02 October 2009
State Official Discusses Social Media and International Relations
CO.NX webchat transcript, October 2
John Matel, blogger and U.S. Department of State official, discussed how the State Department uses social media and other tools to advance diplomacy in an October 2 CO.NX webchat.
Following is the transcript:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
Webchat Transcript
CO.NX Chat: Social Media and International Relations
Guest: John Matel
Date: October 2, 2009
Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. EDT (15:00 GMT)
CO.NX Moderator (Mark): welcome!
USADF: Hi this is Jennifer at USADF. USADF is looking at new social media. Can you talk about how to use facebook for government agencies as well as how these tools enhance agencies?
John Matel: This will take me a longer time than I have now and it might be too specialized for this audience. If you work for a USG institution, you can access this sort of information specific to the USG at InfoCentral. https://infocentral.state.gov.
nahedh: hi tim
Kyra Hamann: Thanks!
nahedh: it is amazing topic you discuss today
nahedh: and I like it too much
cUTe_Tia: hi every one.....nice to meet u
LMuhammad: Is the youtube video made before hand?
John Matel: Yes. It works better. I find that if I do it live, a lot of stuff can happen to interfere.
And some areas have low bandwith.
USADF: ok thanks John I will check that out
LMuhammad: @nahedh.. I'm with you.. I love it
Tjahjokartiko Gondokusumo: I am sure social media will be social and economic media or soon cooperative media.
John Matel: Agreed.
nahedh:hi mohammed
LMuhammad:great presentation
nahedh:can I ask what platform you use now for this discussion is it from ADOBE??
CO.NX Moderator (Mark): Yes this is Adobe Connect Pro
LMuhammad:Thanks for the logo.. I can use it for my presentation
LMuhammad: hi @nahedha
LMuhammad: Question: Although the Cairo speech was seen worldwide, the number of people was able to go online afterwards and continue to view is a feature TV does not have.
John Matel: That is very true. THe new media makes it less importatnt to be "live" and extends the life of a presentation. In that, however, it is a lot like a book, a very early form of time shifting media.
cUTe_Tia:What actually the American Social Media concern the most???
John Matel: It changes all the time.
nahedh: good Mark ...in fact am preparing for live internet broadcasting at the celebration of ALFAREQ media leadership training centre and we would like to be in touch with the whole wolrd at that moment
CO.NX Moderator (Mark): As John and Tim are well aware of, this tool allows for users to stream video into very lowbandwidth areas. It's definitely versatile.
Ngoc Ruby: Blog 360 has been ended, so what's next after facebook and twitter?
John Matel: If I knew that answer, I would invest and make the big money. The lesson is that we need to be PLATFORM FLEXIBLE. Don’t have a strategy that depends on Facebook, Twitter etc, because they may not be here tomorrow. Use the tools but don’t fall in love with them.
LMuhammad:@nahedh..you can with LIVE webstreaming..it is just hard to advertise to the whole world
LMuhammad: How will Google's New Wave software and the Rosy Translator, change the international /social media interaction?
John Matel: It should help, but the translations still are not good enough for real work. They are sometimes comical. Always get a back translation to check. Translation is hard.
Giovanni: What tools does the State Deptment use to communication?
CO.NX Moderater (Tim): New Media tools including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, etc. We are working heavily on platforms in mobile/SMS which is the future.
LMuhammad: and google is a God..lol
John Matel: Not THE. But Google does determine a lot of what we learn and think are facts. it is very powerful.
CO.NX Moderater (Tim): For those of you who could not see the YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuPwpVsndvM I have uploaded it as an mp4 to the File Share. It's a big 7mb file, but you can download it and watch it on your portable devices if you want.
mgm: from point of view the new media can bring community to share their opinions about pressing issues, and these opinions can be taken in consideration at time .this will be a great benefit when it applied to 3rd world countries where traditional medias still dominant, is there a future plans for embassies to collaborate with governments to expand the new media effect on the community?
John Matel: The developing world will benefit a lot from new media precisely because they are not so heavily invested in technology now. They can leap over generations of older media and get right to the latest things.
Kyra Hamann: Hi everyone, I'm Kyra Hamann, Webmaster of the embassy in Peru. I would like to get some guidelines to chose different new social media. I know that the selection must be made looking to the target audiences, but are there other criteria, like security of some site that we should consider?
John Matel: As I wrote earlier, you can go to InfoCentral for this. Otherwise, feel free to contact me via email.
LMuhammad: I'm watching it again the beauty of new media that you can't get with TV. Well with Tivo I guess you can.
Ben: john, are you saying that the idea behind using "Web 2.0" is to make contacts for the State Department, and hopefully avert crisis?
John Matel: More or less, that is what I am saying. We have to make friends BEFORE we have trouble. And listening to our friends might help up avoid problems. We Americans don't listen enough, IMO.
asim perwaiz: The Western media is biased because it exaggerates almost everything related to Muslim World. It should depict the real picture
John Matel: The media always has to make choices. They usually choose the more colorful pictures, which are often less flattering. We have the same problem in the USA.
LMuhammad: thanks.
amase: how are you
John Matel: Fine
amase: where are you from ?!
