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Field Notes

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Orientation week at jhr is always good times. We get to boss around these bright and eager newcomers and have them do what ever we like. It kind of reminds me of initiation way back in high school, only better!

No, no, I joke of course : ) I was an intern once so how could I be so cruel?

No, orientation week is a great time at jhr because we get to meet emerging talents and the office is always buzzing with energy. This time around we had our university chapter interns to join us for training. They set off to work at Kapital Radio in Kumasi, Ghana just last Friday (and yes we planned it so that they'd be there in time for the World Cup madness because we are just that cool of an org). For three months, our media interns will work with African journalists to produce news stories and learn all about the behind-the-scenes programming and editing process that takes place in community radio stations. And as a part of their internship, they will be required to produce a number of media items that run the gamut from photoessays to articles and from documentaries to, of course, blog posts.

You can read all the juicy details about their trip on their Field Notes page at www.jhr.ca/blog

But while we're on the topic, just thought I'd share jhr's blogging policy for our overseas trainers and interns. In coordination with our International Programs Department, I've been working on developing a blogging policy that's easy and simple but reflects  jhr's overall organizational principles. As you go through the simplified version below, don't be surprised if you find that there's that extra emphasis on our core goal, making everyone around the world aware of their rights, because like I've said before, you gotta stay true to your organization's mission living it and breathing it in all endeavours....both online and offline.

 

 

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Finding the Social Media Secret Sauce

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So this week is Net Change Week and I've been lucky enough to be able to attend one of its events, My Charity Connects, on behalf of jhr. Bright and early on Monday morning, I joined hundreds of individuals working in the non-profit sector to explore the current technological landscape and how our often overlooked and underestimated sector could leverage it to make some very real and positive changes. Held at the MaRS Discovery District, the stage was set for an exciting two days full of workshops and speakers covering topics from social media, mobile technology, analytics, and all that super hi-tech Jetsons-like good stuff.

Before anything else...let me just say that I was blown away by the amount of information and insight each speaker had to give. So many tools, so many websites, so much of everything! Each workshop introduced all kinds of technologies and strategies (both familiar and unfamiliar) to help us with specific problems we would encounter...information overload? Set up filters on your email, use RSS feeds. Want to market your non-profit more effectively? Rework and repurpose your current content, create multiple versions for different media, develop a strategy that mobilizes your core digital volunteers, solve a need. Want to measure analytics? Google Analytics, radian6, netvibes, yahoo pipes.

Zing, boom, wham, and bam! It's incredible. Awesome. But mind-blowingly overwhelming.

Continue reading on jhr Founder Ben Peterson's blog (P.S. you might find the sauce there!).

 

2010 Human Rights DocFest

Because there are faces and families behind those statistics...speak out and have your voice heard.

For all you aspiring film makers out there, here's your chance to really showcase your work on a national platform. The 2010 Human Rights DocFest is accepting submissions until June 1st. You've got one week to show us what you've got and give your contribution to the ongoing dialogue on human rights. Speak for the ones who have been silenced.

For more information, visit www.hrdocfest.com.