22nd June 2009
Dianne Flatt from Epilepsy Action dropped in for an hour on the beautiful sofa to talk about events fundraising, data, social media and about 2,000,000 other things! We thoroughly enjoyed meeting you, Di.
Di’s idea of a beautiful world is, “one where everyone smiles, and every day thinks about at least one great thing they can do to improve someone’s life or make the world a better place. Just one great thing, go on – think it and do it now”.
Anyone keeping an eye on Iran in the aftermath of the (rigged?) election could not help but be struck by the role that social media is playing in the unfolding events.
As Dan Rather, anchor and managing editor of HDNet’s ‘Dan Rather Reports’, has written: “When a regime exercises its power to repress, it first turns out the lights: If it can’t control the story, it tries to make the story disappear.”
The authorities in Iran would undoubtedly like to keep the unrest and riots erupting throughout the country off our news screens. Equally, they would like to keep the population as a whole in ignorance.
Ten years ago they might have succeeded, but with the proliferation of social media in the form of YouTube, Facebook and Twitter such a move is impossible. They can stop the presses, shut down the TV networks, revoke press licences but they are powerless to stop the Tweets of ordinary citizens. (To enter the Twitter stream use #iranelection.)
There are two revolutions going on. One local and political, the other global and social.
The social media revolution is made spectacularly evident in the face of a repressive government, but let’s remember that the same revolution is quietly taking place here.
Not too long ago we were the obedient recipients of a broadcast culture that kept us enthralled with the Ten O’Clock News, commercials, posters and ads. We either liked what they had to say or lumped it.
Now it’s a two-way conversation. The newscasters rely on citizen journalists – people like you and me. If something doesn’t add up, we tell each other within seconds. Social media has given us a freedom of information and self-expression we’ve never had before. The question is: what are we going to do with it?
Well, I’ve just checked with a few people and apparently it isn’t me. According to my daughter I score “zero” on the cool-o-meter. So it must, therefore, be the world of charity.
At the weekend, business woman, Mary Portas observed in the Observer that: “Our cultural G spot has moved. It used to be greed. Now it’s giving.”
Only a couple of years ago, when I mentioned that I did work for charities it brought a quick, embarrassed silence to the conversation. Now the same people look at me as if I’m some sort of saint (if only they knew!).
Charity, it seems, has become like rehab – everybody who’s anybody is going there.
So what’s happened? Well for one thing the rich and famous are still at it. This morning the papers were full of Madonna adopting a second orphan from Malawi. Comic Relief has just had its best year ever. Everywhere you look someone famous is involved in a little judicious giving.
In an article in the New York Times, Naomi Levine, an expert on philanthropy at New York University, said young people, “more than ever want to do something.” Judging from the calibre of the people who want to come and work with us, this is definitely true.
Of course, social media is playing a role in this as well. Earlier this year Hugh Jackman (better known to many as Wolverine) offered to giveaway $100,000 to whichever charity could make themselves most appealing in 140 characters:
This is exciting stuff. Anyone could play and many of us did.
Politicians are also doing their bit (albeit unwittingly) by making such a public display of greed and incompetence. Enough to drive anybody in the opposite direction.
Then of course there is the recession, forcing all of us to re-examine our values. Finally there is the environment. The once cranky idea that you don’t just consume but need to put something back is now mainstream.
These may be hard times but, in many ways, people want to give back more than ever. Now that’s cool.
