The richness of rumours & limitations of facts - stijn aelbers
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Transcript of The richness of rumours & limitations of facts - stijn aelbers
Stijn Aelbers Humanitarian Advisor
Stijn Aelbers Humanitarian Advisor
The richness of rumours & The limitations of facts
About myself
Journalist in Belgium
Communication & Media Officer for UNPA in Uganda
Humanitarian Advisor with Internews
About the Humanitarian System
Communication is aid
Communication with CommunitiesIn the context of humanitarian action Communication with Communities, which is sometimes abbreviated to CwC, refers to activities where the exchange of information is used to save lives, mitigate risk, enable greater accountability and shape the response, as well as supporting the communication needs of people caught up in conflicts, natural disasters and other crises.
From www.cdacnetwork.org
Some CwC-Internews projects
https://internews.org/our-stories/project-updates/boda-boda-talk-talkhttps://internews.org/our-stories/project-updates/can-you-stop-rumourhttps://internews.org/our-stories/project-updates/news-that-moves-rumor-trackerEbola-project in Liberia https://internews.org/our-stories/project-updates/combatting-rumors-about-ebola-sms-done-right
Earthquake Nepal 2015
Case Study
1. AssessmentWhat information do people need?How do people like to receive information?What is already in place?How can we adapt our models to local situation?
Media is for the city centric. At the moment theres no phone or radio. So your approach of coming and talking to us would be very good. Especially for the more remote areas (Information Needs Assessment 10 May 2015 Viviane L. Fluck/InternewsScattered impact centralized response
The 2011 national census lists 123 languages spoken as a mother tongue (first language) in Nepal (wikipedia)I dont speak Nepali so I dont really talk to anybody much. (Information Needs Assessment 10 May 2015 Viviane L. Fluck/Internews)Diverse population Uniform communication
2. Ambition?
Set up aninclusivetwo way communication in a fragmented geographical region in local language(s)
Locally embeddedProvide building blocksDetailed Open channels3. DesignCollection = distributionFacts, not storiesConversations, not questionsQualitative, not quantitative
Open: Allow people to decide:What they want to share so no questionnaires directing the conversationHow they want to share it so using more than one channel (face-to-face + call-in-radio + social media +)
Light: Use existing networks, platforms and channelsLocal mediaSocial media Face-to-face networks
LocalUse the language people like, not just the language they understandGo through facilitators, trusted networks and peopleIt doesnt rely on creating a new brand or requires big logos
DetailedOne rumour is enough to act uponFaster processing of data informing on-going responseForces a non-judgemental and respectful attitude towards feedback: no rumour is stupid, no concern intrinsic too small
4. Who we worked with
Strong local focusStrong connection with local government
Weak connection with humanitarian agenciesLimited regional scope
Wide regional networkStrong top down management
Weak connection with humanitarian agenciesNo communication culture
The Rumour Anonymous, but with a reference to location, indicating its genuine and making it easier for people to relate to itThe FactBeyond True or False, but unwrapping the concern and provide actionable informationThe ContactLocal (!) & Reliable for follow up information/action5. What it looked like
6. Sharing & Collating
http://cfp.org.np
7. What worked?It was used/actionable 400 journalists received the weekly Open Mic Issues 18 radio stations developed radio shows based on the Open Mic Issues 600 humanitarians received the weekly Open Mic issuesCommon Feedback Platform-coordinators distributed it widelyIt was shared among field staff to inform Research indicated it was used during planning meetingsIt was liked/sustainableOxfam funded it after initial funding ran outHumanitarian Coordinator continued approach after Open Mic Project closed downIt was fun/innovativeMulti-platform: radio + face-to-face + onlineLocal voices brought to humanitarian country level
8. What didnt?DiversityNot enough women although the model was designed to facilitate face-to-face communication to be more inclusiveNot enough languages, although one radio station started producing informative programs in Tamang
ScaleNot covering the whole affected region although humanitarian agencies shared the Open Mic issues widely, collection was limited, also due to limited uptake among Red Cross volunteers
FundingApproach & partnerships lack of visibility & understanding of role of Internews[In my village] men in power have all the information"35 years old woman, May 10th 2015, Sindhupalchowk Internews needs assessment/Viviane L. Fluck
General principles
Open our doorsWhat we should doAnd create an environment in which people are comfortable to share information
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Why?Because they have their own prioritiesBecause they have their own languageBecause they have their own solutions
Because its not about us
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Rumours force us to change our attitude &approaches
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Open channelsOpen questionsOpen communication
SoAllow people to decide what they like to share, how they like to share it
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WHY LOCAL STAFF ARE THE BEST andstill- are largely underused
What?How? globally Who?How? - locallyHealthShelterEducationLocal habitsLocal preferencesLocal structures.INTERNATIONALS (NGOs, UN, )AFFECTED POPULATIONLocal staff
their questionstheir solutionstheir ideas
SoFacilitate & support
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FacilitatedE.T. The Movie
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In a language they like Through people they trust
SoInformation doesnt trickle down, nor does it just pour in
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Sustainable
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use existing channels
&
principles of good journalism
SoIts methodology, not technology
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Continuous
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Some waves are bigger than others, but 1 rumour is enough to take action Soactions can be continuously shaped and reshaped by them
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Challenges
Facts arent always stronger than rumours & opinions
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Facts
in context
Scale Processing qualitative data takes more time, money & people
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How to measure impact?
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Sustainable -> Locals part of every step in processModest -> what is achievable? Approachable -> key-staff available for local mediaRe-active -> demand-driven vs supply-drivenTransparent -> why & how, not just what & where
So(some suggestions)
Originally Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-Bound
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@stttijn
www.Internews.org
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