Back in August we put on an event called Banquäla 2009. If you’ve been following us or this blog for very long you know a lot about it already. It featured a night of conversation, food, and some great thoughts on media from some great folks we know. If you missed out and have been wondering what was said, now’s your chance. Visit the Banquäla page to check out videos of the night’s speakers. If you were there please feel free to listen again or share it with your friends. Here’s an intro to get you started:

Hey! This is Bedouins International’s new intern, Melynda Sides. I’m a mass communications major at the University of Montevallo and I’m excited about the chance to help out around the office this fall! I’ll be working with Jessi on some of Bedouins’ social networking sites, the monthly newsletter, and fundraisers so that you can stay up-to-date with what’s going on around here.

I first heard about Bedouins International when Stephen spoke at a church near my university. His story of how he and a few friends combined their skills and interests with global missions intrigued me, and I knew I wanted to be a part of this movement.

As a missionary kid who has grown up in a couple parts of Asia (Macau and Taiwan), I have seen first-hand how important it is to connect missionaries and their organizations to the network of people who support them. Bedouins International is filling a desperate need for more professional, easy-to-use media for people who don’t have the time or resources to produce high-quality websites, documentaries, or photographs. I love that there are people willing to donate their skills and time to do this, and I love that I get to hang out with those people and work alongside of them this semester!

Some thoughts on the media…

There’s no question that media is constantly shaping, editing, representing, and re-shaping our world. Just think about all of the ways it has changed our culture in the past decade! Media exists because people have something to say, and need a way to express it. From cavemen drawings to the latest Facebook photo album, humans have used media to share a story with each other.

Media has the ability to span social, geographical, and cultural divides. Because of media, friends on opposite sides of the planet can laugh at the same Youtube video. People can have an entire conversation consisting only of movie quotes. Artists, musicians, and writers can connect with their fans. Businesses begin, families stay in touch, and an entire entertainment industry exists because of media.

The growing power of the media comes from both the individual message (a photograph, blog, news story) and the amount of people who receive it. In the words of Uncle Ben to Peter Parker in Spiderman, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Bedouins International is doing its part to be responsible with the powerful tools of media. I’m excited about catching their vision, and I hope it spreads to you!

Have you noticed that it used to take a lot of money and expertise to get the word out about what you were doing? TV commercials, Radio Spots, Magazine advertisements…all cost money. So some people (who had it to spend) spent lots of money and created buzz. Others simply were quiet.

Now the “media megaphone” is bigger than ever, and the best part is that it’s free!
Anyone can create a website, a facebook, a twitter, (the list goes on), and generate buzz. The deciding factor now isn’t money, just time and the know-how to put your efforts in the right places. Surely you realize that twitter is a powerful tool…but might not make sense for everyone. Just as Facebook and blogs and websites all have their purposes.

So why don’t those of us who know how to use and work the “media megaphone” put our efforts towards helping those who don’t but could really benefit from the use of it? I’m sure that Joe-missionary over in Africa spending his life saving kids from AIDS would love your advice on how to get the word out…you’ve got the know-how…he’s got the story…what a beautiful opportunity.

Once upon a time you had to go somewhere to experience it. To understand the poverty in Africa…or perhaps even to know about it, you had to book a flight and transport yourself there.

Media changed that – is changing that right now, this very second.

After a while there were new ways, faster ways. Now, instead of having to go to Africa to know about what was going on you could read the paper. Pick up a magazine, or listen to the radio.

Then there was television. All of a sudden you could turn on the T.V. and be instantly transported from the comfort of your recliner into the middle of whatever was happening around the world.

And now…I could be on the ground in Africa and via my cell phone and twitter you could know what was happening almost instantaneously as it unfolded there.

So why does half of the world know who’s winning American Idol and not have a clue about how they can get involved in providing clean drinking water for the Billions of people living without it. Media is a powerful tool…but only when used for good. Otherwise it’s not transporting us anywhere.

Let’s go somewhere worthwhile. If you tweet, blog, e-mail…whatever…

Here’s my challenge to you:

Once a week do something remarkable. Share something that could impact, or even change the world. Just once a week. Share a story you’ve heard, link a non-profit you believe in…whatever it is, just once a week help transport people somewhere worthwhile. You can do it…and when you do, you will become a part of something much bigger than yourself and the world will slowly open its eyes.

Let’s refocus the heart of media.

A friend and I were talking the other day and somehow got on the topic of Muzzy. I’m not sure if all of you know what I’m talking about…back in the late 80’s early 90’s a new language video course for kids came out. The videos featured a green creature named muzzy who taught you french. Anyways, the video was very distinct for whatever reason and now, years later my friend and I still remembered it vividly.

Do you realize the power that media has over us? Even a decade or more ago, a poorly made commercial on a (in my opinion) not that interesting topic stuck with us.

Media can impact you in ways you don’t realize, can change your opinions or even form ones where you didn’t have them before. Media can knock an idea home in a way that it sticks with you, sometimes for longer than you realize.

So why do my friend and I remember Muzzy and not any of the non-profits that were changing the world back then? What about the people who were reaching out to the forgotten and marginalized?

Focus.

That’s the key word. Focus. That’s why it’s in our mission statement: Refocusing the heart of media. It’s what we want to see happen. In 10 years let’s remember the HIPHs and IWWs and not the Muzzys.

It’s possible. We just have some refocusing to do.