The Global Communication Project started as an innovative way to catalogue both exceptional and clichéd examples of health communications from around the globe. In collaboration with the social media company Tumblr, PH663 students at SDSU have been participating in the creation of a new kind of open source text book. Students observe, catalogue, respond and create health communications all within the Tumblr platform.
Recently the partnership between SDSU and Tumblr has expanded to include Action.Tumblr, the social media’s social responsibility platform. Each month, the two organizations will promote research findings pertaining to topics of concern for Tumblr’s 550 million users. These topics will focus on broad social issues such as women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, xenophobia, racial justice, climate change, civic engagement, healthcare, and chronic and infectious disease.
The goal of this partnership is to educate and engage Tumblr’s users. Each new issue will provide users with an op-ed written by a prominent academic, followed by curated content taken from Tumblr’s site, and specific calls-to-action such as opportunities to donate, sign petitions or volunteer.
Social media is an established and powerful platform to raise awareness, promote social responsibility, and organize social movements. While the rhetoric around social issues in the US has become highly polarized, SDSU is excited to help drive the conversation and promote positive change.
Please check out the Global Communication Project and Tumblr.Action to learn more.
