This issue is focused on introducing The CI’s SOCIAL NETWORKING PLATFORM and encouraging you to engage!
MANAGE YOUR CI NETWORK ACCOUNT
http://groups.comminit.com/
INITIATE YOUR OWN NETWORKS AND INTERACTIONS
http://groups.comminit.com/
ENGAGE IN SOME INITIAL NETWORKS
http://groups.comminit.com/
«Haiti: Discuss» at http://groups.comminit.com/node/308958
«HIV/AIDS Strategy» at http://groups.comminit.com/node/306528
«Journalism in Crisis» at http://groups.comminit.com/node/309395
«Ethics and Communication for Development» at http://groups.comminit.com/node/300544
YOU WILL NEED TO LOG IN – see http://groups.comminit.com/user/register where you can create a new account as well as request a new password or find your username – all you need to know is your email address.
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The Drum Beat is published by The Communication Initiative – where communication and media are central to social and economic development.
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This is increasingly a social-networked world; The CI is a social network process. We have recently expanded the capacity of The CI platform to support your social networking relative to your social and economic development goals, objectives, and strategies. As with all social networking processes, you will need to register/log in for much of what is outlined below.
Why a CI a social networking platform when the world has Facebook?!
Because: The CI is already an established network and community of practice – 75,000 people who share an interest in development. We have regular demand from people in the network to be more interactive and to give you more control and facilitation in this process.
Plus, seamlessly, we can link to relevant parts of other CI processes, including the extensive knowledge shared by the network. The functionality described below is designed to complement and be integrated into existing CI processes – not as a replacement for any of our other processes but, rather, as an enhancement to your work.
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REGISTRATION
http://groups.comminit.com/user/register
At the end of this Drum Beat you’ll find further insight and links concerning online registration.
YOUR INPUT
At the close of this issue of The Drum Beat there is a link to a discussion group and poll so that you can contribute your thoughts and ideas about this social networking platform and help us name the platform – please do participate! But, first, a few additional details about what is possible:
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MANAGE YOUR CI NETWORK ACCOUNT
http://groups.comminit.com/
Please use the following functionality in the blue bar at the top of http://groups.comminit.com/ to manage your account – this will ensure that your information is accurate and up-to-date that and communications through The CI network are configured to your requirements and tastes! Log in, and then access these options:
1. My Account Settings – here you may update your username, email address, and password, and upload an image/photo to be associated with your interactions. http://groups.comminit.com/
2. My Contact Details – this is the place to enter – and, over time, update – information about your organisation, work role (position), relevant website address, and areas of interest, etc. are up-to-date. http://groups.comminit.com/
3. My Interests Summary – visit this space to insert or update your e-magazine subscriptions and include a brief summary of your experiences and interests in order to inform others in the network who are intrigued by your contributions and wish to learn more.http://groups.comminit.com/
4. Your Notifications – control how you receive or do not receive email interactions through this process – e.g., Immediately, Every Hour, Twice a Day, Daily, Weekly, Never (read online). Under My Account Settings, click on the tab that reads «Notifications» and then click on the word «Groups», which will display all of the notifications settings for all of the groups of which you are a member. You can customise each group (default settings are «Immediately» and «By Email»). http://groups.comminit.com/
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INITIATE YOUR OWN NETWORKS AND INTERACTIONS
http://groups.comminit.com/
Once logged in to the social networking platform you can undertake the following in order to add value to your work on your priority issues – from establishing your own networks and relationships in support of your work to expressing your analysis, ideas, and experiences on issues that resonate for you.
5. Join Groups – you may join existing Networking Groups by reviewing the list within the Public Groups Directory (Under Explore Groups on the right side) http://groups.comminit.com/og/all and selecting to Join (for public access groups) or Request Membership (for groups that are moderated).
6. Start New Groups – you may initiate a new Group which you can manage in any way you like – make it public/private, moderated/free access, etc. – simply by selecting Create Group under Explore Groups.
7. See Your Groups – you may create a list of all groups to which you belong by clicking on All My Groups under Explore Groups at any time.
8. Read New Posts – you have online access to all «new» posts from all of the groups you belong to through the New Posts link under Explore Groups at any time.
9. Read Unread Posts – this platform will provide a list of all posts you have not yet read online within all of your groups; click on «Unread Posts» at any time.
10. Request a Networking Relationship – once you are dialoguing within a group, you can click on a contributor’s username in order to review their public details and «Request a Relationship» to make them a Colleague through this platform. In order to review your existing colleagues and pending collegial relationships, click on «My Colleagues» under «Explore Groups».
