The NewsMeBack Blog » Personal opinion

Remembering Neda Agha-Soltan

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:20:06 +0000

Neda Agha-Soltan, tragically died in June 2009.
One young woman who gave her life as a pledge to all the people who have doubts.
Doubts if they should stand up for themselves.
Doubts if they should fight for their beliefs.
Doubts in what is right and what is wrong.
Doubts if they should better close their eyes in front of tyranny.
Neda Agha-Soltan, young and free spirited woman knew all the answers on these questions.
It’s more than one president, one election and one riot.
It’s a symbol.
Because life teaches us that we must stand up for ourselves. No matter in what. Is it our job, school, family or friendship. We must prove our value.
We must fight for our beliefs and certainly must differ right from wrong.
And definitely be aware of fact that tyranny will never go away willingly or by itself. Every kind of tyranny, political, cultural or religious.
We have to learn best of Neda’s tragic death.
She rose her voice against government’s faults and that cost her life. But that was enough as a wake up call for many others who forgot that being a human has both, rights and obligations.
So, remember Neda Agha-Soltan as a symbol of truth and justice.

Can citizen journalism be the thing which will unite the World?

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 22:30:22 +0000

Mostly people make distance between themselves and unknown things to them. Normal and almost instinctive reaction. We rather accept familiar things than those new. We even think of some as a taboo.
But reading stories of other ordinary people from countries on the other side of the Planet, countries that you don’t know well enough, will probably reduce resistance because you’ll see similar problems like yours. You’ll see similar news, events and lives.
Of course, you’ll see all those specific stuff which are characteristic for every nation in the world. That’s their tradition, customs and habits.
And during the period of time while we learn something new about some country we find it closer and easier to understand.
It’s no longer distant and mysterious, maybe even dangerous because we have heard some horrific stories on some TV headlines.
We put faces on those people, see their smiles and tears, see them talk and walk like we do, how they pray and work.
And there is that thought.
We are one people of one World.
So I believe that there is a way to get closer.
Considering how citizen journalism has many new members and ordinary journalists who share their ordinary sincere stories, I can see how people really get closer. Citizens who learn and find new ways to speak. Thanks to new technology they get heard. Their news become important.
Because instead of a fake affected smile of some famous or partially famous journalist you see true emotion. You feel tears and horror of Haiti victims, laugh from your heart when something good is done and stay mute over some tragedy.
True emotions. Live. Raw.
I suppose that’s the way.
When we start to feel again and sympathize with real people like ourselves.
Yes, they are not trained professionals and yes, maybe their hands shake while they try to catch some video. And it’s not perfect. But that’s the whole point.
For us to accept that life is a collection of simple, everyday, small and ordinary things.

Social media education – is this necessary?

admin — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 22:44:42 +0000

When you sit down and look all the facts and analyze how every thing has its own process and development, you can realize that our life has unavoidable phases. So those things like going to school, doing homework and studying are just phases which lead us to the next level. Some do avoid them but that doesn’t mean they won’t get some other things they would have to do or learn.
All this thinking led me to this.
Once upon a time there were schools, colleges and academies where people who liked journalism used to go to learn and get information and education.
That was the process. There were respectable, prestigious schools where education and preparations were serious and longlasting.
But after few years people with degrees came out, full with knowledge and skills to report, find and present news to people and investigate.
Now many future students before they step in those schools have to think more than twice. They have to see all the facts and collect all information about number of already existing journalists, number of those unemployed and number of those just fired.
Hard, painful and discouraging process.
But like many things now, without any warranty.
On the other side I see many new ways of getting training today.
Workshops, courses, so called webinars, even blogs and Internet of course.
Almost every week in some country appears new workshop on citizen journalism and citizen media. People get informed there.
Collect some new skills and learn how to use new technology in everyday life. And most important learn how to recognize news when they see it. Around them, in their ordinary lives. They get training not to become professional journalists, because that’s not the way to get that title, but to become better prepared citizen journalists.
Another citizen who has skills and tools to use on some interesting event. Who better can tell the story than everyday girl or guy, using simple words and expressing her/his emotions through the event? That’s the citizen journalism charm. Honesty and right, not staged moment.
So, as always in life we have two paths. It’s personal decision which one you should choose.
Totally different and similar at the same time, because at the end of each you really get more information and almost none warranty.

Power of opinion and thinking

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:04:13 +0000

It isn’t easy to say your opinion. It isn’t easy to have one, no matter if it’s only about everyday simple things.
Some people come on this world with great selfastime and confidence, they have opinion about everyone and everything. Not shy to say it,
whether others like it or not.
For some it’s easy going and normal, for some having an opinion is what they don’t know.
In some societies opinion is even forbidden.

