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A great day for citizens’ media

20 comments on A great day for citizens’ media

A great day for citizens’ media

weeklystandard.jpg

: Here you see a page from next week’s Weekly Standard (sent to me by Glenn Reynolds as a PDF). They hand over the start of the magazine to Zeyad, printing his photos and his report from the anti-terrorism demonstrations in Baghdad.

This week we turn most of THE SCRAPBOOK over to Zeyad, the 24-year-old Iraqi dentist and blogger who scooped the world media with his oneman reporting and photography on the big anti-terror, pro-democracy march in Baghdad on December 10. It was, as Zeyad accurately put it,

20 responses to “A great day for citizens’ media”

  1. James Avatar
    James

    I wonder if it’s possible to set up a network between bloggers who are US soldiers stationed in Iraq/Kurwait and Iraqi bloggers, for this purpose. The support line, as it were, between us and American soldiers overseas is a lot tighter, so there must be a way to use that to everyone’s advantage. If I understand it right, our soldiers can receive wire transfers and other cash payments at their PX– and at the very least, they can get cashier’s checks or failing that, actual cash, via the mail. From that point, they can meet Iraqi bloggers at a mutually agreeable place, and distribute cash accordingly. (This is sorta a revised Chief Wiggles scheme, except of toys, cold hard cash.) The side advantage to that plan is almost as beneficial as the actual money: US bloggers and Iraqi bloggers, meeting and talking together, and supporting each other. (Of course, this will provoke claims that the Iraqis are puppets of the CPA, but then again, judging by their forum posts, that accusation is being made by the uninformed already.)
    I may be missing something, but if there soldier bloggers who are willing/able to do this, I have to think it could work.

  2. Jeff Jarvis Avatar
    Jeff Jarvis

    James: Good thoughts. But I am afraid that having Iraqis meeting Americans (and get cash) does have issues. So perhaps we can cleverly solve that problem with some help from some military folks. Hello U.S. military bloggers in Iraq… any suggestions?

  3. Move Along Avatar
    Move Along

    I would love to see a larger “citizens’ media movement” in Iraq. If it gets big enough, it will be impossible to ignore. (At least the idealist in me hopes so.) It would provide us all with a wider view of the situation from many angles. If you come up with a concrete plan I would gladly help.
    As for ideas about how to get the funding into the right hands quickly… It might take some research but there must be a way. The milbloggers who are actually over there could be a good source of help, but they have to be careful about appearances.
    I’ll help however I can.
    Contact info is on the blog linked to my name below.

  4. colganc Avatar
    colganc

    Zeyad had mentioned he would have taken more photos if he had a larger memory card. How large of one did you send him? I have an extra one (256megs) I wouldn’t mind giving to him, but would it even be worth sending? How would I go about sending it to him?

  5. Andrew Hofer Avatar
    Andrew Hofer

    I believe JPMorgan/Chase has become the government’s clearing bank for Iraq, but I could be wrong.
    I’ll ask Tuesday when I’m back in the office. Perhaps they would be able to push money through the (few)local correspondent banks.

  6. PersianWarriORz Avatar
    PersianWarriORz

    Jeff, good questions – that need good answers.. We will stop in frequently or keep us posted via email as to the developments, ActivistChat.com is ready to help out any way possible – in terms of generating funds, etc..
    Lets do this! — Just another example of how bloggers are the real journalists/media of the future.. Hopefully the blogging revolution/evolution will pressure other media/televised crap to rethink the way they operate!
    Best – Amir!

  7. PJ Avatar
    PJ

    Don’t exactly know how I can help, but I will print this out, add a list of Iraqi bloggers, add the Weekly Standard’s page of Zeyad photos, and walk this down to Paypal myself.
    I am only 2 blocks away.

  8. Gabriel Gonzalez Avatar
    Gabriel Gonzalez

    Jeff,
    This is truly exciting! (and important!). Public perceptions of the Iraqi situation are definitely having an effect in shaping progress and the ultimate outcome. Zeyad is literally making history and has the potential to do more. We need to help him and others like him.

  9. dc Avatar
    dc

    Meanwhile the BBC news site is giving prominent coverage to another Iraq protest: 200 former army officers protesting about their pensions. Listed in “top stories” on the front page of their site.

  10. cbk Avatar
    cbk

    This is just awesome.
    I’m speechless at the magnitude this small story of one camera has become.
    Dude, you’re like the kid in “Pay it Forward” but with a good ending! And it’s only the beginning.
    I’m just awestruck at being able to witness this.
    CBK

  11. Donald Sensing Avatar
    Donald Sensing

    I’ll give $50, just post where to send it. Or if “in-kind” donations are needed, what and where to?
    I also posted this with appeal to spread the word on my site.

  12. Brian H Avatar
    Brian H

    Zeyad made a response to a comment that he knew he could get “rich” with a tip jar, given his 20,000++ visits/day, but seemed to feel it would compromise his credibility. How UnAmerican!! He has a cousin in the UK he could work thru if he wanted.
    Meanwhile, half his income is going into cafe and line charges. Bleh. In a day or two, btw, he’s headed for 9 mo. internship in Basrah, so some changes are likely there one way or the other.

  13. Citizen Kate Avatar
    Citizen Kate

    I’m in for some $$. We’ll find a way.

  14. button Avatar
    button

    According to something I read at Zawya.com/iraq, the Kuwait Bank is now clearing money for Iraq. Maybe someone with more familiarity or experience in that field can follow up on that Kuwaiti connection.

  15. PersianWarRiOr Avatar
    PersianWarRiOr

    Okay – we need more Zeyad’s and we need to send them some web cams – any technology that can be used to transmit reality.
    ActivistChat.com

  16. Kynn Bartlett Avatar
    Kynn Bartlett

    What, no pictures of communists? :)
    –Kynn

  17. Charles Compton Avatar
    Charles Compton

    Jeff Jarvis getting a digital camera into the hands of Zeyad in such a timely way has prompted the closest thing to a consensus I’ve ever seen in the blogosphere: Good on ya, mate!

  18. David Avatar
    David

    Count me in! I wrote to Zeyad some time ago in an effort to send him money. I thought then that PayPal might be the answer.
    It could be a great promotional coup for PayPal if they can work out a secure way for people to send money to friends in Iraq.

  19. Lu Baihu Avatar
    Lu Baihu

    No parade-raining here — but wouldn’t an A70 serve Zeyad better? It’s 3.2megapixels and can record video with sound, albeit in 30-second clips at a time …

  20. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    It should be easy. For starters, check with Iraqi-Americans who are probably sending money to relatives in Iraq on a weekly basis. Follow their lead.
    But, on a grander scale, why don’t one or several of you world-class top bloggers collect checks from all of us, fly to Kuwait and follow the 4th ID’s route overland up to Baghdad and present the checks in a coffee shop? I’m sure banks can clear American checks there.