Today the world is converging daily through a small device that is called the “Swiss Army Knife of communications.”  As technology advances and innovation continues to improve our lives we can vividly see the social impacts of mobile technology on nations less fortune as the United States.   The ability to adapt under unpredictable conditions such as extreme weather, lack of electricity, poor infrastructure or conflict areas requires  a guerrilla set up in order to capture information from the field.

In Pakistan where many of the people are used to receiving information via radio stations are now shifting towards the mobile phone as their major source of intel.  A recent study by the think tank LIRNEasia found that countries India, Bangladesh and Pakistan had more mobile phone subscribers than radio owners. Early 2009 Pakistan had 94 million mobile phone subscribers pushing the country to a fast market for telecommunications.  Now with the ability to hear stations on mobile devices normal radio listeners are changing their social behaviors to keep up with the technology.  In Africa where radios are still a major source of news and entertainment, who knows what would have happened during the Rwanda genocide if text messaging was used as a weapon of mass destruction.  In Pakistan people listen closely to the radio for code messages telling them where to lookout for violence or riots in nearby provinces.

In this article from Mobile Active about Citizen Media I thought it was interesting that it was written almost a year before the Iranian elections made international headlines.  The elections were a prime example of how citizens can now participate in the voice of democracy not just as voters or protesters but as journalist as well.  Since many outside media companies were denied access during the elections outcome many Iranians decided that they wanted to be heard.  This time the bull horn was Twitter and YouTube while the “Swiss army knife” were mobile phones and pocket cameras.  This wave of citizen media gave the world a glimpse into what was happening and the injustices taking place each after the votes were counted.  Could this same usage of digital and social media been just as effective in Zimbabwe’s elections?  Will it work in places like Darfur or Sierra Leone?  What are the differences between nations who have a solid communication infrastructure and those that are struggling with cellular penetration?

For hundreds of millions of users in the developing world the mobile phone is the most affordable option to communicate.  I believe that just because the cell phone device is the first entry for many people to using Internet or multimedia capturing it does not hold all the solutions to many challenging issues.  My belief is that it will require a sort of digital village lab with trained film editors, bloggers, reporters and communicators to collect and share information from places least travelled.

In Africa there are 20 active cell phones for every 100 people yet in Tanzania 97% of the population has access to a cell phone.  It is less expensive to install a cellular tower to serve a village or neighborhood than to bring a landline cable.  The consequences behind cellular access are that mobile communications change the way humans communicate with each other. Rather than a fixed geographical location the mobile phone goes where the individual is and allows the user to intertwine other tools such as texting or photo sharing in their social patterns. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development recently found that mobile phones are leveling the digital divide between rich and poor nations providing a new market of Internet users.  The number of wireless subscribers in India grew 91%  between 2000-2005 and 54% in Africa allowing millions of people who were disconnected to join the global conversation. In 2005 I visited Senegal in West Africa and took a ferry just 1.5 miles from the main harbor of Dakar to Goree Island once known to the French as the “House of the slaves.”  Immediately after getting off the ferry I met a man name Mamadou Sallah who became our tour guide throughout the UNESCO World Heritage site providing me with detailed history of a place who’s history stretched back as far as 1450.  Me and Mamadou have remained in contact for over four years and he has even sent me a SMS as early as last week to say hello and wishing my family well.  This friendship means a lot to a young African American who can know instantly connect with an African living on the very island where my ancestors could have possibly last seen before arriving in the Americas.  Without the mobile phone who would have to get on the ferry and go back to the mainland and find a landline or computer to send me a simple 180 character message.  Now the communication is open for us and I remain in contact with him to keep a hidden motivation for my involvement in emerging markets and international development.

As we continue to see the growth in this countries it is also important to think about the design of the devices so that they are catered more to the users than the Western world consumers.  In the bottom billion market people are in different terrains and work in conditions that are not as familiar in the West yet designers of these mobile technology should consider who are there users and what are their needs specifically.