Some groups or women have no rights to think or speak out loud.
To have or build your opinion about world around you and events is crucial thing which gives you power to develop your intellect and
become reasonable, aware and awake person.
One who knows to look and read people, to see the difference between right and wrong and to stand up for his beliefs.
That’s why thinking process is so important.
Maybe not so fun and relaxing but definitely thing which makes us human.

“Being a Woman” as a women side of citizen journalism

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:12:38 +0000

“Being a Woman” is one very interesting and progressive idea. To take one part of growing community of citizen journalists and people interested in citizen media.
And that’s absolutely fantastic.
This is a month of women and their achievements. Their month to mark and celebrate all the women who fought for freedom and positions in society. For women who learned how to manage everything, being a daughter, mother, wife, employee and employer, to keep a family. All that in 24 hours. All that without facilities. In many countries women still have very subordinate position and live like prisoners. Without rights.
To be a woman in man’s world is difficult. Every woman can say it, confirm it from her own experience. Their day begins earlier and ends later. This website, www.shetizenjournalist.com, gives space to women and asks them to say what “Being a Woman” means in their life. How they juggle their duties. If there is gender issues, how they deal with them. Many subjects open and time for launching is March 8, this year.
One very bold and amazing way of citizen journalism. This will become a collection of how women see and feel themselves.
As http://www.shetizenjournalist.com/being-a-woman.htm say

International Women’s Day is an official holiday in China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Many of those countries understand this holiday wrong. They give presents, flowers, chocolate and perfumes to women. But, men don’t understand importance of this day. They should respect women every day, whole year, and not only that one day.
This day has deeper meaning. Liberating.
So, we are waiting March 8 to see how women do citizen journalism.

What is favorite category for citizen journalists

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:33:12 +0000

Citizen journalism is an expression of people who appreciate different view of news. As I can see, it has success. People write and inform or share anything they find interesting.
But somehow I have the impression that one of the most interesting categories is Emergency. Until now biggest attention of citizen journalists was devoted to emergencies.
That is natural because people like to read and find out what happened and to get all the information about some big events, tragedies, protests, demonstrations…
Our focus is always in direction of some plain crash, earthquake, storms, war, shooting, flood, fire and other breaking news.
Maybe it’s because we fear or want to help or just to satisfy our curiosity.
Nevertheless, humans are curious by nature.
Now, I’m curious what is next most popular category.
I suppose now is Sports. Vancouver Olympics are in the top news. Competition and results, thrill and cheering is what makes them so exciting. And besides Olympics sport is a category with lot of new events and happenings all the time.
So what is next? What do you think?

Technology like a tool and disturbance

admin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:00:23 +0000

Technology. TV, computer, cell phone, iPhone, laptop, BlackBerry, iPod, digital camera… Can you imagine one day, or to be honest, one hour, without any of stuff I just mentioned? I can’t.
I’m not here to judge or to say whether it’s good or totally wrong. What is the price of living in era of technology and gadgets? Are we becoming distant or smarter, more capable or unfocused?
I just want to point out one simple fact and that is – we are living in new time when it’s perfectly normal to have a button for almost everything. And we are so happy and thrilled about it.
Every celebrity, star, even president Obama approves and praises gadgets like BlackBerry or laptop. Housewives love them because they’re helpful.
Technology entered in almost every pore of our skin. Because those are good things, we use them on our work, jobs, hobby or social life and free moments. List is long.
But, we came in unprepared.
First it was a problem with cell phones and laptops in airplanes.
The box of tech problems was opened. Now we have some real troubles like using tech on elections, during trials, in the courtrooms…
Many serious problems.
We are using phones today like glasses, it’s an instrument we don’t even notice until we need to use it.
Unfortunately there are people who like to misuse things or use them for a wrong cause.
And there is a problem.
Because we just can not assume that everyone is fair and correct.
Recently I’ve read about few cases in court where jury used phones in their rooms and because of that trials were delayed or canceled.
How to stop it? Only to forbid use of every kind of technology. Cruel, but what else to do?
Elections are another problem because people who pay for votes can use technology in various ways. I speak here about whole world, not about one country.
Tough decisions, but we couldn’t predict them. We just couldn’t prepare our laws, government and institutions for Twitter, Facebook, BlackBerry or YouTube. Who knew that it’s going to be so popular.
Now we are here and we can’t go back. It would be stupid, because our lives became better with modern technology. We have to think hard and find solutions. That’s what we are already used to do, find a solution for a problem. It’s not our first and certainly not last.
That is life and it’s suppose to be like it.
With a gift you get a trouble, too.

