Jordan Watch
An update and analysis of development and reform challenges in Jordan from a social democratic perspective.

Promoting Jordan Planet in Mainstream Media
Tuesday, April 25, 2006

During the April meet-up for Jordan Planet blogger a lot of "strategic" issues were discussed in a good spirit. One of the main issues was a need felt by many bloggers that Jordan Planet was evolving into an exciting and unique media outlet that needs to be promoted. I have written a post about my initial ideas and promised to bring forward some practical suggestions. At the same line, Darwish Naji has written an interactive post about the goals and objectives of Jordan Planet, and I suggest that his post and comments be consulted while reading this post of mine.
The main issue was how to transfer Jordan Planet into an "entity"? some suggestions were raised and one of them was turning Jordan Planet into a "non-profit entity" registered at the Ministry of Trade which I personally do not like since it will put JP under so many restrictions. The added value of JP is its freedom and simplicity and we have to keep it up.
On the issue of goals and objectives, I think JP has more to offer than being a blogsphere for fun, especially that all of the blogging system is evolving into a new media form. From my own perspective, I think JP's main goals is to "provide a free and interactive platform for Jordanian bloggers to express themselves". On the other hand, such a goal can entail also presenting a novel media and information tool about Jordan to the outside world.
For this purpose, and based on the very high quality of blogs in JP it is important to engage in a campaign to promote JP in national, regional and global media and information networks.
There are four levels to this task. The first one is promoting JP in the global blogsphere, which I cannot say much about since there are more experienced bloggers who know the details of blog promotion. I guess some of the experienced and informed bloggers can suggest ideas.
The second level is the mainstream media. I think JP should be linked to some of the most important and influential media outlets in Jordan and Arab World. This can be done through some stories published in media about blogging and JP, some links to JP in mainstream media websites and using JP as a source of information for journalists working in mainstream media.
The third level is "information networks" in Jordan, the region and the world which are based on "portal-style" media websites which aggregates news and links and some media organizations with regional and global perspectives.
The fourth level are research, policy and knowledge networks with special emphasis on Jordan and the region who can benefit from the JP as a source of information and also as potential linkages and reference to JP resources in their activities.
How to go about it can be very time consuming unless done collectively by JP citizens. I think whenever any one of us comes a cross a media outlet, an organization, a network, researchers and journalists and any other stakeholders working on issues of media, society, technology and politics in the region and the world it will be good to spread the JP either through an e-mail or linking JP in the directory pages or any other techniques suitable for each case. If a specific topic is being featured in such websites and news-feeders it will be good to highlight the JP's content related to that issue as well.
These are just rudimentary thoughts and I would love to hear more ideas and maybe we can jointly develop a plan fpr promoting JP in more levels than what I have suggested. I think we owe it to ourselves and to JP to increase the impact and outreach of this magnificant dream that we all share.
 

posted by Batir Wardam in Blogging @ 3:06 AM

Bookmark this post: KhabberDel.ici.ousDiggRedditY! MyWebGoogle Bookmarks
(11) comments


Add a Comment

On April, 25, 2006 3:50 AM , hatem abunimeh
from United States said:

I'm not really sure where are you going with your ambitious project! However,and in my opinion, any project that you think about unless it is handled professionally from the oneset, it will be doomed to failure. As far as I know, Jordan Planet was established by an all volunteer staff, and it is still run by an all volunteer staff. In order for it to go forward, be that lateraly or upward, it must have an established annual budget and paid staff. In the absence of a budget and paid staff, there isn't much that can happen other than what you see happening right now. Actually, I tip my hat for those that are administering the site using their own time to do it.

On April, 25, 2006 2:30 PM , kinzi
from United States said:

Maybe I am just a rebel at heart, but I feel like the less formalization the better.

I think that its' spontaneity and lack of even a box to think outside of is what makes jp what it is. I like that jp bloggers define, redefine and create what is new and different "Jordan Style", and aren't a cultural copycats.

For what it is worth...



On April, 25, 2006 2:33 PM , nasimjo
from Jordan said:

Batir , I share ur thoughts ..
I have actually sent a suggestion to the JP board in having a Media Night in our next meeting ,, still waiting for the reply

On April, 25, 2006 3:43 PM , Dar
from Jordan said:

I dont know , but i got this idea while reading , why not trying to use Radio Fan , or any other radio for promotion ?!
CheeerZ!