For organizations doing work, research or correspondence in developing nations they should support a local digital media team that is capable to train, capture and distribute information using low cost mobile devices and equipment.  Here are a few ways I felt NGOs, non profits, church groups, journalist or researchers can receive information in a guerrilla style method.

3 Ways organizations working in Emerging Markets can capture media content with low cost equipment:

Invest in a flip camera and netbook laptop. Both devices are cost effective and can  provide rapid video footage and content.  With a  pair of Flip video camcorders your organization can record and document in the field with worrying about tape or carrying heavy gear.  A netbook laptop can be useful for notes, Internet, or loading the video footage from your cameras.

Invest in low cost mobile phones.  Since mobile phones have become the fastest growing accessory in developing nations its beyond questioning its benefits when working internationally. An organization can employ a network of volunteers or workers by providing a consistent communication line with a inexpensive cell phone.  The phone can be used to communicate and send SMS alerts from locations where the traditional media is not.

Set up a digital laboratory. This can be a small office or learning center where your organization plans, trains workers, edit videos, and distributes the content capture in the field.  A location where village bloggers or reporters can upload their photos, videos and stories to send to subscribers and the world.

If you think that amateur videos have little to no effect on society then you haven’t seen this one.  Today short videos edited or unedited can tell compelling stories, report live events and most importantly “level the playing field.”  If you are in any of the traditional media industries whether it is print, journalism, filmmaking, marketing or radio ignoring digital media can become a whirlwind dis-ease for your reputation as a media provider.

In this video Bill Wasik speaks about the growing ecosystem of the Internet and how it can provide a gateway for small companies, entrepreneurs and media producers.  When it comes to the free vs pay debate I think its fair to ask first what side of the fence you are on? The producer or the consumer?  This makes a difference because Wasik agrees that people “will not stop to pay for something” if they are multi surfing the Internet on various websites. Yet he mentioned that people are more willing to support something that satisfies their “niche passions.”  My personal experience with this took place almost 2 years ago when one of my favorite music groups decided to release a e-magazine for a $12 a year subscription providing the user a login code to read each monthly issues.  The magazine was not staffed by a group of editors, photographers or reporters instead it was a one man operation.  It gave the subscriber a uncensored inside scoop on the bands favorite reading list, new songs, tour schedule and random perspectives that could have been placed in a “free” blog yet they monetized it.  When I got a chance to interview the band they told me that over 2,000 people joined the first few months they started the e-zine giving them a voice unfiltered by popular newsstand publications that have to worry about placement, advertising and monthly relevancy.

As far as Wasik mentioning the “short stuff for free” I agree that companies should release a short version of their work to give the user a reason to pay for more content or accept the free stuff.  He said the best way to avoid this “click away” customer is to have an innovative device that the user must use to keep, delete or share the content on their device such as the ipod, Kindle or the Nook.  As a Disc Jockey for over 17 years my early experiences with personal branding was in competition with local radio disc jockeys and band DJs who were associated with radio stations or a record labels with marketing budgets that dwarf the little guy’s entry.  Today that playing field has been leveled for DJs who have a decent online following with a consistent reputation can now create their own community of listeners through various channels like podcasting, applications or streaming their live performances while responding to listeners worldwide at the same time.  As more people carry mobile devices daily this gives a DJ in Italy an opportunity to be heard in Australia or you can watch a live studio session with another DJ all on your itouch, mp3 player, laptop or cell phone.  Why is this important and how does this help solve the issue of free vs pay online content?

