Power of Media as a Social Tool

To celebrate the power of media used for social action, the Center hosted a public reception and screening of socially-engaged documentary, streamed media and web projects on June 19, 2002, in American University's School of Communication's Wechsler Theater. Featured films, videos and interactive web projects ranged from the human rights media project WITNESS.org to Juan Carlos Zaldivar's personal essay on Cuban-American identity. Presentations also accented the international, grassroots news TV of oneworld.net and public TV's documentary showcase P.O.V.

In the Phillips Lab for New Media, websites were displayed by and for youth, on criminal justice, and those by and for ethnic mediamakers. A reception sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation and hosted by SOC's Dean Larry Kirkman and Center Director Pat Aufderheide concluded a special conference on "Media as a Social Tool".
The conference brought together national and international leaders and producers of social media, including members of the Center's advisory board. The conference identified strengths and needs among people who make, use and need media designed for social action, social justice, democratic interaction and the enriching of public culture. An interim report on the conference and participants' stories of the social impact of media are available on the SOC website.

"This has been an electric moment," Center Director Pat Aufderheide said. "People who do exciting and creative work have been able to make connections. And it's been wonderful for our community to meet the people behind some of the work that our students study."

Aufderheide said the conference will be useful for developing an agenda for the Center's long range planning.

"This group of conferees will be an important network and inspiration for the Center as it grows," SOC Dean Larry Kirkman said.


Media as a Social Tool: Conference Report

Participants' stories