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DIALOGUE AND INTERACT WITHIN A GROUP
http://groups.comminit.com/
Once you have joined a Group and have clicked on its title…
…for example:
* Haiti: Discuss at http://groups.comminit.com/node/308958
* HIV/AIDS Strategy at http://groups.comminit.com/node/306528
* Journalism in Crisis at http://groups.comminit.com/node/309395
* Ethics and Communication for Development at http://groups.comminit.com/node/300544
(there are additional groups both online and below)
…you have many options of how you can interact with others within that group:
11. Submit a Group Post – you may start a new thread within the conversation by contributing a new post; click on Submit a Group Post under the group name in the right side block.
12. Comment on an Existing Post – after reading the online discussion, you may comment on any post by clicking on Add New Comment under the post in question.
13. Add a Poll – you may create and send to all members of the group a poll by clicking on Submit a Poll under the group name in the right side block.
14. Add an Event – you may submit an event to the group’s calendar – either an online «meeting» of group members that you’d like to organise or an existing external event – by clicking on Submit an Event under the group name in the right side block.
15. Review Events within that Group – you may review all events posted by all members of that group by clicking on Review Calendar under the group name in the right side block.
16. See Who is in the Group – you may review, by username, all members in your groups by clicking on Member List under the group name in the right side block.
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ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY IN EXISTING NETWORKS
http://groups.comminit.com/
Please join or request membership to any of the following groups:
17. Group: The Future of ICTs in Development
http://groups.comminit.com/node/299258
Description: The space for those intrigued by the potential of digital technologies for action on poverty and other priority issues to gather, debate, and plan – http://groups.comminit.com/node/299258
Example post: from network member cleofe.torres: «ICTs not benefitting the poor?»
«Based on results of a study that we did on communication strategies among various actors in the fruit and vegetable supply chain Southern Philippines, the use of mobile phones has somehow benefited poor farmers in the course of doing business. The mobile phones have become easily accessible to them…»
http://groups.comminit.com/node/308797
18. Group: HIV/AIDS Strategy: Future Directions
http://groups.comminit.com/node/306528
Mission: In the light of the recent UNAIDS and WHO report that in the eight years since 2001 new HIV infections have fallen by 17% globally, what are the implications for effective strategies and action on HIV/AIDS? – http://groups.comminit.com/node/306528
Example post from network member Peter Stegman: «Social Movements for Change»
«While I do agree with other writers who have called for caution in evaluating such figures, as they can be very political and agenda driven, this apparent trend of decreasing HIV infection may indicate that perhaps our massive efforts in responding to the epidemic might (at least) be chipping at the edges. What can I say, I tend to be an optimist. But obviously, the figure of a 17% global reduction (just over 2% a year in eight years) masks important regional and national variations…»
http://groups.comminit.com/node/307496
19. Group: Journalism In Crisis Coalition
http://groups.comminit.com/node/309395
Mission: Raising awareness and responding to globally significant impacts from continuing heavy job loss among journalists worldwide –http://groups.comminit.com/node/309395
Opening post from creator/network member avaiki:
«I have been following journalism in crisis updates via Google News for nearly two years now. An overwhelming experience, watching newsroom numbers tumble, 30,000 in the last two years in the US alone…Initial suggested objectives: 1) Assess peer and public opinion towards world journalism in crisis… 2) Build relationships for debate surrounding world journalism in crisis…»
http://groups.comminit.com/node/309454
20. Group: Ethics in Communication for Development
http://groups.comminit.com/node/300544
Description: Where ethical issues in media and communication for development can be debated – http://groups.comminit.com/node/300544
Excerpts from Opening Post:
«Where can we start this important dialogue? Some suggestions follow, but do feel free to post your own priority ideas and issues…There are some great questions already raised by members of this group, such as: «how exactly do we deal with issues related to privacy but at the same time accentuate more voices of those most affected?…There are many sensitive and serious issues (that are) connected to communication ethics specifically; we welcome your perspectives, analysis, and ideas…»
http://groups.comminit.com/node/300544
21. Group: Discussion Forum ‘Telling Stories’ Bengaluru 2009
http://groups.comminit.com/wellcome/node/302118
Description: Open group for all those interested in discussions on issues related to public engagement in science –http://groups.comminit.com/wellcome/node/302118
Example comment from network member Oby Obyerodhyambo: «Participation versus Interaction»
«Participation and interaction are tricky words in the development field. Indeed participation has in the past been used very tokenistically to justify or endorse projects that have been developed elsewhere. In my thinking participation is where a key population are involved in the processes that the project is engaged in while it is still engaged; not as consumers but as co-creators or developers on conceptualizers…»
http://groups.comminit.com/wellcome/node/305270#comment-429
(NB – This group is hosted on a custom network site for The Wellcome Trust – you will need to log in again, to this specialised network, using your same username and password.)