The question of relevancy again depends on what side of the fence you on. Producer or consumer.  If you are a content producer and you want your material to be distributed, you can identify a target audience faster by going straight to them or open the settings for them to come to you at any moment they choose.  The choice is up to you whether you want to charge them a fee or give it to them for free.  With a for profit business model you can also cross promote a sponsors product or service in return for advertising fees to subsidize your production cost.  Either way the choice is yours based on your time, motivation and goals.  In the eyes of the consumer they only want to be entertained or educated which gives them the unique experience of informing the content producer on whether or not their approach is working.  The consumer will let you know if this is something they would pay for based on the interaction and feedback they give the producer using social media tools.  Both the consumer and the producer are the deciding factor on whether something should be free or charged.  This Web 2.0 business model and engagement is what has Hulu, newspaper corporations, television networks and upcoming entrepreneurs deciding what’s next.  My suggestion is to ask the person you are wishing to gravitate towards your content.

Here are 3 Ways a Company Can Engage with its audience:

1)  Listen and learn.  By monitoring conversations about your brand, product or service on various social media websites you learn what people like and dislike about your company.  Is there something that we can improve on?  Why did that last video only get XYZ hits compared to the other one?

2)  Identify the influencers.  Find who are the main people influencing your target market and what do they think our company’s product or services.

3)  Ask for feedback.  Before Twitter, blogs or social influence marketing people had to write a physical letter or make a phone call to a company customer service to send a complaint or suggestion.  Nowadays customers, viewers or influencers can create communities behind their experience whether it is was a good or a bad one.   If you have more negative commentary than positive then maybe your organization should find out why people are putting such effort to say why they dislike something. If you notice it early then you can correct the problem or you can do a YouTube video for the CEO.

Television will never be the same once online viewing becomes a dominating force in today’s entertainment.  Some of the top media companies are using analog dollars to chase digital coins in the race for online viewers and how they they capitalize off the profits.  With online providers like Los Angeles based company Hulu, we have seen a rapid number of people who are willing to watch their favorite TV shows and movies online rather than through the cable box.

Recently CBS executive Quicny Smith spoke about his disagreement with free online television with companies such as Hulu.  His stance is that CBS should continue the current business model of bringing the viewers to the biggest advertising space which is television.  In this approach he says that “you can make a lot more money doing things that are additive and complementary to the rest of the CBS line” which is why CBS networks have yet to release their TV shows on the Internet.

At some point these decision makers in large media companies will have to tackle with their online strategy quicker than they expected.  Especially when The Kelton Research Study found that 84% of Americans say they are more dependent on their home computer than they were three years ago.  Which changes the playing field as more people are using their desktops and laptops frequently they are tempted to also use it as a viewing device for entertainment.  Today’s generation of users want a mixture of pay and free services giving them a choice on what they value for money.  My stance remains the same as it was with other evolutionary debates whether its vinyl records vs itunes downloads, newspapers vs mobile applications, telephones vs. mobile phones they are hear and not going anywhere.  If the consumer can adapt to new ways of absorbing media then why is it so difficult for the media providers to keep scratching their heads on decisions to adapt or rebel.  If they do not figure out a practical strategy then they can should not be surprised when a another start up company in Seattle or Silicon Valley does.

As a digital storyteller and cable subscriber I have not spent close to the average 3 hours of viewing on Hulu but I respect the new approach to providing free programs to online viewers.  The ability to watch a TV show whenever you desire with minimum advertisement will attract new viewers and maintain the loyal “free” subscribers.

News Corp. is reconsidering to charge for their online newspaper subscriptions hoping to recover some of the $203 million dollars they lost in the fourth quarter of 2009.   As investors in Hulu both Rupert Murdoch and NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker have begun to let greed get to their eyes too soon after seeing the potential in online programming.  They should be more patient and cautious about how they want to integrate traditional television business models with the new digital media democracy.  Since they are in the early stages of how to earn more revenue online I would advise them to not move too quickly charging people for content by adding a subscription fee.  Strangely enough my perspective does not come from the fear of paying for another service (mobile phone, satellite radio, DirecTV, and utilities) as much as the impact this would have on quality programming being pressured to produce for ad-supported models and commercialization.  The pressures of Wall Street prove that they were the same puppet masters who lowered the standards of television in return for more money and out right gluttony.  For companies like NBC, News Corp. and Walt Disney Co. who produce a lot of content yearly they should work on more creative programming rather than how to charge for a brand new service just because people are online watching more videos than before.