On April, 25, 2006 3:45 PM , Dar
from Jordan said:

I dont know , but i got this idea while reading , why not trying to use Radio Fan , or any other radio for promotion ?!
CheeerZ!

On April, 25, 2006 7:16 PM , Batir Wardam
from Jordan said:

Hatem; I guess I have made my self clear by saying that this is not a project, and in fact not my project but a few ideas on an issue that was raised collectively by the JP bloggers who atended the April meeting. This does not have to be complicated with budget and annual progress and financial reporting. It is just the spirit of volumtary work that can add more dimension. I also highly appreciate the work done by JP volunteers staff and that is why they need some support in promoting this work.
Kinzi has provided a much needed thoughts on the actual need to "officialize" our effort or not, would it better to remain the same? This is to be debated.
Nasimko suggested a media night which sound nice but maybe this needs to be elaborated more.
Dar I think all sprts of media can be used provided tehy reflect a fair image of JP and be of interest to the media. I think it woudl be nice of Radio Fan or another Radio station can interview a few of the bloggers.

On April, 25, 2006 7:33 PM , PALFORCE
from United States said:

Salam,

Well, here is my 2 cents on the expanding of JP.

Before hanging JP inside the national local media closet why not work on divesting JP first.

Then once, JP is diverse then the variety of issues would complete JP as a whole media outlet.

You ask how to go about that?
- First, we need to have a faster acceptance procedure.
-Second, we might need to start thinking about recruiting Jordanian writers.
- Third, JP need to reach out to the remote and unprivileged areas, such as Refugee camps, Youth Centers, the thousands of internet cafes, and so on.
-Fourth, Contact the Ministry of education about introducing Blogging to Middle School all the way to High Schools.
-Last but not least, once we are representing at 80% of the Jordanian society, then we can move to the media stream train. With all the talents we have in JP we can maybe start our own Internet FM station, start a weekly blog update newsletter, start getting sponsors, and advertise on TV maybe.

Ew salmetkom .

On April, 25, 2006 8:07 PM , Batir Wardam
from Jordan said:

Wow palforce these are very good ideas. I think some must be answered by the JP staff like the recruitment and acceptance. I like your enthusiasm for JP to represent 80% of the Jordanian population but well.. realistically there is no entity in Jordan that can claim to represent 50%. Even the political parties are not able to claim representing the wholke geography of Jordan. Regarding the umprivilages areas I do not really know if JP is able to do this as a voluntary network. The Ministry of Social development has failed to reach the people and many NGOs strive to do so with high budget. One outlet can be the "knowledge stations" that are run by the National Information Center but again the language barrier is not easy to break. In the final analysis the combinations of small successes can lead to a good achievement.

On April, 26, 2006 8:18 AM , kinzi
from United States said:

Batir, the very reason that the gov and NGOs have failed to reach the outlying areas is the macro thinking. Having worked with govs and NGOs, it is paralysis in analysis.

That's why I brought up at the meeting that I think it will take an informal network of computer pros like JP to do the micro work. No budget, just give a day of time.

Just go one school at a time, starting where JP people have relatives. Or the villages near the 'knowledge stations'.

It's like the tide stranded star-fish story. 1,000s are stuck, many people watch, and one guys starts throwing them back in. Someone asks him 'it doesn't matter what you are doing, you can't save them all'; then the guy answers 'it matters to the one I just threw back'

If these kids don't get to learn their way around a key board, there is no hope for their future.

On April, 26, 2006 12:44 PM , Anja Hendel
from Jordan said:

Marhaba I like to write you an email. I am a german student doing a trainee for some months in jordan. I just working on a magazine which collects impressions from people from jordan or about Jordan.

I like to hear something about the jordan bloggers!

Thanks Anja
E-mail to Anja.Hendel@gmx.de

On April, 28, 2006 3:12 PM , Omar
from United Kingdom said:

I think it will be a total crap if it will be affiliated to some ministry of some kind.
I hope they don't ever take that decision and keep JP the way it is..

omar



Add a Comment

<<Home


Comments are not pre-approved. However, any comments including personal insults to the royal family members and insults based on Jordanian-Palestinian divisions will be deleted immediately. This is a platform for civilised dialogue, if you are not up to it go away.