Citizens' Media in the Favelas: Finding a Place for Community-Based Digital Media Production in Social Change Processes. Issue 2 (30th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Davis, Stuart
• Is Part Of: Communication theory. Volume 25:Issue 2(2015:May)
• Page Start: 230
• Page End: 243
• Publication Date: 2015-04-30
• Subjects: Citizens' Media -- Communication and Social Change -- New Communication Technologies -- Developmental Communication -- Latin American Studies; Communication -- Periodicals; Information theory -- Periodicals; 302.205
• DOI: 10.1111/comt.12069
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-3293

Abstract

Abstract: Though theories of citizens' media offer fruitful discussions on how to encourage marginalized communities to participate in media production, they often do not consider the role of material produced in larger social change projects. Drawing on the case of Viva Favela, a digital journalism project based in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, we can see a conflict between two views on how to orient material produced locally with larger social change agendas: one that seeks to make the site a network for collaborators in favelas across Brazil and another that seeks to use it as an advocacy tool for addressing problems facing Rio's favelas. Addressing this conflict entails reconsidering how citizens' media projects coordinate between opposing interests and goals.