Agenda for Social Justice: Solutions 2012

The Society for the Study of Social Problems has released its Agenda for Social Justice: Solutions 2012, a publication designed to inform policy makers and the public-at-large about some of the nation’s most pressing social problems and to propose policy responses to those problems. It is an effort by SSSP to nourish a more public sociology that will be easily accessible to policy makers.  The publication features entries from two of our Sociology PhD program’s students – Katie Kerstetter and Jason Smith – as well as one of its MA alumni – John Robinson.

“Preserving Affordable Housing and Building Wealth in an Economic Recovery: Limited Equity Cooperatives as an Alternative to Tenant Displacement.”
John N. Robinson III and Katie Kerstetter

“Promoting Digital Equality: The Internet as a Public Good and Commons.”
Jason Smith, Preston Rhea, and Sascha Meinrath

The publication can be found here.

Universities and Communities

One of the central elements to Public Sociology is connecting what goes on at universities (primarily academic work) with the communities that surround them.

However, the link between the two can extend beyond just sharing research that is immediately beneficial to groups in which research is based and has the most impact on.  Universities, as societal institutions, can also provide material goods to these communities, and in doing so help communities develop in various ways.

The New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute has release a new policy paper entitled, “Universities as Hubs for Next-Generation Networks.”  This report sparks our imagination as to the ways in which universities can become beneficial institutions (beyond providing academic studies) to the people that surround them, especially in regards to addressing societal needs such as internet access in areas which sorely lack such access.  A pdf of the report can be found here.

In our view universities can play a critical role in spurring next generation networks into their communities through use of their physical infrastructure to extend high-speed Internet access and sharing their expertise and resources to support engagement and participation by community members, businesses, and institutions.

Mapping Digital Media

Research Resource

The  “Media Program” initiative of the Open Society Foundation has a growing number of reports on the state of digital media in various countries.  A good resource for media scholars and globalization & development studies.

Three new reports have been released this month:

Mapping Digital Media: Digital Media, Conflict and Diasporas in the Horn of Africa

Mapping Digital Media: Albania

Mapping Digital Media: Hungary