Amplification through physical actions offline
There are several ways that important information can be amplified through physical offline action. It’s good to note, that it’s also important to realize that all the activities in this section can be further mainstreamed through media attention. Media can amplify the message even more. In the previous section we explored the press conference and work with journalists, these should not be abandoned in mobilization and amplification efforts on the ground.
Here are examples of amplification tactics in the offline space:
- Petitions: Internet petitions; action cards; giant petitions -anything where numbers matter. When specialists or VIPs put their names to these types of initiatives it can help to mobilise public support.
- Mass communications: arts events: posters, billboards, radio, or TV advertising; organising pop concerts, festivals or other events that engage large numbers of people; or PR activity with celebrities, art exhibitions or auctions.
- Letter writing: lots of people writing to decision makers or other influential individuals; you can help by providing sample letters or postcards with talking points. You can also provide pre-written postcards.
- Use the system: use of parliamentary procedures, legal cases, Freedom of Information requests or judicial review; creative use of government statistics and announcements; use of obscure procedures; get ordinary people involved in government consultations.
- Disinvestment: the use of a concerted economic boycotts to pressure a government, industry or company towards a change in policy.
- Youth led and Youth-centred campaigns and advocacy are variations on the above themes: debating clubs (inviting politicians); youth forums; youth parliaments; speakers’ tours; children’s choirs, bands, theatre groups performing in halls or in the streets; essay/poetry/drawing/painting competitions; marches or vigils with visual props/symbols; exhibitions, showings of photos or videos taken by young people; peer education.
- Public hearings: mobilise the community to participate in public hearings in front of local officials, government, civil society leaders and the media. People from the community are able to voice their concerns about issues and have their voices heard directly.
- Mass rallies and marches: Mass rallies and marches can be effective tools and, although not a common tactic for RNW Media. They can harness the energy of the community and direct it at a target that can make change happen, whether a government, public institution or corporation. There is a long and proud tradition of non-violent rallies and marches. These kinds of activities are usually more forthrightly political in tone and action than an awareness-raising event. Because the political quality of a March or rally is more acute, these kinds of activities must be carefully planned, with special attention paid to ensuring sufficient and well-trained marshals to guarantee participant safety –particularly important when young people are involved.
- Debates: Debates can function to present different viewpoints on an issue and include decision makers and young people. Following an increasing number of attacks on people’s privacy online, repeated Internet cuts and the spread of hate speech on social media networks, RNW Media’s Habari RDC decided to organise a debate on the need for regulating the digital space in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In bringing together young people, government representatives and cybersecurity experts to debate the future of the Internet in DRC.
