Biba Klomp
04-03-2009, 03:13 PM
A team of journalists representing the European Neighbourhood Journalism Network reported direct from the second Alliance of Civilisations Forum in Istanbul using an online dialogue facility that mirrors all posts in English and Arabic. Reports are posted in a special AoC Forum section of the Meedan web site at regular intervals throughout the Forum, allowing those at the event, and those monitoring it from other parts of the world, to comment on what is happening.
Meedan aims to bring Arabic and English speakers together in conversation about world events using machine-assisted translation technology assisted by native language speakers. Links to relevant materials are also provided and visitors to the site have the chance to pass on their views.
ENJN representatives used the site to post reports on events, views and reactions at the Forum, including several items on the programme that feature the network and its members. The Forum ran from April 6–8 and includes senior political speakers including Prime Ministers Erdogan and Zapatero and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, plus Jan Figel, European Commissioner for Education, training, Culture and Youth.
The ENJN reports can be accessed through the site (http://beta.meedan.net) on the right of the home page in the section headed ‘Live blogging the Alliance of Civilizations Forum’: the site is currently structured for browsers Firefox 3 and IE6. Anyone with an interest in the work of the AoC can follow up the reports in their selected language, though it is necessary to register with the site to post comments.
Meedan aims to bring Arabic and English speakers together in conversation about world events using machine-assisted translation technology assisted by native language speakers. Links to relevant materials are also provided and visitors to the site have the chance to pass on their views.
ENJN representatives used the site to post reports on events, views and reactions at the Forum, including several items on the programme that feature the network and its members. The Forum ran from April 6–8 and includes senior political speakers including Prime Ministers Erdogan and Zapatero and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, plus Jan Figel, European Commissioner for Education, training, Culture and Youth.
The ENJN reports can be accessed through the site (http://beta.meedan.net) on the right of the home page in the section headed ‘Live blogging the Alliance of Civilizations Forum’: the site is currently structured for browsers Firefox 3 and IE6. Anyone with an interest in the work of the AoC can follow up the reports in their selected language, though it is necessary to register with the site to post comments.