Wikimedia Conference 2017/Program/39

Audience

Wikimedia groups and individual community members seeking to advance the Wikimedia movement’s global policy goals through advocacy.

Session Format

Workshop

Length

60 min

Room setting

U-Shape

Description

This will be a short and intensive training course on global policy advocacy on behalf of the Wikimedia movement.

The first two-thirds of the session will consist of a discussion of recent developments and key concerns in several global policy areas affecting the Wikimedia movement, including:

• Copyright
• Access to knowledge
• Privacy & government surveillance
• Censorship
• Intermediary liability protection

The last third of the session will focus on developing practical skills to assist Wikimedia organizations and individual community members in advocating for the Wikimedia movement in the above areas. This may include:

• Tips for communicating with policymakers
• Public messaging strategies
• Ways to coordinate with non-movement partners
• Strategies for advocacy campaigns and other forms of grassroots organizing

Desired Outcome

By the end of the course, participants should: (1) have a foundational understanding of the major policy issues affecting the global Wikimedia movement and (2) be prepared to employ a variety of practical skills and strategies for engaging in policy advocacy on behalf of the Wikimedia movement.

Next Steps and Milestones

The best milestone is progress on policy issues, but Wikimedia organizations can follow up by staying in touch, building their advocacy strategies, and checking in at subsequent movement events and conferences.

Speakers

Stephen LaPorte, James Buatti (both WMF)