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النسخة العربية Dear Friends of SMEX, We may have been quiet lately, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been busy. Over the past few months, SMEX has b
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Dear Friends of SMEX,
We may have been quiet lately, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been busy. Over the past few months, SMEX has been developing some exciting new approaches to digital and social media training, including a knowledge base for Arabic-language training materials and a game-like online course. We’ll keep you posted as both projects develop.
Meanwhile, in this issue, you will find news about our current activities, a campaign for a Syrian friend, and the launch of two innovative Web projects, from Lebanon and Jordan. Enjoy!
Always engaged,
The SMEX Team |
NEWS: SMEX Participates in Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum
In late June, SMEX participated in the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum, joining more than 1,500 participants from around the world to discuss the current and future role of media in culture and education. More than 50 diverse panels and workshops were scheduled during the three-day event.
SMEX President Mohamad Najem contributed to a panel discussion on innovations in political education, organized by the German Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF). During the discussion, which included perspectives from South Africa, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Serbia, Mohamad shared SMEX’s experience delivering on-site and online training in social media in the Arab region since 2008, highlighting successes, challenges, and our vision of things to come. You can listen to a recording of the panel, moderated by FNF MENA region director Dr. Ronald Meinardus. |
 Bassel by Joi Ito, on Flickr |
CAMPAIGN: Sign the Support Letter of #FreeBassel
In mid-March this year, Bassel Khartabil (a.k.a. Safadi) was detained in Damascus, Syria. Bassel is the project leader of Aiki Framework, an open-source web software, and is well-known for his longtime support of Creative Commons, Mozilla, Wikipedia, and many other international tech initiatives.
Bassel is also a personal friend of SMEX. We’re joining others around the world in signing the support letter demanding his release. We hope you will join us by signing the letter and sharing the #FreeBassel campaign with your networks. |
WORKSHOP: Expanding Your Advocacy Networks with Twitter, July 24 and 26
Apply Now (Arabic Only)
Twitter can help activists, journalists, and civil society organizers expand their networks and distribute information more effectively. But to benefit fully from all its possibilities, users must adopt a strategic approach.
In this workshop, intermediate Twitter users will set goals for their Twitter accounts and learn tactics for using the platform features to achieve specific objectives. Specifically, this workshop will cover:
● A review of Twitter basics
● Finding people to follow and creating lists
● Setting up a Twitter client and cross-posting from other accounts
● Best practices for engaging with others on Twitter
● Hosting a Tweetup or using Twitter for covering events
The workshop will be given twice on July 24 and 26, 2012, at the SMEX office (map), and is free of charge. The language of the workshop is Arabic. Space is limited, so apply now. Selected participants will receive an email confirmation from SMEX.
The deadline for applying for both workshops is July 20.
Apply Now (Arabic Only) |
CONTENT: A New Web Series Challenges Censorship in Lebanon
Lebanon is often cited as being freer than all other Arab countries when it comes to the ability to express oneself. But freer is not free enough, according to Ayman Mhanna, executive director of the Samir Kassir Foundation, which has just released “MAMNOU3,” a 10-episode web “mockumentary” about censorship practices in Lebanon. A “mockumentary” is a fictional story produced in the style of a documentary.
“We chose the Web as a medium because it’s the only place that doesn’t pass through the censorship process,” says Mhanna. The team is using Youtube to broadcast the series, which already has 12,000 views and more than 120 subscribers to their channel since the launch two weeks ago. A new episode is released every Sunday.
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LEARNING: “Manahej” Gathers Free and Open Arabic-Language Educational Content
Looking for free, Arabic-language educational content? The Jordan Open Source Association recently launched Manahej, which gathers Arabic-language open educational resources for all ages in text, audio, and video formats. Open educational resources are teaching and learning materials that you may freely use and reuse, without charge. To learn more, visit OER Commons (English only).
A wide variety of materials are available, including books and courses. Initial offerings include Professional Ethics in Journalism, Geography in the Arab World, and Free and Open Source Software.
The project was a winner of a 2010 Creative Commons catalyst grant and uses a Creative Commons license. To learn more about Creative Commons, we recommend watching A Shared Culture. You can choose subtitles in your preferred language.
Visit Manahej to register for free. |
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