Is there are space for Google+ Hangouts in global development?
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To be honest with you, I am still at a bit of loss when it comes to Google+ - especially in the context of international development communication, teaching etc. I am not an active member of Google+ so there may be a chance that I am missing out on a bunch of interesting discussions. But what I found quite interesting is that I have not come across any posts and videos that engage with Google+ Hangouts in the context of development (if there are examples, please send me links or comment below to put me out of my ignorance). The official Hangout videos on Google's YouTube channel have only received modest hits so far, e.g. this short introduction:
I do realise that cupcake baking looks more fun and is more active and interactive than, say, talking about land grabbing in Africa, but Google+ also promotes a more 'chatty' use of hangouts, e.g. during the upcoming Olympic Games:
Googles Hangout feature is once again giving Google+ users a chance to get closer to the stars, this time with a Olympic twist.
The New York Times-sponsored series started on Wednesday with
basketball stars Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks, and Chris Paul
of the Los Angeles Clippers. Both are members of the 2012 USA Basketball
team. The hangouts will run through next Tuesday.
Google Hangouts have been a favorite stop of politicians, celebrities, and friends. President Obama used the feature to connect with voters
back in January, and musical artists the Black Eyed Peas participated
in a hangout last October to chat with fans shortly before they took the
stage at a concert in New York City.
But with the Olympics coming up in short order, it makes sense for these hangouts to feature some of Americas top athletes, doesnt it?
So maybe there is an opportunity to create a Hangout with 'development celebrities' (no, I am not going to name names here and leave it to your imagination ;)...), academics or other personalities? I am also wondering whether there is a potential for teaching and training, e.g. creating a Hangout for an interactive workshop to introduce a technique, project, software etc?
Besides the fact that Google+ is not that widespread (yet?), what may be some of the issues why Hangouts have not been adopted by the development communication universe?
First, there are issues about accessibility, Internet connection speed and the challenge that global development takes place in different time-zones-so arranging a common Hangout time may be difficult. Second, not everything in development is as active as a Hans Rosling presentation...when it comes to spoken words, less interactive formats can still be very interesting, e.g. Owen Bader's Development Drums podcast or the Australia-based AidWorks radio programme. Third, linked to my first and second point, you often need time to digest interesting talks and critical new ideas and do so in your spare time, after work or 'later' when you can listen to your music player, read a transcript and stop a video whenever necessary.
But besides these caveats: Isn't there a space for Hangouts for conferences, presentations, work meetings and cost-effective training sessions? This is really an open-ended question and I am looking forward to your insights, examples and critical views before we can set up the first ever development 'Hangout-up' ;)!
Update 19 July:
Denise Brown, WFP Country Director in Niger, discusses the hunger crisis
unfolding across the Sahel region of Africa with a group of journalists
and bloggers from around the world. Participants include CNN Anchor Jim
Clancy, food security expert Roger Thurow, Reuters Alertnet George
Fominyen, UNHCR Spokesperson Fatoumata Lejeune-Kaba, ONE Campaign
agriculture specialist Kelly Hauser, advocate and blogger Jennifer
James, DSM Corporate Sustainability Director Fokko Wientjes, and WFP
Deputy Director of Communication Gregory Barrow.
Interesting example of using a Hang-Out: 'Come Hang Out and Talk Water Transparency' (http://www.aviewfromthecave.com/2012/08/come-hang-out-and-talk-water.html). Includes some technical comments by Tom Murphy and your truly.
My colleagues Lisa Ann Richey, David Simon, Ilan Kapoor & Stefano Ponte with a timely guest post as the International Studies Association’s (#ISA2019) annual meeting kicks off in Toronto. The topic is once again the journal Third World Quarterlywhich is sponsoring the reception of ISA’s Global Development Section and the broader questions these discussions raise for higher education and academic publishing.
Olivier Van Beemen’s Heineken in Africa-A Multinational Unleashed is probably one of the most readable, nuanced and critical accounts of ‘multinationals doing business in Africa’ that I have read so far. Looking at the iconic Dutch beer brewer Heineken’s operations across the continent, Van Beemen presents case studies that dispel many myths about sustainability, corporate social responsibility and the contribution global companies make across Africa economies. Heineken in Africa is not on a crusade that shakes an angry fist against the evils of capitalism or condemning a multinational company and its product. Van Beemen uses his unagitated and meticulously researched style to the fullest advantage to present country-specific case studies of the brewer’s problematic relationship with power, politics and profits.
Right from the beginning Van Beemen makes it clear that Heineken’s business in Africa has always been very profitable. This has not been despite the stereotypical assumptions …
The David Lammy/White Saviour versus Stacey Dooley/Comic Relief debate is an excellent opportunity to look at some of the core elements of ritual communication behind many debates in international development-especially when charities and celebrities are involved!
At the time of writing the debate has already followed the first seven or eight steps and I’m pretty sure that it will go full circle between now and Red Nose Day 2020…
1. Don’t learn from past debates It is worth remembering that this is not some obscure debate a few development bloggers have pointed out. In late 2017, Comic Relief got called out for their video of sending Ed Sheeran to Liberia.
The Sheeran-fronted Comic Relief
video, during which the singer offers to pay hotel costs for street
children in Liberia, verged on “poverty tourism”, according to the jury. (...)“Ed Sheeran has good intentions,” she said. “But the problem is the
video is focused on Ed Sheera…
We were saving the best for last this week and enjoyed Kate Wright's keynote on Who's reporting Africa now? today!
Development news: UNHCR & asylum for sale in Kenya; the never-ending crisis in Western Sahara; donating beer; cheap antibiotics in Kenya; everyday sexism on Nigeria's street markets; learning from DRC's mining deals; Botswana's Heavy Metal Queens; career in the humanitarian sector; Syria-8 years into the conflict; Caribou Digital turns 5, ictworks turns 10!
Our digital lives: Facebook's AI maps Africa; AI monitoring staff in UK companies.
Publications: Australia is serious about banning orphanage tourism & exploitation; local response to Indonesia's earthquake; mental health in Syria.
Academia: Huge fine for predatory publisher; the case for decolonized anthropology; the trouble with teaching evaluations.
After the Economist’s piece on the (non-)value of doing a PhD and some comments later (e.g. Prometheus doesn't read the Economist (I like the slightly cynical dichotomy between ‘civilians’ and the ‘academic insiders) or the '100 Reasons NOT to Go to Graduate School' (they are only halfway through so check it out regularly in the future...) I had an interesting conversation with a prospective PhD student a few days ago.
This was not the first time that I had been approached about doing a PhD and I always try to be as frank as possible, even playing the ‘devil’s advocate’ when it comes to the complicated ‘should I or shouldn’t I?’ decision-making process. At the end of our conversation I sat down and tried to summarize a few important and generic points from the point of view of doing a PhD in Development Studies and in the UK.
I understand that every case is different and involves a range of motives, options and rationales, but there a few important questions and topics t…
Interesting example of using a Hang-Out:
ReplyDelete'Come Hang Out and Talk Water Transparency' (http://www.aviewfromthecave.com/2012/08/come-hang-out-and-talk-water.html). Includes some technical comments by Tom Murphy and your truly.