Social Media Exchange to Release Arabic Version of Digiactive’s Guide to Facebook Activism

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) October 28, 2008 -- Social Media Exchange a Beirut based NGO has helped introduce and train members of Lebanon's civil society in social and participatory media on the Internet throughout its program. It will now release both in print and online, an Arabic version of “A Digiactive’s Guide to Facebook Activism” during a discussion panel entitled “Facebook Activism: The Crowd that Makes it Happen”. The panel will discuss activism through Facebook with Lebanese NGOs that have an influential presence on Facebook, on Wednesday October 29.

The booklet was originally issued in English by Digiactive, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to helping grassroots activists around the world use the Internet and mobile phones to effect social and political change.

The small booklet, which offers a concise wrap-up on how to use Facebook in an online activism campaign, was written by Digiactive’s lead researcher Dan Schultz in 2008.

Designed to provide insight into what works, what does not work, and how best to use Facebook to advance an interest group, the handbook shares useful advice and steps on how to best organize an activism campaign on Facebook, including real-life examples of campaigns from Egypt, Burma, and Morocco.

Facebook is the second most trafficked social networking site in the world, and according to Alexa.com it is the most popular website in Lebanon thus far. By translating the document to Arabic, the Social Media Exchange team is counting on Facebook’s widespread usage to start revolutionizing change that will consequently expand to the rest of the Arab world.

Social Media Exchange has also contributed to the Arabic version of the guide by adding a Facebook/social network plan sheet and useful tips that will further help NGOs in strategizing their presence on Facebook.

For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release contact Jessica Dheere or visit our blog, www.socialmediaexchange.blogspot.com or the Rootspace website, www.therootspace.org/socialmediaexchange

About Social Media Exchange:

Social Media Exchange is a six-month program to introduce and train members of Lebanon's civil society (organizations and individuals) in social and participatory media on the Internet, both (1) to help organizations and projects improve and streamline their internal organization, management and communications, and (2) to help them more efficiently and effectively achieve their social objectives.

The program will unfold in two phases. The first phase will consist of an introductory seminar on the social web, including social bookmarking, RSS (Really Simple Syndication), and blogging, and how it can be applied in an NGO environment. The second phase will comprise advanced, hands-on workshops in the various technologies as well as mentorship opportunities for select NGO participants.

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