B:Social Continues Global Ambitions
The Beautiful Social Research Collaborative realizes that this past calendar year has been extremely abnormal. All of us have spent the majority of our days behind computer screens as we try to navigate through this unprecedented time. While this increased amount of screen time and social distance feels frustrating at times, there are some silver linings as well. For Beautiful Social, the surge in virtual work has led to our ability to partner with not only local community partners (as we have in the past) but with international ones as well.
This semester, our B:Social group has been working with our fellow, Lexi Mignogna, on a collaborative project in conjunction with Internews (specifically, their South Sudan branch). Internews prides itself on promoting the integrity of news. Specifically, Internews South Sudan has partnered with radio stations to equip their local communities with reliable information. At the beginning of this semester, we were tasked with conducting comparative media and social media research for Internews South Sudan. Throughout the Spring semester our B:Social group has been able to work and collaborate with international organizations via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, or using other virtual meeting platforms. We have grown accustomed to using platforms other than zoom. We are lucky that we have been able to adapt to various video chatting platforms! Though it has been difficult, B:Social has identified how to benefit from going fully remote.
Pictured above: Some of the media outlets/radio stations that are connected with Internews South Sudan. (Photo courtesy Internews website)
Our B:Social team has been working with a small group of workers from the Internews South Sudan office. The South Sudan team includes Omnia, Tony, Mary, Ingrid, and a few others. We meet with the Internews team at 9 a.m. on Mondays bi-weekly, which is a new concept for B:Social! Normally groups would only meet with their community partner a few times throughout the semester. We like how these bi-weekly meetings encourage us to stay on-target and informed. Usually, during these meetings, Omnia and Tony facilitate. Omnia is our main point of contact as she informs our group about any updates from the Internews side. Along with her, Tony is the web designer for Internews South Sudan; his input is valuable since it seems that our project may include some web design. These meetings have been incredible as the Internews team members come from a variety of backgrounds - Ingrid is located in Amsterdam, Tony is located in South Sudan, and more!
Pictured above: Our first meeting with the Internews South Sudan team!
Last semester, a member of our team worked with another international community partner through B:Social. Maggie worked with the Design Justice Network in Glasgow, Scotland. She is now super excited about working with another international partner. “There are great benefits to making these connections and networking with people internationally. Internews is a great organization to work with, since there are branches all over the world,” Maggie says. Working with Internews has provided the team with important skills, networks, and professional experiences that can only be acquired when working remotely.
While this project has definitely presented its own set of challenges, we have more hope than ever for this partnership with Internews! The Covid-19 pandemic has taken away so many opportunities from all of us; as college students, we worry about what our professional futures hold. B:Social has shown us that if we are willing to adapt to a change in circumstances (as we have this semester), then we can achieve any personal and professional goal possible!
