World View

How Social Media War Was Waged in Gaza-Israel Conflict

by Jaron Gilinsky

Both sides deployed dangerous new media weapons during this latest round of fighting in Gaza. Armed with Facebook profiles, Twitter accounts, and Lavazza espresso, warriors fearlessly and tirelessly scoured the cyber battlefield searching for enemy (blog) outposts. Outfitted with high-tech ammunition like HD videocameras, firewire 800s, and white phosphorescent keyboards, they attacked one-sided videos, slanted essays, and enemy propaganda with...

• February 13, 2009
• 6 comments

Citizen Journalism

Ushahidi Platform Used to Document Congo, Gaza Crises

by Sokari Ekine

Bloggers have always been timely in their response to local, regional and international crises and Kenyan bloggers were no different when violence broke out following the December 2007 elections. Within nine days Ushahidi, "a platform that crowdsources crisis information," was born. But that open source platform is now being "localized" to cover conflicts in other global hotspots, including in the...

• January 9, 2009
• 1 comment

World View

Innovative Web Video Series Shows Real Life in Gaza, Israel

by Jaron Gilinsky

One sense of fear, two armies, and three rows of electrical fences separate Israel and the Gaza Strip. For the past 10 years, it has been difficult for residents of these two places to ever imagine meeting one another in person. Now, thanks to a new documentary project produced by French/German television station Arte TV and a handful of Israeli...

• December 16, 2008
• 2 comments