Are you ready to pay for news?

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:31:43 +0000

Money. Always money. Money for water, money for bread, money for house, money for car.
That’s the way life goes. We all know it and accept it. There is no other way.
But do we have to, besides all these things, pay for every article we read?
Yes, for years we pay and give money for newspaper. And that’s how it works. But when you buy newspaper you always have that opportunity to share them with your colleagues and let them read your newspaper for free. There was no need to buy copy for everyone.
And now if you pay for some article after reading it can you share that same article with someone or will he get link which you sent him and with a next click instead of an article will he get paying form?
This means that you didn’t share anything because you have sent him payed article which only you payed. And maybe he payed for some other article of that same newspaper. A bit too complicated, isn’t it? I mean for a piece of news.
What in case you see that same news on TV? Will you pay for it just to read it in some different way?
All these issues bring us here. We have to think about some other options.
Will idea of paying for something that on Twitter can get for free make people reject it and turn them towards citizen journalism? Maybe readers will accept those who write for free and give them to read for free. Only time can give us answer on this question. 2010 is definitely year of citizen journalism.

Living quality life

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:07:41 +0000

I’m thinking these days about our World and where is it going. Strangely how all it works. Considering all the achievements and innovations, new technologies and great success in medicine aren’t we suppose to live much much better?
Few centuries ago people didn’t have all this and somehow it seems to me like they have lived better life.
Maybe I’m saying this because I live now and here. I can only imagine how was it then, but…
In the past some order was well known and people used to respect it. People used to respect each other. Nowadays it’s like a rare antique virtue.
Maybe moral and ethics were stronger than now.
Maybe all this material goods we have now made us so intolerable and angry and greedy.
Politeness and kindness, what was it? Can’t remember anymore.
Important is to stay human and to think about others and not only about yourself. It is hard, now even harder when we all struggle to survive and fulfill ourselves, in carrier, love, home…
One day has only 24 hours.
Too short for so many duties. And requires huge effort. But like we fight now to save Planet and environment after we successfully have polluted half and more of Earth, we should realize that our moral values are shaken to the bone.
Every now and then we can see some TV show, bottom of the bottom, no quality people who like to preach about who knows what.
Fine, we live in democracy. Every person has right to do and think with his/her head. But it should be more clear what is wrong.
Like we teach our kids not to throw garbage everywhere, how to recycle and learn responsibility, we should try to teach them how to fight for themselves but during that fight not to hurt others. I know it’s hard, it’s difficult but necessary.
If not, we don’t deserve all the things we use like a breath, take it for granted.
Material goods suppose to help us live better and not to become their slaves. Instead of leaning on people we lean on things. OK, but… You buy car to drive yourself to work or else and not to show off or build your self confidence. Without a car where is your soul and personality?
One must feel right and satisfied deep inside, alone, in his heart. Masks off. Without pretending and walls around. Bare and on your own. Money can’t make filling for every other lack.
And there is no perfect man or woman. Never will be. But trying to become better person can make only good.
Have we lost our humanity somewhere on the road of progress? If we have, then we have payed too big price for our comfort. I hope we wont realize it too late like we are used to.

World Food Day 2009

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:02:55 +0000

Have you been eating today?
One of the most important questions, today specially.
I have, fortunately for me.
But I know many haven’t.
It makes you wonder about priorities.
Today society made us run for some so different and distant must have and must do stuff. Today they seem so funny to me. Ridiculous and totally out of meaning of life.
Why?
Simply because if we get up and don’t eat, not because we want to be fit, but because we don’t have what to eat, then is there something else one should think about?
I don’t think so.
Primary is to eat, always has been. Why should now be different?
Someone else has no other thought to think or action to make, his mouth and stomach are empty. So that person, human being, doesn’t care if somewhere in the Universe there is technology or luxury of every kind. That human being would be happiest to eat piece of bread.
And we forget this all the time.
Fortunately for us. We are not hungry ones. Not yet. But no one knows when, if, bad time will come to him.
We should care more. Because we, who have regular meals and live ordinary lives, not more than that, can’t understand that it is like a promise land for someone. What is unthinkable for one is everyday for other.
Cruel reality for children who will never see and try chocolate.
Cruel for mother who has nothing to feed her child.
Cruel for old ones who can’t have dignity in their age.
Nothing hurts more than empty stomach.
It mustn’t be like this.