John Matel: I was born Wisconsin, along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Kyra Hamann: Thank you
LMuhammad: but you can't talk back with the presenter/chat..lol
LMuhammad: @Ben ...a positive Informant..I like that
LMuhammad: @asim.. it also comes from Muslims not utilizing the media
nahedh: Makr ... I wish dear you send me a copy of the conversation on my mail after it finished to discuss it deeply
Tim Receveur: Thanks Nahedh. We will create a transcript and post it on the main CO.NX site at http://co-nx.state.gov
LMuhammad: @asim...we have to produce our own media sources with the true picture
LMuhammad: that's what new media allows
LMuhammad: for you to share your voice
Meaghan: The key to using social media is, of course, the social part. Can you talk a little about effective ways to get your audience to pay attention to what you're doing and to interact?
Louisa:What is your background Mr. Matel?
John Matel: Career foreign service officer (diplomat). MBA in marketing research. MA in ancient history. Forest owner (i.e. I grow lots of trees in my spare time).
LMuhammad: @asim...ASIMTV
Meaghan: Because it's not enough to just have facebook page or a twitter account.
LMuhammad: i.e One Voice can Change the World
Louisa: What is the biggest obstacle to the US using new technology to reach out?
John Matel: The biggest obstacle is time and attention. The new media is very “people intensive” since we have to respond as individuals to other individuals. Most of us cannot keep that many people in our minds. Our species grew up on the African plains, where we never had the need to know more than a few dozen people. Our machines have become much faster and more comprehensive, but our brains and personalities are still set up for an earlier, slower, more personal time.
USADF: other than facebook and twitter, what other tools are out there that people might not know about but you think are really good?
Tim Receveur: For us Adobe Connect has been a big player in the new media field. Countries with extremely low-bandwidth can now watch live video and get more engaged.
Dean Cheves: I wanted to point out an encouraging use of social media that I witnessed this week in the Philippines
John Matel: Tell us mroe or give a link where we can find out more. Thanks.
LMuhammad: I agree with mobile/SMS, but we have to look at the new tablets coming..a combination of both worlds
LMuhammad: The new tablets to me will be small mobile Tv's. and with the growth of mobile infrastructure (wifi)..it will cut into TV's market.
LMuhammad:@Co.nx.. in the future you may want to explorer voice chat as well.. harder to moderate
John Matel: We can do voice, but as you note it is harder to manage. Besides, sometimes people feel more comfortable writing in English than speaking
Tjahjokartiko Gondokusumo: what is good for spiritual media? facebook?
John Matel: Spiritual media depends on the person, not the medium.
Kyra Hamann: On behalf of my colegue here, ALfredo Giraldo: What about security issues pf New Social Media? Do you recommend not to use a specific Social media platform (like Hi5, Twitter, etc)
John Matel: We don't have specific recommendations. What works for you is good.
LMuhammad: true
nahedh: I think streaming should be in two direction not only from one side
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): We completely agree, but in the past we've always had problems with feedback loops when using multiple audio streams. We just bought a product that should fix this in upcoming chats.
cUTe_Tia:@nehedh: Alfareq Media????hehm...where is it from?
LMuhammad: and like Co.NX.. the interaction is including a chatroom with your discussions
nahedh:all my friends nice to meet you wish to see you soon next time , have to leave now
LMuhammad:@Tjahjokartiko.. all media's work..i also found Ning.com to be a useful for the nich social media
LMuhammad: great.
nahedh: it is from Palestinian territories
nahedh: Gaza city
Dean Cheves: John this is Dean Cheves from IIP/W
LMuhammad: Later Nahedh..nice meeting you
LMuhammad: @Co.Nx .. check out bloggingheads.com they seem to have it down
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Thanks LMuhammad. We will check this out today.
Dean Cheves:re: Philippines use of Social Media for natural disaster rescue, relief and mobilization I posted a brief analysis on my facebook page. @diplomaticon
nahedh: bye friends .. sure mohammad
LMuhammad: Can we get another city post: I'm from washington DC
LMuhammad: @Meaghan, I found it effective to make a Promo video for your cause and to schedule LIVE webcast of issues
LMuhammad:@John.. I agree. but facebook is definitly getting a loyal followship
nahedh:mohmmad lets be in touch on my mail nahedh@hotmail.com
John Matel: I like Facebook a lot. But I don't want to depend on one tool.
Kyra Hamann: on behalf on Alfredo Giraldo: In Peru, the most popular social media is Hi5. But we know there have been security issues... for example, you have your Hi5 friends receiving porn pictures on your behalf. Have you had similar experiences? How do you manage this kind of issues?
John Matel: I have not had too many problems with Facebook or other things. If I have a problem, I can block the person. You have to be vigilant.
LMuhammad:@Co.nx, I think the solution to feedback loop is having headphones and microphone
LMuhammad:@nahedh, unless you can get Obama to do a promo for you
Daniel Nguyen:@Dean I look forward to reading your analysis, social media tools to help communities dealing with natural disasters is a great strategy to help in communication and awareness
Tjahjokartiko Gondokusumo: I like old Facebook
Kyra Hamann 2: how can we get closer to our audiences thru social media keeping our institutional role?
