BEFORE WE START- acknowledge -

- respect the creators - - slides are up at

slideshare.net/leesawatego -

I found my voice: Focus on the Blogosphere

EGL206 : Reading Aboriginal & Torres

Strait Islander Writing

Leesa Watego@IscariotMedia, @CriticalClassrm @DeadlyBloggers

Lecture for Dr Clare Archer, USC, May 29, 2015

My name is Leesa, and it’s lovely to meet you :-)

You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat, Slideshare , Google+, Pinterest, YouTube, Tumblr, Vine, Foursquare/Swarm …

(either as Leesa Watego , Critical Classroom, Deadly Bloggers, Dark+Disturbing &/or IscariotMedia ).

I invite you to connect.

some blogging/social media terms

self-hosted, platform, blog, post, Storify, Twitter,

msm , paid/owned/earned

Current writings by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people belong within a cultural and historical continuity that predates the invasion whilst utilising, adapting and challenging the written

genres and forms of colonising culture.

Anita Heisswww.anitaheiss.wordpress.com

Current writings by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people belong within a cultural and historical continuity that

predates the invasion whilst utilising, adapting and challenging the written genres and

forms of the colonising culture.Anita Heiss

“We have been portrayed … as negligent and abusive parents, extremely violent, sexually abusive, corrupt, alcoholic, substance abusers and bludgers on welfare, suffering from cultural dysfunction …”

Aileen Moreton-Robinson, 2012

http://caudallure.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/racist-headline-in-tasmanian-newspaper/

Herald Sun, 11th April 2015

The evolution of Deadly Bloggers1. Began as a “blog roll” on a personal blog2. A hashtag on Twitter3. A blog of its own on Blogger4. A Twitter profile5. A Facebook Page6. A self-hosted Wordpress Site

www.deadlybloggers.comwww.twitter.com/deadlybloggerswww.facebook.com/deadlybloggers

Research tool (survey)

Feminism, Fashion, Design, Lifestyle, Politics, Education, Indigenous Organisations, Language, Culture, Health, Well-being, Professional, Writers, Literature, Business, Arts,

●Only a small percentage of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people

●Platforms - Blogger, Wordpress, Tumblr. Majority do not have self-hosted spaces

●Small percentage have more than one blog

●All self-taught. A few have attended workshops.

Responses - Topics -

New Deadly Bloggers -> www.onlysixdonuts.wordpress.com

Why do you blog?

Expression - share my stories, my life, my ideas, my travels, Strategic - build a professional profileActivism - blogging is about Freedom + Empowerment - “no one can stop me”, Professional - income generation

Responses -

Impact of blogging

1.Professional successa. launch of an online magazineb. professional writing gigs (msm), increased

credibility, speaking engagementsc. publishing contracts

2.Skills developmenta. improve writing skillsb. better engagementc. deeper connections

3.National culturea. Archived in Pandora (National Library)

4.Personala. Feels good to have a place to “speak in my own

voice”

Responses -

Racism and other forms of discrimination

Of respondents, only a small percentage indicated they had experienced racism as a result of their blogging. Usually in the comments section.

Responses - ●Most indicated they would not be hesitant about writing something because of the likelihood of racist attack.

●A few indicated that they have deleted tweets after making them.

●“some non-Indigenous people Storify tweets out of context”

Have you experienced racism as a result of blogging?

Do you self-censor your posts to limit racist responses?

-> Note: NOT just from White Australians

Advice to others concerned about racism

● Take the good with the bad (like all of life)● Use a pseudonym if you’re concerned● Take time to post (sleep on it, edit again,

before you publish)● There will always be haters, be courageous● Don’t take it personally● Know the risks before you start. Think about

privacy before you start● Build a supportive network● Do not read the comments

Responses -

Your Blogging GoalsResponses -

● Build an app and other products● Build a more professional blog● Earn a living● Generate more msm writing opportunities● Generate online products - films,

screenwriting, books● Build a regular readership

Biggest hurdles for Murris in the blogosphereResponses -

● Technology● Access● Racism - from commenters, lateral violence● Promotion● Time!!!● Pigeonholed into “an Indigenous blogger”

category

General comments

Because of blogging ...I feel less aloneI’ve found my voiceI’ve found new direction, career I’ve made new friends and partnerships

Blogging ...Takes too much timeIs great, but the Australian media & trolls make it very tough for Indigenous voices

=> Write what you love, don’t think of the $ yet

Deadly Bloggers Challenge52 posts in 52 weeks

Deadly BloggersBlog Carnival

31 posts by 31 bloggers in 31 days

Deadly Bloggers … moving forward …

www.indigenousx.com.au

www.sosblakaustralia.com

www.blakhistorymonth.com

Blogging, & other forms of online publication, allow writers to define themselves (and their Aboriginality). It can provide a space where First Nations Peoples can play, explore, create, debate, rant and vent, satirise, and philosophise the world in which we live.

Online publication, like other forms of publication, are defined by particular structures. Issues of access, ownership, permanence, and security all impact on the effectiveness of online publication for First Nations Peoples. But the potential to throw down or bypass the gatekeepers of traditional publication is too great to ignore.

Additional Reading

● Melissa Sweet (2009) Is

the media part of the Aboriginal Health problem, and part of the solution?

● Luke Pearson at TEDx Canberra - discussing the inspiration for his development

of @IndigenousX

● Bronwyn Carlson (2014)

Well-Connected Indigenous kids keen to tap new ways to save lives