Stories in Cyberland: Difference between revisions

Stories in Cyberland is an online audio archive project that is crafting a shared media landscape across borders. Pilot projects have begun in Cyprus, Lebanon, Turkey, and Greece.  

The project aims to share stories through the internet in a user-friendly fashion. It also aims to allow users to upload their own media from their own computers, giving the project tremendous horizontal growth potential.  

We like stories. We hope others find the project enjoyable and moving. We think there is power in asking oneself questions that provoke self-reflection. The process of looking inward when responding to questions that are past oriented, future oriented, or change oriented can give one the space to connect with themselves and reconsider their identity in relation to society.  

We are in the process of developing a thought-provoking structured set of questions that are brought to people informally in the streets or arranged in the studio. The questions are focused, but leave room for unpredictable responses that make interviews both exciting and serious. Additionally, we are developing a well-structured web site.  

Stories in Cyberland believes that in order to learn we must listen.  Dedicated to the values of peace journalism, we believe there is great value in both sharing oneself through radio as well as listening to others tell their stories and opinions.  

Cyprus Stories in Cyberland expands the concept of the "Talk of the Island" beyond the one hour programs designed by two journalists, and allows for people to informally express themselves through an island-wide media source. Using this method we will be able to create a permanent presence in the work of media and allow people to express themselves at all times on any issue.

Project feedback has been utterly positive. People on the streets approach the poster printed with posed questions with a quizzical demeanour, and those who are shy to respond usually walk away deep in thought. Visiting students from around the world have expressed great interest in the findings of the project, as well as given input on how to improve the project and possible questions to pose. Overall, people are finding the project to be promising and innovative.

There are endless possible segments that could be added to Cyprus Stories in Cyberland. There could be sections including photojournalism (though it is encouraged to consider the benefits of the “non-visual”  medium of radio, and chose visual material to be included carefully), sections devoted to social scientific research that request visitors to scale their opinions based on their relative importance (0 – 10), relate the project to teaching human rights through media literacy, develop an approach more inspired by oral history, etc.

One of the excellent things about Stories in Cyberland is that it is able to operate with little funding. With the hard work of volunteers interested in conducting interviews, much ground can be covered and shared internationally in a short time. Furthermore, Stories in Cyberland is an innovative project that can propel itself horizontally with little labor. This is possible with the development of the software that allows for people to directly upload their words from their computer into our database.  

At the same time, the project is ripe for further development.  Working on grants to obtain funding that would support the sustainability of the project is highly encouraged.