John Matel: Just keep in touch. As I said in the power point, Social media is SOCIAL. Just as you keep in touch with friends in person.
LMuhammad: wow..How did that happen?
John Matel: What?
LMuhammad: Can you explain what you meant by the picture of the TV and Keyboard as New media?
John Matel: That is just a joke picture. If you look at it, you see that the "mouse" is an old iron. It is just funny. A friend in Brazil made that picture.
Dean Cheves: Daniel I intend to write up a more detailed report for internal review. The entire week saw a transformation from emergency rescue messages, to flood locations, then mobilization of aid stations, donation methods, then on to political criticism of local relief activities and finally to spam!
LMuhammad: we will be addressing some of these same issues at the Muslims, Media and 21st Century conference this weekend in Atlanta.
John Matel: Do you have a URL for the conference?
LMuhammad: I think what is lacking is primarily the infrastructure and the high cost now of Live web streaming.
John Matel: Agree
LMuhammad: John http://www.ummahstream.com
John Matel: Thank you. Others can read all about it now.
Dean Cheves: Kyra We have seen our social media maturity here in Washington evolve from a broadcast platform, to a conversational one and now more and more participating in exiting communities online or offline. I think this last point is key. Find what's going on in your area and participate in it.
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Is anyone using new media for outreach where you work?
LMuhammad: A perfect example of new media.. none of the mainstream media websites are reporting that yet
LMuhammad: No, seem like businesses are slow to change
Mathi: I am calling from South Africa. I am concerned about too much information which is available but not accessible to people. There's so much on quantity that communicators talk alone
John Matel: We have a great amount of information, we suffer a poverty of attention. You are right that we cannot take it all in. It is like trying to get a drink of water from a fire hydrant. Information overload is the challenge of our information age.
LMuhammad: everything evolve in the gaming and social networks and business follow far behind..like email did
Barkhad Kaariye: Hi all, I Mr. Barkhad Mohamoud Kaariye, a journalist from Somaliland (North-west of Somalia)
CO.NX Moderator (Mark): Welcome!
Tjahjokartiko Gondokusumo: what is infrastructure?.....what is the sub and superstructure?
John Matel: Infrastructure is anything that makes other things move. Roads are infrastructure, so are telephone lines, computer networks etc.
Barkhad Kaariye: thanks Mark
LMuhammad: Ok CNN.com just posted the Announcement
LMuhammad: see how long before CNN...get it
Meaghan:re Olympics, mashable is reporting that Chicago & Tokyo are both out
CO.NX Moderator (Mark): Correct, IOC feed is on pause right now. Waiting for the final ann
LMuhammad: Now you could spread this news faster through the internet, email facebook.. then TV
Tjahjokartiko Gondokusumo: Dear John, I mean the structure
LMuhammad: people won't hear from TV until they get home tonight or get the newspaper tomorrow.. SnailView but you can spread it around the world in a matter of minutes
Barkhad Kaariye: Can anybody answer, Why International Community didn't re-establize Somalia?
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Thanks Barkhad. We are trying to setup a chat on Somalia in 2 weeks from now. We will post the information on the CO.NX homepage at http://co-nx.state.gov
LMuhammad: This is a international event
Daniel Nguyen: I agree on the information overload idea, but the new media tools also allow you to search and find very specific topics and people, from there it's up to you to engage and make it useful
John Matel: Yes they do. But you by necessity narrow your search. I have learned many things out of sweet serendipity that is lost with the new media. Check my blog post re http://johnsonmatel.com/blog1/2009/07/thats_a_fact.html
Mathi: Thanks for the opportunity. Good night!
LMuhammad: I think the impact of the video and news story of the Chicago school kid beating had global impact on Chicago getting the olympics
John Matel: Not likely.
Barkhad Kaariye: thanks all
Meaghan: It seems like what we're starting to talk about is information literacy, and I would recommend taking a look at this slidedeck: http://www.slideshare.net/librarianbyday/libraries-and-transliteracy
LMuhammad: Another example of how new media and social media can impact a decision in matter of days
John Matel: Yes. The media sets the impression. It often depend on whether or not they have video. Truth, unfortunatley, depends on good pictures in many cases.
LMuhammad: where if it was to remain a local story it would have a different impact.
John Matel: Please see my previous answer re.
LMuhammad: ok
Daniel Nguyen: thanks for the links, a good example of how new media (Co.Nx chat) allows you to find specific information that is useful (John and Meaghan's blog links) :)
Dean Cheves: To see how an embassy participates in local communities, visit Embassy Jakarta's Facebook page. They have an active English Language program partnered with a local popular radio station, and cross promote on a popular university blog. http://facebook.com/jakarta.usembassy
LMuhammad: well thank you again for another great educational presentation..
CO.NX Moderator (Mark): The Webchat is now closed. A transcript of todays discussion will be available on our Facebook page http://co-nx.state.gov and on America.gov at http://www.america.gov/multimedia/askamerica.html within two business days.
(end transcript)
