From Advocacy to Activism: Reviewing Theories and Practices · Advocacy vs. Activism Advocacy and...

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From Advocacy to Activism: Reviewing Theories and Practices By Rouba El Helou (Media Lecturer) Notre Dame University- Web Journalism Spring 2014

Transcript of From Advocacy to Activism: Reviewing Theories and Practices · Advocacy vs. Activism Advocacy and...

Page 1: From Advocacy to Activism: Reviewing Theories and Practices · Advocacy vs. Activism Advocacy and activism are sometimes confused because their roles often overlap: Advocacy is defined

From Advocacy to Activism:Reviewing Theories and

Practices

By Rouba El Helou (Media Lecturer)

Notre Dame University- Web Journalism

Spring 2014

Page 2: From Advocacy to Activism: Reviewing Theories and Practices · Advocacy vs. Activism Advocacy and activism are sometimes confused because their roles often overlap: Advocacy is defined

License

This PowerPoint is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Page 3: From Advocacy to Activism: Reviewing Theories and Practices · Advocacy vs. Activism Advocacy and activism are sometimes confused because their roles often overlap: Advocacy is defined

Advocacy vs. Activism

Meaning and Origin of Advocacy

“One whose profession is to plead cases in a court of justice,” a technical term fromRoman law, from old French avocat “barrister, advocate, spokesman,” from Latinadvocatus “one called to aid; a pleader, advocate.”

The act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy;active support.

Source: The Free Dictionary Online.

Page 4: From Advocacy to Activism: Reviewing Theories and Practices · Advocacy vs. Activism Advocacy and activism are sometimes confused because their roles often overlap: Advocacy is defined

Advocacy vs. Activism

Meaning and Origin of Activism

“One who advocates a doctrine of direct action,” 1915; from (active + ist).Originally in reference to political forces in Sweden advocating abandonment ofneutrality in World War I and active support for the Central Powers.

The policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political orsocial change.

Source: http://www.etymonline.com

Page 5: From Advocacy to Activism: Reviewing Theories and Practices · Advocacy vs. Activism Advocacy and activism are sometimes confused because their roles often overlap: Advocacy is defined

Advocacy vs. Activism Advocacy and activism are sometimes confused because their roles often overlap:

Advocacy is defined as the act of actively supporting that is, pleading or arguing in favor of something,such as a cause, an idea or a policy.

Activism is defined as the theory or practice of assertive – often militant – action, such as massdemonstrations (or strikes) as a means of opposing or supporting a controversial issue, entity or person.

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The Story of an Advocate and an Activist

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What is an Activist/Advocate?

Activist

• A person who makes an intentionalaction to bring about social or politicalchange; economic justice, orenvironmental well being.

• Tools: protest, writing letters tonewspapers or to politicians, politicalcampaigning, boycotting rallies,blogging, street marches, strikes,hunger strikes, and sometimes guerrillatactics.

Advocate

• A person who speaks on behalf of anotherperson or group.

• Follow the paths of lobbying and

legislation.

• The person is quite often part of a biggergroup (Angelina Jolie speaking on behalf ofthe UN).

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Tools and Strategies

• The Internet enables organizations to communicate with individuals.

• The Internet enables lobbying via mass e-mails, newsletters, podcast and blogs.

• E-petitions can be created to be sent to the government, to the public and to privateorganizations.

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Tools and StrategiesDigital Activity, takes many form and it is used for electronic communication.

The Most Popular Social Media Platforms:

This enable faster communication by citizen movements

and it helps to delivery local information to a large audience.

Social Media Networks

Twitter

Facebook

Youtube

Other Platforms

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Tools and Strategies

Tools

Online Petitions

Social Networks

Blogs

Micro-Blogging

Mobile Phones

Proxy Servers

Page 11: From Advocacy to Activism: Reviewing Theories and Practices · Advocacy vs. Activism Advocacy and activism are sometimes confused because their roles often overlap: Advocacy is defined
Page 12: From Advocacy to Activism: Reviewing Theories and Practices · Advocacy vs. Activism Advocacy and activism are sometimes confused because their roles often overlap: Advocacy is defined
Page 13: From Advocacy to Activism: Reviewing Theories and Practices · Advocacy vs. Activism Advocacy and activism are sometimes confused because their roles often overlap: Advocacy is defined
Page 14: From Advocacy to Activism: Reviewing Theories and Practices · Advocacy vs. Activism Advocacy and activism are sometimes confused because their roles often overlap: Advocacy is defined

Tools and Strategies

• Build a Community.

• Reach Activists via Their Preferred Platform.

• Promote Your Message with Social Media.

• Encourage Action.

Page 15: From Advocacy to Activism: Reviewing Theories and Practices · Advocacy vs. Activism Advocacy and activism are sometimes confused because their roles often overlap: Advocacy is defined
Page 16: From Advocacy to Activism: Reviewing Theories and Practices · Advocacy vs. Activism Advocacy and activism are sometimes confused because their roles often overlap: Advocacy is defined
Page 17: From Advocacy to Activism: Reviewing Theories and Practices · Advocacy vs. Activism Advocacy and activism are sometimes confused because their roles often overlap: Advocacy is defined

#Hashtag Activism

Photomontage of reactions to the Ice Bucket Challenge. Source: Global Voices Online

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#Hashtag ActivismThe Ice Bucket Challenge Facts:

• 1.2 million participants from around the world.

• It started when anchor Matt Lauer performed the challenge live on his NBC television show on July 15, 2014.

• From July 29 until August 21, 2014 more than 739,000 new donors, critics have argued that the campaign was

more focused on fun and self-congratulating deeds rather than donating money to charity. (Estimation 41.8

million in donations):

The topic has become a cliché.

People don't really know what this campaign means.

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Activism # SlacktivismClicktivism

Photo Courtesy: Jeff Blackler/REX Jeff Blackler/REX/Jeff Blackler/REX (The Guardian Newspaper).

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Activism # SlacktivismClicktivism- Save Darfur Case

A research team analyzed the behavior of “Save Darfur” page members on Facebook over a 989-day period:

Out of the million of people who had signed up, less than 3000 ever donated, raisingaround $90,000 over three years.

Conclusion

The notable difference between the Online and Offline branches of the Save Darfurcampaign is the very public and visible nature of online membership.

Being safe in the company of a million members may reduce each individual's incentive to contribute.

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The Power of Organizing Without Organizations

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From Working Harder to Working Smarter

Technology is an indispensable Tool for Social Good:

Plan an action.

Protect activists.

Share public opinion.

Share a call to action.

Take action digitally.

Collaborating on the Streets and Online.

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The Theory of Change (ToC)

It is a specific type of methodology for planning, participation, and evaluation that is usedin the philanthropy, not-for-profit and government sectors to promote social change. Theoryof Change defines long-term goals and then maps backward to identify necessarypreconditions.

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The Structure of Online Activism

“Once the Internet changed the world; now the world is changing the Internet.”

Geert Lovink