Blogging & Digital Activism (14 links)
The Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University
An academic research center whose mission is to study the internet's development and dynamics, and assess the need or lack thereof for laws and sanctions. Includes the Internet and Democracy initiative. The Berkman Center has also published reports on internet filtering in countries such as Bahrain and Iran.
Citizen Lab
An interdisciplinary laboratory based at the University of Toronto focusing on advanced research and development at the intersection of digital media and world civic politics.
| DigiActive | Featured listing |
An all-volunteer organization dedicated to helping grassroots activists around the world use the internet and mobile phones to increase their impact. | |
| OpenNet Initiative | Featured listing |
A collaborative partnership between research centers at the University of Toronto, Harvard, Cambridge, and Oxford, that aims to investigate, expose and analyze Internet filtering and surveillance practices in a credible and non-partisan fashion. | |
Manual: Blog for a Cause! The Global Voices Guide to Blog Advocacy - from Global Voices Advocacy
This manual explains how activists can use blogs as part of campaigns against injustice around the world.
Manual: Digital Security and Privacy for Human Rights Defenders - from FrontLine: Protectors of Human Rights Defenders
A manual for human rights defenders who do work online and face problems like censorship and security vulnerabilities. It provides technical information on these issues and describes ways activists can deal with these challenges.
Manual: Guide to Twitter for Activism - from DigiActive
The guide provides information on Twitter activism. It begins with an introduction to the platform and its terminology and then lays out five uses of Twitter for activists, each illustrated by a case study. The guide then presents a step-by-step strategy for using Twitter for political and social change, along with a list of do’s and don’ts for campaigners. The guide ends with additional resources for Twitterers, such as applications that help you use Twitter, further reading, and even alternatives to Twitter.
| Manual: Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-Dissidents - from Reporters Without Borders | Featured listing |
A handbook giving bloggers advice on how to to remain anonymous and bypass censorship; how to set up and make the most of a blog; and how to publicize it and establish its credibility through observing basic ethical and journalistic principles. | |
Manual: Introduction to Facebook Activism - from DigiActive
An introduction on how to use Facebook in your activism campaign. Includes real-life examples of Facebook activism campaigns from Egypt, Burma, and Morocco.
Manual: Security-in-a-Box - Tools and tactics for your digital security - from Tactical Technology Collective and FrontLine Protectors of Human Rights Defenders
Features a How-to Booklet on safeguarding your digital security and Hands-on Guides explaining how to use different freeware or Open Source software tools.
Manual: The Virtual Activist 2.0 - from NetAction
A comprehensive online training course on the use of technology for organizing and advocacy. It covers the use of email for outreach, organizing, and advocacy, other web-based advocacy and outreach tools such as websites, membership and fundraising, privacy, security, copyright, and censorship, technology planning, and additional resources.
Manual: Using the Internet for Outreach and Organizing - from NetAction
A guide to using e-mail for action alerts, tips for effective online media, and a cyber-security checklist.
Strategic Use of IT in Youth Engagement for Global Citizenship - from the Canadian Council of International Cooperation
This article is intended as a resource to help stakeholders involved in public engagement develop an effective IT strategy for youth engagement in civic activities and select the right tools for achieving their objectives. It also presents a glossary of technologies, some innovative practices and numerous links to online resources.
Video: The New Change-Makers: An Introduction to Digital Activism - from the Berkman Center for Internet and Society
Features interviews with well-known digital activists such as Sami Ben Gharbia regarding the trends and possibilities of digital activism.