If you are attending an African Internet Rights event, here are some recommendations: We hope this guide is useful to help you generate content related to internet rights, with a special focus on the African Declaration, while attending events, conferences, workshops. First of all, some clues on how to write… … A BLOG POST A blog post is where you get to be yourself – use more informal language, express opinions and challenge your readers. Blog posts pieces are usually quite short, no more than 500 words, but be warned! They are very lightly edited. If you want a blog piece to be spell- and grammar-checked, you need to ask the editorial team (Leila or Yolanda – see their contact details at the end of this guide). Do’s and don’ts: Do:
Don’t
Examples: What does internet policy mean for an average Ugandan? Trials of a confused feminist (in an internet governance school) Young African meets global forum Why internet rights matter for Africa(ns) … AN ANALYTICAL ARTICLE Sometimes blog posts can go deeper and be analytical articles which inform readers about perspectives, issues and debates, putting forward ideas. We don’t expect writers to be ‘objective’ or ‘impartial’, we expect an informed, well-reasoned internet rights-based perspective. Analytical articles are expected to be between 1,500 and 2,500 words. Dos and don’ts: Do:
… AN INTERVIEW An interview is a great and engaging way to get someone’s perspective on an important issue or event. They may be an expert or simply someone whose view and experience is valuable and interesting to a particular topic. The most important thing to remember about interviews is that they are not verbatim transcripts. You are expected to edit the interviewee’s words to make them more concise, and easier to understand, but not to censor views or change the meaning of the words. Do’s and don’ts Do
Examples: Interview with Nana Darkoa: Adventures from the bedroom of an African woman PROTEGE QV: “The African Declaration should be a citizen handbook on internet use” Meha Jouini at AfriSIG 2015: The internet has allowed me to publicly express my identity as an Amazigh woman activist MULTIMEDIA CONTENT Videos and audios are great resources when you are doing an event coverage. You can record the interviews and panels, and then decide how you want to use that material, for example as part of a blog or analytical article, or even share it directly via social media. However, make sure that: The quality of the audio/video is of a good standard You get permission from the people featured in them You have capacity to edit the material or know someone who does Checklist for all articles. Every article submitted should have these elements:
Now… some words on social media! TWITTER
Example: Are you going to be writing at #AfIGF? If so, I would love to include your post(s) in our ongoing event coverage. Send me a DM with a link to your post, and we’ll get it added to our site. MORE TIPS FOR TWEETING!
Now, regardless of if you are publishing your content in real time or not, here are some ways to generate interest in your coverage:
Example: Check out what (handle) announced that will be covering at the #AfIGF, #AfricanInternetRights
Example: Missed the event and looking for a compilation of debates? Check our most tweetable moments at #AfIGF #AfricanInternetRights
Example: 45 insider #AfricanInternetRigths Instagram pics from workshops at #AfIGF
Example: #SectionJ: From footnotes to headlines https://www.apc.org/en/node/20266