Beyond Broadcast Mg crisis

The Political Crisis in Madagascar As told by Citizen Media

Madagas..car ?

Zooming in on Madagascar in 2009

Outline of the Crisis:

Origins: • Land deal scandal • Endemic Poverty under

Ravalomanana“Yes we Can” shirt at protest:

inspired by citizen involvement in US.

Power shift, March 17th: • Protest quiet down March 17th: Military driven coup shift

power to Rajoelina. • 150 casualties: Mg from 100 to

144th in Global Peace index.• Protests against Coup still

ongoing, violent military repression

• Polarized local media used as tools for propaganda,

• Lacking international in-depth coverage

Why it matters to the rest of the world

• Study shows that only 24% of Malagasy want democracy now. An engaged citizen movement at first, now complete disillusion & contempt for politics.

• Resentment towards international community, suspected to be lobbying one camp or the other.

• A Sound Agriculture strategy for both developped/developping nations to counter next food crisis.

Foko Madagascar

• After TED Africa 2007 conference,

highlight and promote grassroots efforts for Env. & Social Change in Madagascar

• Change the narrative/branding on Madagascar: “Open for business”

• Expanding digital literacy and presence of resource-limited Malagasy community: Rising Voices Grant.

• political crisis and violence broke out: adapt

Blogging Outreach: photos & videos.

aggregation

Microblogging from local residents

SMS crisis reports and fact-checking

In The US Media

Localization of Reports (mostly from Antananarivo)

Ushahidi Madagascar map:

Maturing Media Community

• 20 million people, only 160,000 Internet users & 2.2 millions mobile phone users (lit rate: 69%)

• Cyber-activism (petition for release of jailed protester Razily & Transparency) threatens Gvt as proposal to “regulate” internet content is proposed.

• Need a structure to protect journalists and bloggers.