Emerging markets across the world are proving that normal business models are not the gospel truth when coming to mobile technology and digital media.  Reading Nick Hughes and Susie Lonie’s article about Kenya’s largest mobile provider Safaricom launching M-PESA explains the unique approach taken by the telecommunication company.  In places like Kenya the ability to use your mobile phone as a social, business and political tool can be very useful despite for decades being excluded in many of these sectors.

I believe that M- PESA is a interesting application allowing Kenyans to send and receive money through their mobile phones.  During times of political turmoil or places that lack sufficient infrastructure the ability to send cash to family members and entrepreneurs is a very creative idea that can save people time and money.  To some people in the west the thought of having money on your phone is not something that they would consider since the mobile device is just another item they are carrying around that can potentially become lost.  I think that having a “digital wallet” is not so much a futuristic cool idea as much as a convenience to people who need to transfer money quickly.  As more mobile phone users grow in countries like Kenya and Uganda we can expect to see more innovative ways to use the devices.  This latest development proves that if you want to develop a product or service for a certain region you have to think outside the box and adapt to the specific user’s needs and expectations.

In a country like Afghanistan where war is the center of attention and communications are often destroyed by rebels or foreign militaries you have to decide what is the most important need for the citizens.  Which is why Karim Khoja’s article Connecting A Nation explains that Afghanistan is very vulnerable when it comes to sufficient health care and a stable economy.  With projects like the Women’s Public Call Office (WPCO) we can see that micro-financing can be useful to support entrepreneurs to earn wages for their community using technology.

As technology becomes available to more people at a low cost I think it will be a great opportunity for various outlets to communicate with the people on the ground in developing nations with mobile applications, mini documentaries, and podcasting.  The ability to use digital tools for awareness campaigns, political education or conflict resolution is growing faster everyday and I believe that more partnerships with NGOs, governments and the private sector can become more transparent serving the people they want to reach.

Here are 4 ways that NGOs can utilize digital media with their programs:

1. Use various social media platforms to inform people on their current projects.  Set up accounts with social networking websites that are useful to their audience and supporters then begin engaging.

2. Create short videos that highlight the projects goals and accomplishments.  Providing digital storytelling in the form of interviews, web commercials or viral videos can help spotlight the NGOs profile.

3. Use SMS alerts to inform citizens on health tips, voting information, or market quotes.  Since SMS is widely used in emerging markets the power in texting can reach broad audiences faster than most traditional forms of communication.

4. Train and equip workers to produce content on the ground.  By training employees to use certain programs and recording devices they can film, edit and distribute content without delaying immediate feedback.

Hopefully we can see more developments in each of these suggestions making it easier for the people working in developing countries.

Newspapers taught me how to read and cartoons taught me about consistent storytelling.  With just a small strip of drawings and text, cartoons can speak a thousand words without the complex explanations.  Graphic novels are proving that through great storytelling audiences are willing to absorb stories outside the normal world.

I think that more content will continue to be produced in digital format with animated characters, mythology comparisons and heroic insertions.  As online streaming becomes popular amongst young users between the ages 12-17 years old we will see a new platform of graphic novels and comic stories.  With amateur videos, photoshop, Adobe flash and various graphic software content producers can create compelling stories at low cost and a wider distribution capability than before.  We are seeing more short videos that are not your normal 30 second commercials or your 30 minute infomercials that have dominated television and cable networks since the marriage between prime time and advertising.  In 2006 Virgin Comics, author Deepak Chopra and Gotham Entertainment joined a partnership to release Indian mythology stories in a series of graphic novels targeted to a international audience.  The company wanted to capitalize off the growing south asian readers market who were interested in comics based on ancient Indian myths that are in tough comparison to modern comic heroes like X- Men, Punisher and Batman.  Another interesting addition to Richard Branson’s comic book company is the Virgin Animations division which plans to produce and release webisodes from the comic stories they publish.

