The current events in Japan prove how timely (or timeless?) the subject of my Master Thesis is. Almost exactly one year ago I researched on how Web 2.0 applications influenced the way we gather information, communicate, and interact with each other.
Social media, citizen journalism, interactivity and instant feedback channels are just a few keywords describing today's web-based communication. Beyond its intuitive and easy use, Web 2.0 fundamentally changed our communication structure. Through the internet we communicate on a broadcast platform formerly "owned" by media outlets. Today, it's all at our finger tips.
I looked more closely into the opportunities social media holds for NGOs to drum up support and document their work. A year ago the Haiti earthquake and Oxfam's online response to immediate disaster relief was my research topic.
Facebook, Twitter, Google Person Finder, live blogs, NGOs coordinating donations and relief efforts - all of the above is again maximized in the wake of Japan's earthquake and tsunami.
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