zimbabwe, when SW Radio Africa’s signal was jammed, they began sending news headlines via SMS, continuing to share uncensored information. This demonstrates how mobile phones can provide vital access to information for those cut off from independent news. However, governments can still shut down mobile services to restrict access, as seen in other parts of the world. Mobile phones also offer an effective way to reach large audiences. Especially for radio programs that use SMS for interaction and advertising. Despite the costs, SMS-based media remains more affordable than other communication methods, particularly for rural or underrepresented populations, and is especially useful in areas with limited or expensive internet access.
Share your resources and tools for practitioners
1. What is citizen media and why are mobile phones being used to do it?
2. How do you design citizen media?
3. Share your stories. How are you using mobile phones for citizen media?
4. What are the risks, challenges and opportunities to be considered?
5. Resources and tools for practitioners