With hundreds of writers compiling stories for a international market that has been largely ignored by the western publishing houses, Virgin Comics can now go the extra step by providing short videos to support their comic books and merchandise. With so many social media websites available we will continue to see more centrally catered digital stories that will make a stronger appeal and connection to a narrow audience rather than focusing on a broader narrative.  With digital media the stories do not have to stay on paper they can transcend to a new medium that allows a different visual presentation of the same story.  For many years international comic readers could only read about characters that they could not relate to culturally or socially which is explains the need for more diverse stories that can reach all genres and cultures.

In the age of YouTube favorites and viral videos users can produce their own stories using photographs, drawings and flash animations avoiding large media demands.  I think that we can expect to see more folktale animation videos like Kirikou and the Sorceress developed providing content that is often shelved or overlooked by distributors.  Young teenagers will continue to watch online videos at a growing rate and revolutionizing the way content is viewed on various mobile devices like ipods, laptops and dvd players.  Without the censorship of television advertisements we can see a new market emerge that includes adults who enjoy violent graphic novel movies allowing them to watch something creative and mature at the same time.

Storytelling requires the same principles in either format it is presented and produced simply because the main objective is to have the reader or viewer believe the material is thoughtful and a great imagination.  I think that the users experience will change due to new technology and capabilities of creativity.  A traditional comic book may not be the same as a video podcast but they both are focusing on telling a story that can provoke emotions, judgement and relevance.

Today people receive more news in a weekly newspaper  than the average human in the 18th century received in a lifetime.  Yet with the convergence of social media platforms traditional media business models are looking more like the 18th century than the 21st century.  Are social media websites like Twitter, Mashable and Alltop becoming the new CNN, NBC, and BBC?  How does citizen journalism play a role now that more people have the ability to report from the ground first hand?

In the near future I see myself personally using digital storytelling in various social media marketing campaigns for clients that hire me to produce viral videos.  As more brands, non profits and organizations target larger audiences they are looking for quality videos with a unique story that can help promote their causes, products and company history.  Another usage of social media that I plan to implement in my business is to produce mini documentaries on topics that are often overlooked like environmental issues, indigenous cultures, and untold biographies.  With so many interesting stories in the world now is the time we can make them them at a faster rate and share them with niche or broad audiences.

When CNN began to integrate Twitter feeds on its daily news shows we realized that media is moving faster and people are demanding their information to updated faster.  I think that the usage of microblogging in traditional media outlets is just another form of communication that allows viewers and users to join inclusive debates or possibly fact check some news.  This interactive involvement is good for the receivers as well as the content providers who can create sub categories based from the responses they get from the viewers.  Many people are so anxious to get information whether it is accurate or developing they still want to make conversation with their peers at the water cooler, barber shops or bars just to stay ahead of others.

I think that Jimmy Fallon’s social media strategy put more emphasis on the word “social” than on media in the early stages since he actually leverage his popularity to appear on websites that attracted tech savvy viewers months ahead.  He personally took the time to make sure that he was were his future audience would be after his late night show was aired.  Just as President Barack Obama made sure to utilize various websites to communicate to his target audiences to create a social appeal first that then translates to a multimedia movement that the provider can then use as an advantage.  Will this same strategy work for everyone or every company I don’t think so but I do think that making sure your presence on these social media websites are authentic is more important than how many “followers” or “friends” you have.

Which brings me back to the why digital storytelling is so key when producing content.  You have to take into consideration that now people can view something more than once and they can share it with others who were not checking for it in their own digital landscape.  The capabilities are endless nowadays and if you are creative you can make something that impacts others or make others laugh at something normally serious.

