On-line media tools for strategic communications purposes When using media tools for communication we try to use the latest technologies such us blogging, RSS, podcast, vlogs… For the purpose to engage citizens and enhance citizens' communication

Social Media Social Media is one of the most powerful tool that connect people to people. One of the most important tools used are the online ones.

Online media tools Online media tool include: Internet forums, Blogs, wikis, podcasts, pictures and video sharing, vlogs, wall posting, , instant messaging, music sharing, VoIP, Google groups, web 2.0, virtual reality (second life), twitter etc… Lets take a look at some of the online media tools:

Is the 2 nd generation of the World Wide Web going from static to Dynamic WebPages allowing people to join forces, share information. Blogs, wikis, community 2.0 (facebook. myspace, instant messenger…) Web 2.o has proved that amateurs have a lot of potential and can change the way we view the world.

Blogs Blog is a Web site maintained by an individual called blogger with a series of entries posted to a single page in reverse-chronological order. Types of Blogs: Personal Blogs Business Blogs School Blogging Politic Blog Military Blog Private Blog Sports Blog As well as there many blogs sharing tips and reviews about cooking, products, games, music, books, movies, and

Vlogs is a form of blogging for which the medium is video. Entries are made regularly and often combine embedded video or a video link with supporting text, images, and other metadata. Video logs (vlogs) also often take advantage of web syndication to allow for the distribution of video over the Internet using either the RSS or Atom syndication formats, for automatic aggregation and playback on mobile devices and personal computers.

Twitter Is one of the social networking that allows users to communicate and stay updated on what members are doing through the exchange of small messages on their status.

Wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser. Wiki supports hyperlinks and has a simple text syntax for creating new pages and cross links between internal pages on the fly. Wiki is unusual among group communication mechanisms in that it allows the organization of contributions to be edited in addition to the content itself. Like many simple concepts, "open editing" has some profound and subtle effects on Wiki usage. Allowing everyday users to create and edit any page in a Web site is exciting in that it encourages democratic use of the Web and promotes content composition by nontechnical users.

Internet forum An internet forum is an extended interactive communication dealing with some particular topic on a website. Website members can communicate, read and respond to posts by other forum members. An Internet forum is also called a message board, discussion group, bulletin board or web forum. Members are able to make posts and start new topics.

Podcast Podcast is a series of audio or video digital media files which is distributed over the Internet by syndicated download, through Web feeds, to portable media players and personal computers. Through the same content may also be made available by direct download or streaming a podcast is distinguished from other digital-media formats by its ability to be syndicated, subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new content is added.

Internet empowerment the ability for citizens to make informed decisions is crucial for a free and functioning democracy and the internet made it possible. Thanks to online media tools which eases the flow of information, allowing people to communicate easily and effectively and give activists an opportunity to use those tools to actively fight for their cause. Online media enabled citizen to get organized, distribute information fast to a large population and engage citizen in taking action. The emergence of new ways of communication changed the social, psychological, and economic conditions experienced by citizens who use them. Its only through the open access to different online media that activism will push Government and big corporate to listen and, hopefully change.

Ease of access create opportunities to voice opinion Access to information is becoming easier than ever, because media plays a crucial role in shaping up various types of development in society: in changing opinions and actions. resistance to media concentration has emerged through creation of web sites like stopbigmedia.com, freepress.com, and opendemocracy.net, not to mention forums and blogs. People have now the chance to voice their opinion, exchange thoughts, information and experiences, by using these new tools.