Post by alexandrajohnson on Oct 2, 2014 12:50:52 GMT -5
Social Media is a free tool all non-profit organizations should take full advantage of. It allows them to reach large audiences across all areas of the globe without having to go anywhere other than their office. Social media brings people together, and allows organizations to show who they are helping, how they are helping, and their results. This is made easier now by the growth in visualizations such as photographs and videos on social media. Websites such as youtube, instagram and pinterest that are focused around images are growing at a rate faster than ever, and at a much more rapid pace than those sites that are not focused as much on visuals and more on content. Non-profit organizations such as UNICEF have taken to YouTube to create a powerful story line and show the work the have accomplished in recent years. They have a video posted called UNICEF year in review 2013, and it centers around the challenges they faced in countries such as Syria, with thousands of refugees and the ever deteriorating conditions; but no matter how horrid the conditions, they are always able to do something. They use powerful images of violence and under privileged children to not only pull at your heart strings, but also show you their goal, and how they are headed in a positive direction, and how their mission is being accomplished. They show you their presence throughout nations all over the world, and assure you that although they have helped many, they strive for more. I think UNICEF is so successful because of the way they put their videos together. They use music with a depressing tone, images of children in pain and direct sentences that are short and to the point; children are starving and they need your help. In their world hunger video, UNICEF uses images of children crying, because they are deprived, underweight, and undernourished. UNICEF also goes above and beyond when showing the results of the aid they provide. UNICEF also is more than just a one-fold organization. According to an article by the Chicago Tribune, they provide the help, but then stay to monitor its success. However, UNICEF does not use just sad images and stories; they have begun a new twitter campaign with the hash tag #ThisAbility and it is focused around happier stories about children with disabilities. According to an article from the Huffington Post, it’s a competition raising awareness for disable children. Their audience can upload inspiring or meaning pictures related to the cause, and the top 15 winners will be posted in the UNICEF headquarters in Manhattan. UNICEF uses different approaches to social media to be an all around successful non profit and to go above and beyond their competition.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/10/thisability-unicef-social-media-_n_3416548.html
articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-01-03/news/8701010733_1_unicef-infant-mortality-rate-birth-rates
www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/10/thisability-unicef-social-media-_n_3416548.html
articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-01-03/news/8701010733_1_unicef-infant-mortality-rate-birth-rates