Personally, I found the MSF list a bit meager. But I might be wrong...
So i am compiling my own "List of Shame". Taking nominations on this post: http://www.theroadtothehorizon.org/2009/12/2009-humanitys-shame-top-10-taking.html
Peter
Typo in your first header: "and tend to be the best a social media."
Jun,
you mean "is there any chance to find a job in this area, without a degree"?
There is. Am writing an article about it. But mostly in the NGO world, though.Within the UN, the minimum you need is a graduate degree. Some UN agencies like UNDP require a Masters.
Peter
There is a song by Gabin. It tells the story of a young man. 20. Thinks he knows it all.
At 30, he starts to doubt.
At 40, he is pretty sure he does not know it all
At 50, he realized there is a shitload of stuff he has no clue about.
At 60, he is only sure of one thing: that he knows nothing.
I am an I am 49, and have been an aidworker since 15 years. And I still doubt. And get frustrated. And question. And have no freaking clue.
Peter
PS: Great traffic! You wrote a great deal.... Seemed you needed to offload quite a bit ;-))
Michelle,
comments directly refering to the MSF video that suggest how to do it better:
http://aidworkerdaily.com/2009/08/31/msf-uk-your-silence-is-deafening/
http://martynsinafrica.com/blog/2009/08/28/shaking-things-up/
http://www.theroadtothehorizon.org/2009/09/heart-is-what-counts.html
http://www.theroadtothehorizon.org/2009/09/advocacy-other-way-why-congo-matters.html
There is so much "make believe" in the aid work, sometimes I loose all hope. It is such a self-fulfilling prophecy. Within the "aid business", we all like to believe we make a difference. And it makes us feel good if we slap eachother on the shoulders. Everyone around us makes us feel good too... Governments have less complaints, cooperating partners get money from us. Donors can syphen money to us, without much trouble, keeping their public happy "we donated $10 million to Darfur" but no question what was done with the money.
And ANYONE at any level questioning if we really make a difference, is set aside as an outcast.
I call it humanitarian masturbation. And we are so freaking good at it.
If we are doing sustainable development, then tell me why the hell we are still around in 90% of the places we were in 20-30 years ago? Which places have we left sustainable? Tell me. Which?
"Many people rushed to condemn and ridicule the ad, while few offered constructive suggestions on what would qualify as an acceptable and effective public humanitarian appeal."
Shooting from the hip, Michelle? Where did you look for constructive comments and suggestions on how to do it better?
In what places was the MSF ad ridiculed? I think I have a fairly complete overview of anything published on the MSF ad, and fail to see the ridiculization.
You do understand that genocide advocates are often accused of exaggerating or polarizing facts...
Think of all possible elements you would want in a video to shock, put them all together in an artfully crafted commercial, and this is what you get. Aid porn.
P.
http://www.blogtips.org (social media tips for non-profit organisations) is on twitter too: @bloggertip