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Exploring the Power of Words: Apiorkor to Lead TED2023 Discovery Session.

Discovering the power of poetry with Ghanaian Poet, Apiorkor Seyiram Ashong-Abbey at TED2023 Conference in Vancouver, Canada.

The TED2023 conference happening in Vancouver, Canada from April 17 – 21, 2o23 is set to be a memorable one, and among the impressive lineup of speakers and presenters is Apiorkor Seyiram Ashong-Abbey, a Ghanaian poet known for her captivating performances and moving spoken word pieces.

Apiorkor is slated to lead a 90-minute Discovery Session titled “Everyone is a Poetry” which she aims to express her distinct perspectives on how words possess immense power and impact on society and the pursuit of social justice.

Apiorkor Seyiram Ashong-Abbey performing on stage.

With her exceptional talent, she combines spoken word, music, and visual art, resulting in a mesmerizing and unforgettable experience for her spectators. Her shows are not just aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking, but also motivating, encouraging individuals to voice their opinions and drive change.

Apiorkor, a TED Alumni Speaker and a participant in the 2023 Speaker Ambassador Cohort, will assume the role of a “Speaker Ambassador” at the TED2023 Conference. In this capacity, she will provide mentorship to one or two speakers during the event.

During her Discovery Session at TED2023, Apiorkor will explore the role of poetry in promoting social change and empowering marginalized communities. She will share her insights on how poetry can be used as a tool for activism, amplifying marginalized voices, and inspiring collective action. Through interactive exercises and discussions, she will invite participants to engage with poetry in a new way, exploring how it can be used to connect individuals across cultural, linguistic, and geographic boundaries.

Witness the magic of words and learn the art of poetry with @Apiorkor at #TED2023 Conference in Vancouver, Canada. #TED2023 #PoetryWorkshop #Apiorkor Click To Tweet

What’s exciting about Apiorkor’s session is that she will not only be sharing her own experiences and perspectives but also empowering attendees to harness the power of poetry in their own lives and communities. Participants will leave the session with a deeper understanding of how poetry can transform society and the tools to use it as a force for good.

It’s worth noting that Apiorkor’s inclusion in the lineup of speakers at TED2023 is not only a testament to her incredible talent but also to the growing recognition of the power of art in promoting social change. As we continue to face significant social and political challenges globally, the role of art and creativity in inspiring change is becoming more critical than ever.

Apiorkor is part of a growing movement of artists and creatives who are using their talents to inspire social change and make a difference in the world. We’re excited to see her take the stage at TED2023, and we can’t wait to see what she has in store for us.

About TED Conference

TED is an acronym that stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design. These three fields have a profound impact on our world and shape it in various ways. However, a TED conference goes beyond these three areas to showcase important research and ideas from various disciplines.

The conference aims to expand the imagination by exploring how seemingly unrelated ideas can be connected, inspiring conversations, and initiating meaningful learning and change. TED conferences bring together experts and thought leaders from diverse fields to share their knowledge and perspectives with a global audience.

TED conferences are not limited to technology, entertainment, and design. Instead, they provide a platform to explore a wide range of ideas and connect them to inspire meaningful change. At a TED Conference, attendees become part of the global TED community, embark on new experiences while connecting and drawing inspiration from unlikely places.

African News Challenge to Improve Journalism – Google

[next_slideshow][/next_slideshow] Google, along with several other financial supporters such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and the World Association of Newspapers & News Producers, have announced that it will be funding grants that help promote and enable journalism across Africa.
The African News Innovation Challenge, according its official website, “is the continent’s largest fund for supporting new media experimentation and digital news start-ups in everything from data driven journalism and investigative reporting, to newsroom management, audience engagement, digital convergence, and media business models.”
The ANIC is a branch of the African Media Initiative’s broader project to assist African countries to utilize digital media tools in a way that hopefully improves the quality and impact of African journalism.
The competition launched on May 10, and the deadline to submit ideas for the first round is until July 10. Entries must be submitted to this website by midnight Central African Time on July 10, 2012. While news pioneers from anywhere in the world are welcome, all entries must have an African partner that will help develop and test the innovation. Entries will be judged by an international jury, and finalists will get a chance to refine their proposals during one-on-one mentoring sessions at a “tech camp” in Zanzibar in August 2012.
A post on Google’s official blog, the company is funding $1 million for the challenge.