22. Group: Haiti: Discuss
http://groups.comminit.com/node/308958
Description: Space for people involved in local, national, and international development, including communication and media, to share thoughts on progress in Haiti – http://groups.comminit.com/node/308958
Example post: «Social Media Lessons and Learning?»
«The Mashable article 5 Social Media Lessons From the Haiti Earthquake Relief Effort has been brought to our attention. It has some interesting observations related to social media in times of extreme emergency. Author Geoff Livingston argues these 5 lessons – with one or two paragraphs and images for each: 1) Haiti Represents the Maturation of Mobile Giving, 2) Online Participants Did More…»
http://groups.comminit.com/node/309253
23. Group: Students – Communication for Development
http://groups.comminit.com/node/299455
Description: The space for students of communication for development to gather, connect, discuss, and share –http://groups.comminit.com/node/299455
Poll: How can students be most effective in calling attention to their research?
http://groups.comminit.com/node/300769
Comment on Poll from network member teddyallen:
«Are you suggesting this alternative approach as a method to announce student research or to share results? If the purpose is to bring attention to other similar student research then I support the need to develop a tool so that all current and future students are aware of what is being done…»
http://groups.comminit.com/node/300769
24. Group: Web Site Directors
http://groups.comminit.com/node/300194
Description: Connects people within development agencies who have responsibility for leading the use of technology in support of their agency’s strategy and work – http://groups.comminit.com/node/300194
Excerpt from the Opening Post from The CI: «CI Social Networking Platform: Commencing the Review»
«…we are honoured to have your insights on this new tool within the overall CI process. We want to make this an open process so would simply welcome your looking over the functionality at both the general Development Networks platform… and the customised process developed for The Wellcome Trust…»
http://groups.comminit.com/node/300194
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FEEDBACK NEEDED
We need your feedback on this new social networking platform! We have established two processes for your comments and guidance:
25. IMPROVEMENTS?
We have established a group – «Improving The CI’s Social Networking Platform» with the hope that you will provide us with feedback, ideas, problems, issues, and opportunities. Please do join at: http://groups.comminit.com/node/309713
26. WHAT’S IN A NAME?
The name «Development Networks» is a working title. We are interested in your ideas on what this social networking platform should be called. We have added a Poll to the above-mentioned «Improving The CI’s Social Networking Platform» Group with some initial ideas – see http://groups.comminit.com/node/309714 If none of these options suits you, please contribute your own suggestions through the Comment facility associated with the Poll at http://groups.comminit.com/node/309714
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LOG IN AND REGISTRATION GUIDANCE
Registration with The CI and with our networking platform is free and non-binding, and we do not share or sell your information with anyone, at any time.
If you registered with The CI after January 1 2008, you will have received a user name and password which created your CI Network Account. (To be reminded of your username or request a new password, simply click on the tab that reads «Request new Password» when trying to log in – http://groups.comminit.com/user/login?destination=/user/register).
If you registered/subscribed before December 31 2007 and have not re-registered on the site itself, you will need to create a CI Network Account by registering online in order to receive a username and password. Please go to http://groups.comminit.com/user/register(Please Note – we will not create a duplicate subscription to any e-magazines as a result of this registration…all registrations are cross-referenced and if the email address is the same as what you have subscribed through previously, your existing subscriptions will remain as is.)
LOG IN at
http://groups.comminit.com/user/register
(Create new account; Request new password)
We look forward to your further engagement with colleagues through The CI’s social networking platform – designed to add value to your pursuit of your priorities.
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The Drum Beat is the email and web network of The Communication Initiative Partnership – ANDI, BBC World Service Trust, Bernard van Leer Foundation, Calandria, CFSC Consortium, CIDA, DFID, FAO, Fundación Nuevo Periodismo Iberoamericano, Ford Foundation, Healthlink Worldwide, Inter-American Development Bank, International Institute for Communication and Development, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, MISA, PAHO, The Panos Institute, The Rockefeller Foundation, SAfAIDS, Sesame Workshop, Soul City, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNICEF, USAID, WHO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Chair of the Partners Group: Garth Japhet, Founder, Soul City garth@heartlines.org.za
Executive Director: Warren Feek wfeek@comminit.com
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The Editor of The Drum Beat is Kier Olsen DeVries.
Please send material for The Drum Beat to The CI’s Editorial Director – Deborah Heimann dheimann@comminit.com
The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.
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