Unit 31: Task 1 - Purposes and Impact of Social Action and Community Media

Taylor and I made a presentation about what social action and community media is including examples we had seen. We chose a range of videos together. 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Vox55NZSiFhEYW2Q7a0mnS0uVoeNDrzYPv4kTFDM6gQ/edit?usp=sharing

I wrote the descriptions of each, completed the slides about the anti-smoking video and Trump's campaign video as well as found the 2 examples of community media in the area. I found the community media part more difficult, I found 2 websites which are both forms of media but then also wrote a slide about Little Sprouts which is a video we as a class made in September. I asked Taylor to read through the slides I had written and see if he had anything I should add or had missed so that it was a collaboration. 

The purposes of Social Action and Community Media: 

To bring about local, national or global change: 

Persuasive media can be used for campaigns to bring about change, this can be getting the community involved in a local project, make people more aware of an issue that affects the whole country or raise money for a crisis elsewhere in the world.

To change attitudes:

Media can change attitudes for the better but also for the worst. Videos can be made about taboo or difficult subjects to educate people and change misunderstanding or stereotypes. If a video is bias it change people's attitudes negatively by showing one side of an issue.

To raise awareness:

Videos that raise awareness can be about a charity, issue or organisation that doesn't get enough attention and want to try and persuade people to get involved or emphasis a way people can help such as if a person has a disability. They can also raise awareness about the negative issues or affects such as smoking or obesity. 

To create access to media production for non-traditional groups:
As technology and filming abilities becomes more accessible more small local organisations can produce their own films which means its cheaper and easier for them to create video. 

To challenge dominant representations and agendas:
Social action and community media challenge and change attitudes in the same way they can challenge dominant representations, these videos can change stereotypes or they can be created to challenge a particular point of view or actions such as a company responsible for destroying the environment in the community. 

To create or strengthen community ties:
Videos can promote businesses and organisations in the community where they value and need volunteers, helping to gain interest and promote to others in the hope that people will get involved. They can also encourage people to donate or raise money for local organisations and show how the money will help or what they can do to get involved. Also, the production of a video can help bring the community together as people with different skills and resources can all help.  

To provide information:
Media and films can provide information, normally about a controversial or lesser known subject. They can be about the actions of a local organisation, inform the community about an upcoming event to gain interest or inform people about a disability and how they can help people in the community.

To campaign:
Campaign videos can be of a big scale political campaign or for small local campaigns for student rep, these videos can show how the person will affect the community and the impact they have/will have.

To change voting behaviour:
Similar to purpose of to campaign, videos can change voters opinions on who to vote for, especially if they always vote a specific party each time. But the videos can also encourage voters to vote, these videos should targeted at those aged 18-24 who may be voting for the first time.

To infiltrate mainstream media:
Hard hitting or controversial pieces can infiltrate mainstream media, even more so with social media which allows a bigger reach and more interest. 

To build relationships with subjects:
Filmmakers looking to gain experience make social action and community media pieces as way of showcasing what they can do, this often brings free promotion and publicity to the local community and offers the possibility of connecting with future clients.