In their commemoratory article, they write of WITNESS, “They’ve trained over 7,000 people across 108 countries, reaching 1 million people in the last year with their resources.”

In addition to the donation, Mainframe also plans to “…collaborate with a number of [the organizations] on future projects.” We are excited to continue to spread our message and thank everyone who has helped us continue to seek justice through video.

To read more about WITNESS and Mainframe’s Proof of Heart, click here.

In the video titled, “How Video Can Create a Just Society,” Yvette spoke about the importance of filming injustice and knowing how to handle video and use it for justice.

“There’s a real need to understand how video can help people prove what happened… You have a right to film,” she said.

To watch the video, click here.

The article, “A Step by Step Guide to Filming an Injustice as a Bystander,” is part of the cover story feature “What Would You Stand Up For?” and highlights our guidance and resources on safe and ethical filming and provides insight on how to use the technology at our fingertips for human rights change and justice.

“Recording human rights abuses on video has the power to counter misleading narratives, spark investigations, and mobilize people. Video can even be used as evidence in court to secure justice for victims,” our U.S. Program Manager, Jackie Zammuto told the magazine.

The article dives into all the things one should account for before filming and sharing. To read the full article, click here.

The grant comes at an important moment when basic rights are under increased threat in the U.S. and reports of hate-related incidents are up around the country.

WITNESS has a 25-year track record of supporting activists and marginalized communities to amplify their voices and use the power of visual media and technology more effectively in their campaigns for change. As more people than ever have access to communications technologies, WITNESS is working to ensure their videos make an impact.

The MacArthur Foundation grant will help us work with more partners, networks, and grassroots movements in the U.S. focused on issues including fair immigration policy, women’s and LGBTQ rights, and police accountability.

Additionally, it will allow us to ramp up our outreach during moments of escalated activity or tension, when many people are suddenly taking part in civic witnessing, for example, after a police shooting or during widespread protests such as those organized around the presidential inauguration. During these times, WITNESS will distribute timely resources that can help to improve documentation and sharing in real time, increasing the chances that more eyewitness videos will lead to more rights, justice, reform, and constructive dialogues.

The grant, disbursed over two years, will facilitate targeted in-person trainings, creation and distribution of tailored training resources, and sharing of lessons across interrelated movements both in the U.S. and in WITNESS’ work in other regions globally. Monies from the grant will also be allocated to hire a Program Coordinator who will build upon our existing relationships with networks and movements within the issue areas listed above.
Staff for the U.S. program include: Jackie Zammuto, U.S. Program Manager; Tanya Karanasios, Deputy Director, Programs, Sam Gregory, Program Director.

First Draft News is a coalition formed in June 2015, which provides a platform for experts to share tips and tools to gather and verify eyewitness media. Its new partner network aims to expand “trust and truth in reporting information that emerges online.” The network bringing together major social network platforms as well as global newsrooms, and organizations to provide guidance, help shape policies, and provide resources and trainings to journalists and reporters using social media and the web.  

The partner network will work in conjunction with social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to find ways to streamline the verification of eyewitness media as well as increase news literacy amongst its users.

Alongside WITNESS, partners of the network include: The New York Times, The Washington Post, BuzzFeed News, CNN, ABC News (Australia), AJ+, ProPublica, European Journalism Centre, and Amnesty International and more.

To learn more about the network and for a full list of partners, visit firstdraftnews.com/partner-network.

To learn more about First Draft News, visit https://firstdraftnews.com/. 

The list named many notable changemakers over the age of 40 who are creating impact in different fields of work including technology, media, and human rights and forging the way for younger women to thrive in these fields as well. The honorees were selected for being positive role models and for taking on new challenges as well as for reinventing themselves throughout their careers.

As the Executive Director of WITNESS, Yvette advocates for and advances global human rights through the use of media and technology. She has been a long-time champion of empowering everyone to stand up for human rights and has been a leader and strategist in social change.

Join us in congratulating Yvette on this well-deserved honor for all her work at WITNESS and beyond!

To read more on ‘Forty over 40’ and on WITNESS’ Executive Director, click here.

Honoring Philippe Dauman, Viacom President & CEO

New York, November 2, 2015 –  The 2015 Focus for Change Benefit dinner and concert for WITNESS, the international human rights organization, will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2015 at ArtBeam.

A combination of musical performances, inspiring stories from human rights activists, and a community of supporters representing the arts, journalism, philanthropy, tech and more come together for one of most inspirational events in New York City.

WITNESS trains and supports people to use video safely, ethically, and effectively for human rights worldwide. More people than ever are using video to expose the truth, yet they often lack the tools and skills to turn their videos into justice. Too often their footage is difficult to verify, lost completely, or simply does not contain the information needed for a court of law. This year’s Benefit theme “Video for Justice” highlights WITNESS’ work connecting activists and lawyers to ensure they understand each other’s needs and challenges in order to increase the potential of video as a tool for justice.

For more information about the event, visit http://focusforchange.org. More about WITNESS https://www.witness.org

WHAT: 11th Annual Focus For Change Benefit and Concert for WITNESS

WHO:

• Host: Peter Gabriel, musician, human rights advocate and WITNESS co-founder
• Performances By: Sebu Simonian of Capital Cities, Black Violin, DJ Scribe & OP!
• Honoree: Philippe Dauman, Viacom President & CEO, for his dedication to amplifying stories of social change and in doing so inspiring Viacom audiences to take action around issues that matter to them.
• Featured Speaker: Kevin Moore, WeCopwatch Baltimore Activist who filmed the arrest of Freddie Gray
• Red Carpet Host: Tai Beauchamp

WHEN: Thursday, November 12, 2015, 6:30pm: Red carpet arrivals and cocktail. 7:15: Program, paddle raise and performances. *Press check-in at 6 PM.

WHERE: ArtBeam, 540 West 21st Street (at 11^th Ave) New York, NY

*PRESS: Must RSVP in advance to cover event. To RSVP and to request interviews in advance of the event please contact Matisse Bustos-Hawkes at WITNESS via Press@witness.org or 718-783-2000 ext. 306 or Erica Gerard at PMK via Erica.Gerard@pmkbnc.com or 212-582-1111.

Coletivo Papo Reto documents police violence in Complexo Do Alemao, a favela in the northern section of Rio that has been occupied by military police for over two years as part of “pacification” policies put in place in advance of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics in Brazil. The increased police presence in favelas has led to a surge in police violence, with large numbers of cases of extrajudicial killings, violence, and impunity documented and reported.

The full article is available here in Portuguese.

Coletivo Papo Reto was also featured in an English-language video by Fusion earlier this year.

Featured image via BBC Brazil.

PBS News Hour Quote via Hari Sreenivasan on Twitter

PBS NewsHour’s Hari Sreenivasan reports on how the proliferation of camera phones and social media have given new power to documenting wrongdoing. Challenges remain, but our video as evidence program hopes to educate video activists to give their footage the best possible chance that it will be submitted as evidence in courts.

Our training teaches video verification and shares tactics with citizens and justice groups. For example, our basic practices for video as evidence includes how to improve video-making skills and manage video files so citizen witnesses know what to do after they have recorded a video.

Read the transcript from the PBS NewsHour segment here.