Digital Media and Iran's Green Movement: A Look Back with Cameran Ashraf

By: Dan Verderosa, Posted: Dec 15 09

Regions: Iran

Issues: Elections, Freedom of opinion & expression

Tags: ahmadinejad, censorship, digital media, Elections, gerdab, Green Movement, mousavi, Protests, safety, security, social media, twitter, video, web 2.0

December 7 was Student Day in Iran, a day when students traditionally commemorate the deaths of three Iranian students who were protesting the Shah in 1953. This year, the Student Day protests were especially poignant because they demonstrated that Iran's Green Movement is still very much alive. And, like the post-election protests in June, news about the demonstrations was delivered to the world via tools like Twitter and YouTube.

What Can Civil Society Learn from Evgeny Morozov’s Critique of Web 2.0?

By: Dan Verderosa, Posted: Dec 12 09

Regions: Global

Tags: ethics, new media, online, risks, safety, security, video authenticity, web 2.0

It's easy to get excited about the potential power of the internet to fight government impunity, curb human rights abuses, and induce democratic reforms in authoritarian states. New Media experts like Clay Shirky see enormous potential in social media.

Tibetan Filmmaker on Trial for 'Subversion'

By: Yvette Alberdingk Thijm, Posted: Nov 4 09

Regions: China

Issues: Detention, Freedom of opinion & expression, Torture

Tags: consent, Detention, Dhondup Wangchen, documentary, Leaving Fear Behind, safety, security, tibet

In August of 2008, we published Leaving Fear Behind on the Hub, a film made by a Tibetan filmmaker named Dhondup Wangchen. In the film, Tibetans living inside Tibet were interviewed and asked to share their feelings about the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In Tibet, merely speaking out against Chinese rule or worshipping the Dalai Lama are considered crimes (and subject to severe punishment), so we had to consider the safety risks before deciding whether to publish the video.

Honest Truths: What are the Ethics of Making Documentaries?

By: Grace Lile, Posted: Oct 21 09

Regions: Global

Tags: accuracy, archives, consent, ethics, filmmaking, journalism, online, reenactments, safety, security, video

The indispensable folks at American University's Center for Social Media have published a new report: Honest Truths: Documentary Filmmakers on Ethical Challenges in Their Work. The report addresses issues include staging and reenactments, editing, paying subjects, protecting vulnerable or endangered subjects, reusing footage for other purposes, and using archival materials. It finds that while most documentarians consider ethics to be at the heart of what they do, they face considerable challenges due to resource constraints and a lack of standards for confronting ethical dilemmas.

Guest Post: Notes from Burma - Story vs. Security

By: karenzusman, Posted: Oct 12 09

Regions: Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand

Issues: Freedom of opinion & expression, Internally displaced persons, Refugees

Tags: audio, burma, consent, dignity, documentary, ethics, filmmaking, migration, safety, security, slavery

TAKE ACTION: Sign this petition and call on the Malaysian government to uphold the rights of Burmese refugees in Malaysia.

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