In 2000 I started a e-commerce website selling books from a stocked inventory of books passed on to me by a semi-retiring publisher. The publisher was moving his business online and no longer selling them from his community stable brick and mortar.  His plans were to move online and sell his entire inventory.  I joined the race of online entrepreneurs looking for a niche market to enter and claim a stake.

I have since stop selling books online and began to revaluate our business model just in time for the rush of new e- reader devices like the Kindle, Sony Reader and now Barnes & Noble, the largest U.S. bookstore chain has entered the market with the Nook.  The Nook was leaked today and finally reveled to the consumer market with features that not even the Seattle online book giant Amazon could brag about.

The “Android based” nook is calling itself the “most advanced e- book reader on the planet” weighing 11.2 ounces and a color touch screen.  The device releases just a few months after the second edition of the Kindle went for sale.   The features that are the most interesting to me is that it has a built in WiFi with 2GB of storage, a microSD expansion slot, MP3 player, built in speaker, USB port, with the ability to highlight words and make notes.  Since so many devices are competing for the 8 percent U.S. adult market who purchased a e-book in 2008 it helps that the Nook allows users to lend books to other e-readers, cellphones or computers through a feature called “LendMe.”

A strategic move for Barnes & Noble who have been struggling with competing against Amazon’s 80 percent control of the online book business.  The Nook will allow Barnes & Noble readers to perhaps experience a digital bookstore with your coffee shop versus ordering one from online.  If the Nook can leap the hump of consumers withholding discretionary items like music and books then we can possibly look for a similar reaction to reading that music lovers got from the ipod.  Devices like the Nook or Kindle are nothing compared to the ownership of a physical book but they are  easier to store and carry.  For travelers small, slim devices that can hold multiple PDF documents and books is a way to travel light.

Plus who wants to see you carry two Harry Potter books, 1 New York Times newspaper and a copy of The Economist in your hands waiting at the bus stop. That the equivalent of carrying a milk crate of vinyl records and a portable turntable to listen to music.  Trust me as a Disc Jockey for the over 16 years carrying those crates is not light.

The days of only newspapers telling the story are over and you can thank video podcasting for that.  When I first started using my Apple laptop I discovered that itunes had a podcast store that would allow you to subscribe to different podcast shows for free.  I immediately found a spanish tutoring show and then I discovered a subscription for NY Times videos.

After downloading a few episodes I watched them on my itouch player in total amazement at how quick I was able to receive a short 3 minute video reporting on Wyclef Jean and Bill Clinton’s recent visit to Haiti together as part of UN mission.  This caught my attention because I have hours of video footage from my trip to Haiti in 2003 and I never thought about using the footage in a reporting format just like the New York Times.  A frequent reader of their newspaper editions I noticed that the New York Times has adapted to the digital age and even provides audio podcast for different sections of the newspaper for example the Book Review, Tech Talk, World View, and the Weekend Business each host their own show.  As for the short videos on their website they have over 23 categories to choose ranging from breaking news, travel, sports to automobiles each with a library of short videos to assist their printed articles.  Each video starts with a quick advertisement  before playing the actual video which proves that they are monetizing the production and distribution of the videos.   Are they profitable to the newspaper is something I would be interested to know.

As more newspapers are beginning to close their headquarters and move online they should take notes on the way the New York Times has utilized the Internet to reach a broader audience at the same time maximize their print and video capabilities.  Many readers have read a article and went to the website to watch the companion video in order to get a fulfilled experience.  The videos are HD quality filmed and edited into short 1-2 minute journalism storytelling.

Another publication that I wanted to mention that is leveraging its online space with videos from its photo cover shoots and interviews is Complex magazine.  The magazine was created by urban clothing designer Marc Ecko and has become a multimedia company that specializes in targeting other companies marketing needs.  What I noticed that Complex does in its printed editions is match advertisements with the issues main articles and interviews presenting a clever approach to cross marketing.  The same method is used in its online short videos were sponsors are paying for ads and banner space with influential artist, actors, designers and trendsetters appearing in each issue.  Complex capitalizes off each photo shoot and provides a behind the scenes short video giving the viewer just enough to read the article and giving the reader just enough to want to watch more videos.  They even have linked banners to the videos paid by advertisers while the video is playing at the same time.