The News Innovation Challenge will provide grants ranging from $12,500 to $100,000 for project proposals falling into four categories: news gathering, storytelling, audience engagement and the business of news. Proposals can include ideas that improve everything from data-based investigative journalism and crowd-sourced citizen reporting, to new ways of distributing news on mobile platforms, or new revenue models that help wean media off a reliance on advertising.

Africa also has the slowest average internet connection speed of any continent (excluded Antarctica, of course). Given these technological obstacles, it will undoubtedly require an inventive mind to be able to conceive “disruptive digital ideas” that eventually land entrants in the winner’s circle.
The winners will be announced at the Africa’s largest gathering of media owners and executives, at the Africa Media Leaders Forum, in Ivory Coast in November 2012.

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FCC's Mignon Clyburn Visited Ghana and Met With Journalists & Bloggers

FCC’s Mignon Clyburn visited Ghana and met with Journalists and New Media Activists to learn more about how the internet is changing our media landscape.

Gradually, Ghanaian bloggers and freelance journalists in Ghana are getting the necessary attention and recognition they deserve to keep on impacting their communities positively and also in creating awareness about social issues that need to be discussed and addressed.
I was very glad (and a bit nervous) when Stephen Anti formerly of Joy 99.7 FM and now with the US Embassy in Accra extended an invitation to attend and also be a panelist on a round-table discussion on the topic: Internet Use and the Ghanaian Media
The forum was held by the Information Resource Center (IRC) of the US Embassy in honour of the visiting Federal Communications Commissioner; Mignon L. Clyburn who was in Ghana for a couple of days and wanted to meet and interact with media practitioners in Ghana.
On the panel was Mrs. Abigail Bonsu from the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Isaac Yeboah from Multimedia Group Ltd representing MyJoyOnline, Emmanuel Dogbevi of Ghana Business News, Kojo Asante of Peace FM Online (he couldn’t make it, I guess) & yours truly representing the prestigious Ghana Blogging Community, Future Challenges Organization & Global Voices Online.
Each panelist was allocated 20-mins to present his/her ideas and opinions on the topic being discussed.
Mr. Isaac Yeboah was the first to take the floor, where he shared insights into the running of http://myjoyonline.com as a different organization from the radio station; Joy 99.7 fm. He also touched on content aggregation and how viral some political topics could shoot up with several comments wherein another instance, an article about the Ghanaian 2011 Budget presentation won’t even be looked at by readers/news junkies.
Next was Mr. Emmanuel Dogbevi who talked about how he’s running ; http://ghanabusinessnews.com all by himself without any financial support from anyone. He’s actually motivated to continue this venture knowing that, it surely going to pay off someday.
He also stressed on how his outfit is doing very well when it comes to reporting business news in Ghana and how he won’t allow any organization, company or person to stand in his way of reporting.
Mrs. Abigail Bonsu spoke briefly on what her outfit hope to achieve now that, traditional journalism is almost dying out because of new media (social media) been embraced by all and sundry.
I had a presentation prepared for my session therefore, I happened to be the last to speak. I spoke briefly about myself and the various organizations I’m connected to. I recommended the US Embassy in Accra to share info’s and other important contents from their outfit via Social Media platforms just like US Embassy Pretoria and Harare are doing.
Follow them on Twitter here: @USEmbPretoria & @USEmbassyHarare. Would be very glad to see a US Embassy Accra Twitter account soon, though. #USEmbassyAccra
Please find my presentation below.
 
[slideshare id=5860099&doc=socialmediainternetuseinghana-101122064904-phpapp01]  
Photo Credit: Federal Communications Commission.

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