We are here in Nairobi with the United Nations training them to shoot and cut and upload their own video using an iPhone.
The UN people here work with UNHCR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and they are in some of the most interesting and dangerous and needy places in the world. Places like Mali or South Sudan or Darfur.
In the olden days (like yesterday) in order to get these critical stories out, the UN had to beg, wheedle or cajole CNN or ABC News to please send a crew and correspondent to cover this story.
Sometimes they sent someone. Sometimes they didn’t.
Sometimes a rock star showed up.
Sometimes they didn’t.
And when the News did go, they generally sent a correspodent who did not really know the story, or the langauge, or the culture or the people.
That’s the job.
Generalist
But the UN people live the story. Every day. They are there on the ground. They speak the local languages. They know the local people. They live in the refugee camps – and not for a few hours or a few days. Sometimes for years. Â Who better to tell the story?
And what does it take to tell this kind of story today?
An iPhone.
And a bit of training.
And that’s what we’re doing here.
Empowering people who already know what they are talking about to tell their stories to the rest of the world.
Low cost
High impact
So CNN can stick with traffic jams in Atlanta.