Lessons learned from both Complex and the New York Times is to take full advantage of your access and think of each project as a story, podcast, short video and possible way to sale ad space.  When ever I am filming, disc jockeying or photographing I think about the multimedia platforms that can be covered during the session and afterwards to entice readers to become viewers and viewers to be readers.

As more print media companies begin to change their business model we will see more short videos posted from interviews and more journalism style reporting to highlight the subject on various outlets at once.

Africa is the birthplace of civilization and for thousands of years introduced the world to technology, mathematics, science and medicine.  Even in today’s current conditions Africa is the place with all the answers.  Reading two articles by Mo Ibrahim and Richard Heek gave me a new insight into how much mobile communication is valued in poor countries along with the consumption concerns that come with it.  In Mobile for Impoverishment Richard Heeks referenced a few different researches only to conclude that we need more research into how mobile phones can help improve the lives of the bottom billion.

Reading the statistic that one research quoted was “48 percent of the respondents say they sometimes substitute important needs like food, clothing and education for mobile phone usage”  is not what advocates of new technology are proud of.  Yet other studies prove that incomes have increased for some users who use the phone as a tool of production rather than another useless consumption.  Unlike many western users the mobile phone is the fastest, cheapest and most convenient form of communicating with relatives, markets and business to businesses.  Without a mobile phone many entrepreneurs have to travel long distances to receive valuable information on the products they are selling or buying.  Just like the developed world technology makes things more convenient in Africa.

In the Prerequisite to Prosperity written by successful entrepreneur Mo Ibrahim I agree that Africa’s future is only as good as its future governments and its leadership.  The mismanagement and corruption in many African nations stems from greedy politicians and dishonest investors in the continents infrastructure and resources.  Once African governments properly administrate the country’s resources then the faster environmental issues and sustainability can be tackled.  The annual Ibrahim Index is a great resource to measure improvements and it will only get better each year as more data is collected over time.  By awarding an African head of state $5 million dollars to step down on their due date and become active statesman out of office is a call of action for leaders to not be afraid to leave their seat of power.  The Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership was not designed to be a personal medal of honor as much as a recognition for transparent governance and as well as reward leaders who deliver for the growth of their people in need.

With over 200 million mobile phone users in Africa and a growing desire to become a part of the international business market, African governments must provide a  speedy and practical strategy to support its civil societies.   With complex issues like conflict and    health care many of the people in Africa are beginning to report their situations from the ground raising the issues to a international platform using digital media tools like short videos, podcasting and microblogging.

According to Ibrahim as more technology enters the continent of Africa the easier it is to expose bad government practices and further educate the people on ways to voice their opinions just like the 2009 Iranian elections.  If western governments thought that Robert Mugabe was acquiring nuclear weapons then maybe more news coverage would have been focused on the reactions in Zimbabwe’s failed election.   What Mo Ibrahim is ultimately saying is that only Africa will have to step up and take lead in developing its  people and investing in the future.  Africa has the potential to grow abundant agriculture crops to feed its people and practice fair trading with foreign nations that can in return be good stewards to the land most affected by poverty.  Africans bear the responsibility to demand a change in their leadership and I believe that the usage of low cost digital equipment can help report on the conditions millions of people are living in daily without clean water, safe shelter and access to medicine.  These digital storytelling can be shared without the shaded lenses of corporate sponsors, or government controlled media outlets.  African’s today are engaging with each other using social media tools and starting to learn that their voice can be heard and that it counts.  African brands are active online in proof that South Africa is the 10th largest user on Twitter as more companies are using it to find questions they never asked for product development and feedback.

