This episode discusses the way the media highlights various forms of activism by certain people along the lines of socio-economic status, race, gender, and sexuality. The storytellers hope to pay particular attention to how depictions and access to popular media affect the influence of activist groups and movements. Guests include Alexander Denza, Luke Diasio, and Professor Julie Dixon
From the Guests
“It's important to have those central messages if you're trying to push for change through a system that's already in place. Because a system that's already in place, likely has the power that you don't as an activist group. You're trying to gather people first to make change in the system. But if you don't have clear and concise control over your message, then you have no ability to push for any sort of message."--Alexander Denza, Vaccinate UNC Now (12:03- 12:30)
“You have to be an account that actually organizes a protest. There's a lot of educational and informational sort of social media accounts. And those are well-intended, but I mean, I do think if you're not organizing or funding or doing something, then you're kind of just taking up space on social media and not really doing much with it. So I think that's the difference. If you actually organize an event, or if you raise funding, that's what makes you an agent of change.”--Luke Diasio, Vaccinate UNC Now (05:56- 06: 37 )
“I tell my students it’s the power of the scroll. Everybody's scrolling on their phones. So if any organization does not have an organized, robust, very strategic social media strategy, it's hard to be successful.”--Prof. Julie Dixon (15:53 - 16:10)
“I think back to the conciseness, and the clarity and the central way of messaging that made Black Lives Matter so powerful. So often, it came back to two or three messages. Our Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Stop the Hate. Right? So, I think sometimes we can overcomplicate messages, when it really comes back to one or two or three key elements.”--Prof. Julie Dixon (23:08-23:33)