What is GeoJourno?
GeoJourno is an idea under construction, the combination of different information forms to increase the value of information. It will combine information forms provided by web 2.0, such as social media live feeds and user generated content with geographic, or spatial information.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) combined with user generated media have the capacity to add value and meaning to the stories provided by media platforms. Maps give a sense of place and scale to a story, and when utilised correctly can aid in pattern recognition and comprehension of data that is otherwise unavailable to an untrained user. Spatial location of stories, and images, increases the meaning for the user, whilst the proliferation of technology such GPS enabled smart phones means that users can contribute instantly and spatially to ongoing events. The utilisation of social and user generated media for change in the world has been seen throughout the world, and most recently in the unrest in Arabic countries. By combining such user involvement with journalism and GIS it is possible to create a range of stories and greater understanding across a wide range of activities.
For many people our lives are rapidly being transferred to the cloud, whilst this provides flexibility and adaptability it also can detract from our sense of place, home, or country. Many of us will never own a landline phone, are unlikely to consider our postal address the place where we live and do not define ourselves by one job we work in 9 to 5. In most cases our media has not kept pace with these changes, and for many of us there is no framework to replace the communities and communication platforms that are rapidly being left behind. Through the development of different communication mediums, based on a more flexible approach to information dissemination, this can change. We can increase the sense of a global community, where all people are people, where the world can be a fantastically large and small place at one and the same time. Provide a platform for empowerment, make change and share some of the beautiful and heartbreaking things to be seen on our planet. Some stories are too complex for a 2D environment, some images are too important not to share and everything happens somewhere.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) combined with user generated media have the capacity to add value and meaning to the stories provided by media platforms. Maps give a sense of place and scale to a story, and when utilised correctly can aid in pattern recognition and comprehension of data that is otherwise unavailable to an untrained user. Spatial location of stories, and images, increases the meaning for the user, whilst the proliferation of technology such GPS enabled smart phones means that users can contribute instantly and spatially to ongoing events. The utilisation of social and user generated media for change in the world has been seen throughout the world, and most recently in the unrest in Arabic countries. By combining such user involvement with journalism and GIS it is possible to create a range of stories and greater understanding across a wide range of activities.
For many people our lives are rapidly being transferred to the cloud, whilst this provides flexibility and adaptability it also can detract from our sense of place, home, or country. Many of us will never own a landline phone, are unlikely to consider our postal address the place where we live and do not define ourselves by one job we work in 9 to 5. In most cases our media has not kept pace with these changes, and for many of us there is no framework to replace the communities and communication platforms that are rapidly being left behind. Through the development of different communication mediums, based on a more flexible approach to information dissemination, this can change. We can increase the sense of a global community, where all people are people, where the world can be a fantastically large and small place at one and the same time. Provide a platform for empowerment, make change and share some of the beautiful and heartbreaking things to be seen on our planet. Some stories are too complex for a 2D environment, some images are too important not to share and everything happens somewhere.
