A Checklist for Mobile Activists
Mobile Activism
We’ve seen the way in which people in various hotspots in the world have used social media to help organise and spread the word about actions. It’s truly powerful to be able to share with people something that’s happening right then and there – the noise, the chants, the speeches, the buzz and what’s over-heard.
You can be an activist on the go; while you’re out-and-about. Even when you’re at a cafe, on public transport, waiting to catch a flight or at your favourite watering hole for a quiet drink after work.
I like to use my smart phone and laptop (when it’s with me) to continue trying to connect with like-minded people and hopefully find others interested in supporting the issues I support. It also lets me keep having conversations with those that might not yet have come to a decision about an issue.
Or maybe you go to a lot of rallies.
I use my smart phone and laptop to cover rallies. It helps give people a connection with what you’re doing and what you’re supporting. And I enjoy sharing what’s going on and my experience with people that cannot attend or those that did attend and read it after the rally.
It is amazing what you can do with a smart phone or a laptop (or both).
So to help activists (or anyone for that matter) covering rallies I’ve compiled this quick checklist:
1. Is your event blog post ready and scheduled?
2. Have you told your audience (friends, followers, supporters) about what you’re doing?
3. Do you have a picture-sharing album and/or video playlist ready and set up?
4. Have you thought about the type, mix and tone of pictures and/or videos?
5. Do you have your three vox-pop questions ready?
6. Check the weather reports for rallies, protests, demonstrations, marches etc and include provisions to accommodate. For example you can use a plastic shopping bag to cover your laptop while letting you keep typing.
7. Check your technology: is your technology (smart phone, laptop, camera, video recorder etc) fully charged, tripod and do you have the cords, usb’s and dongles you need?
Good luck and happy mobile activism.
Do you have any suggestions to make? Did I miss something crucial you have to tell me about? Leave a comment below.
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As found on
Alex’s Choice News- Greece: Trade union leaders arrested following protests February 25, 2012Click here to send a message of protest or solidarity.
- Italy: Demand freedom of association at Fiat February 25, 2012Click here to send a message of protest or solidarity.
- Peru: Stop union-busting, reinstate sacked union leaders February 25, 2012Click here to send a message of protest or solidarity.
- Greece: Trade union leaders arrested following protests February 25, 2012
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Creative Commons
Alex Schlotzer by Alex Schlotzer is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Australia License.
Based on a work at alexschlotzer.wordpress.com.
June 14, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Smart phones have their own operating system and are essentially small computing devices which may one day replace laptop computers.Does your smart phone improve your life?Most people would say Yes . The current craze is to have the best apps so your life is made easier.
June 3, 2011 at 10:33 am
Thanks for those Leanne. I think I included the advertise to your supporters and followers in the my second item but perhaps not as strongly as you have put it.
I totally agree about the hash tag – great call there – and about getting some things sorted out in advance. Sorting out a few things in advance will really make life easier at the event.
Thanks again Leanne.
June 2, 2011 at 8:53 pm
That’s a good list Alex. I’d probably add two more.
Have you worked out your hashtag? Have you advertised it to you supporters and followers?
If you’re covering a live event that includes speeches, can you get an advance copy so you can include correct wording in tweets, Facebook updates and the like? If you’re using you can also pre-type some of these into Twitter, and if you’re using Tweetdeck I think you can use the timer to stagger the tweets over the course of the event.