I wanted to point to a discussion group within this network that is working on the use of this medium for further the rights of journalists: Journalism In Crisis Coalition
http://groups.comminit.com/node/310152
You can join this group and read a very compelling message from Afghani journalist Malik Faisal Moonzajer "Traditional People, Wild government & innocent Journalists" and comments he received from his posting.
http://groups.comminit.com/node/325579
The question I have, and please post if you would care to respond: What is a 'next step' in this posting process? I am aware of organisations that mount massive letter writing campaigns to individuals or governments, but in this situation, the leaders are the problem and unlikely to be sympathetic to outside pressure. This is not an unusual situation in cases of human rights abuse. Suggestions from any of you on going the step from internet facilitated awareness to action? log in and post here: http://groups.comminit.com/node/add/og_post?gids[]=302317
Julie Levy
encourage more reports
...
Like Julie, I have been left questioning my own efforts when reading of the raw realities raised by Malik, describing an unbelievably dangerous environment. As she says, it seems unlikely that Afghan warlords or their foreign clients would take one blind bit of notice of a digital petition or similar.
Merely writing, however, raises all our awareness. From the input side, I would encourage others with less than perfect English skills not to hold back. To write down what they are trying to say.
And that is perhaps where us other communicators can come in. Those with language, translation and web skills (and time and resources etc etc) can work in partnership with those like Malik. This is still only a first step, but it may be that an edited, more concise version will gain greater attention and - who knows? - action.
...