The concerns are whether or not African citizens and future users of digital media tools will become more useful for the overall populations or only increase individualism in a continent.  This is the next phase of understanding the impact that digital media has on the developing world.

Magazines are relaxing sometimes which is why I read each issue carefully.  At the current moment I have over six magazine subscriptions coming to my house each month and each issue has its own value outside the price tag. At an early age  I enjoyed reading Sports Illustrated  for the latest interview of my favorite athletes or browsing at the photographs of a recent championship game which in return sparked an interest in me that never left.  Reading.

So in this post I decided to wrote about counter arguments of a newly released book from Wired magazine editor Chris Anderson in connection with why I enjoy reading even if I have to pay a small fee each year for a delivered service.

In Chris Anderson’s new book titled Free: The Future of a Radical Price, he has opened a ongoing debate on whether or not businesses should change their models of excepting payment as the reward for their products or content.  According to Seth Godin blog he writes that “free is a relatively cheap way to get attention (both at the start and then through viral techniques)” reaffirming that marketers are wrestling for attention from consumers.  With so much content online these days users can get anything they desire at the click of a mouse.

In today’s digital economy more businesses are entering various markets at low entry cost while kidnapping the attention that normally would have been dominated by big media and corporate companies.  Nowadays small businesses or low cost video producers can present their product to thousands of people and viewers without spending enormous amounts in advertising like the old days of capitalism.  I agree with Seth that  despite the decline in print media specifically newspapers, “we’re always going to need writers, but the business model of their platform is going to change.”  Making your business stand out amongst other competitors and controlling how users access your free content is a form of return on investment.  In order to get something of value the perception has to be convinced that it is worth paying for rather than selling something because another business is placing the same market value.

Even as a avid Malcolm Gladwell reader I disagree with his criticism that if you make something Free (Anderson spells it capitalized) or easy to download that people will not pay for something exclusive or related to their personal interest.  The fear of making content or products Free will dilute the value of quality goods is ridiculous and not realistic. It just depends on who is placing the value and who believes in its worth.  When I purchased XM radio for my car 4 years ago at $10 per month I was laughed at by my friends because they did not understand why I would pay for music when the radio station was free. In my opinion the radio station was playing the same songs, same commercials and less variety for someone who spent a lot time in traffic. I wanted something customized and satellite radio was the answer.  I could listen to BBC news, ESPN, a 24 hour jazz station and even a Comedy Central station with hundreds of hours of stand up comedy.  I valued XM radio at a reasonable cost I could afford rather than buying more CDs to occupy the time or conceding to terrible free broadcasting.

For the past 17 years as a DJ I have never hesitated to shop for vinyl records since it is always a learning experience each time I go to a record store.  Sometimes I find a record priced at a high value and then others times I see the same record at another shop priced almost for Free because the value means differently to the seller.  This is where my views on the Free movement is questionable.  Who are producing the content and what are they asking the viewer or consumer to do next?  When traditional media was the dominating force behind the way we received news and information we had no choice but to accept their recommendations and facts.  Now in a digital age we can filter out what we want to receive and how we want to consume it.  You have a choice to read a blog, listen to a podcast or watch a video at a no cost or you can pay a premium for more content and access that non subscribers have.  The choice is yours!

In order to stay competitive in today’s world you have to give something to get something.  Some people look at it as an investment others may look at it as breaking even.  As a producer of digital storytelling videos I ultimately would like for people to see my work and share it with others.  If I can charge a fee for another content provider (sponsors, cross marketing, another company) to advertise their product therfore maximizing the moment of giving something for free but using a reversal model to pay for it.  Eventually a content producer can create their own “network” with a loyal base who are willing to pay for more content and availability making it easier for the producer to continue their winning streak.

The power of the web has shown us that nothing is permanent or predictable.  Changes occur everyday and more people are changing their perspective of what they are willing to pay for.