A new live-streaming app, Periscope (owned by Twitter), has had some bad press because of the trolling that is already occurring (see, for example, this article by journalist and academic Jenna Price, and this one by television presenter Jo Stanley).
However, Periscope also has potentially interesting and useful applications for public health and journalism, amongst other things.
Croakey is using the Periscope app as part of our #JustJustice crowdfunding campaign – and our next session is today (Friday, April 24) from 1-1.30pm AEST.
The #JustJustice project aims to produce a series of articles and an e-book about the health impacts of the over-incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (please have a look and consider supporting the campaign, if you haven’t already).
The series will take a solutions-focused approach and profile the experiences and knowledge of community members – see the articles we’ve already published about the campaign. And many thanks to Dr Ruth Armstrong from MJAInsight for including #JustJustice in her overview of the links between mental health disorders and the over-incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.
Summer May Finlay, a #JustJust team member, public health researcher and Yorta Yorta woman, has done two Periscope sessions to date on the campaign.
These have been useful for gathering feedback and also for engaging people, and promoting wider discussions. Plus, it’s a real buzz when you can see people supporting the campaign and participating in the discussion about it.
The app can be freely downloaded and a quick Google will give the basic instructions on how to use it, including how to send questions and comments.
I will talk about #JustJustice as an form of innovation in journalism, and would like to hear your suggestions for our campaign and the stories we should cover, if we can raise the funds.
Please join me on Periscope from 1-130pm AEST on Friday April 24.
