The Social Media Exchange is our annual creative day for the charity sector celebrating the power of digital storytelling and its potential to have a positive impact on the world around us. Always a highlight of the day, our Lightning Talks bring together three thought-provoking speakers who define our event theme ‘Championing our Stories’. These change-makers are really making a difference. This year Dr George Julian kicked-off our talks sharing her experiences of live tweeting inquests for #OpenJustice.
There’s a legal maxim that justice must not just be done, but it must be seen to be done. To date George Julian has live tweeted three coronial inquests, one court case and a psychiatrist’s fitness to practice tribunal. With the backing of monthly crowdfunders, she is currently supporting a number of bereaved families trying to secure scrutiny into the ‘care’ that their relatives received prior to their deaths. She also recently received funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation to explore whether this could be scaled up. We know that the life expectancy of learning-disabled people in the UK is about 25 to 30 years lower than those without a learning disability. We also know that these differences cannot be explained away as a result of illness or frailty. George’s work is highlighting how these premature deaths are linked to prejudice, bias and discrimination faced by people trying to access healthcare.
Listen to her talk:
If you want to find out more go to www.georgejulian.co.uk/blog/ and get in touch with George on Twitter @GeorgeJulian and share your comments on Twitter on the hashtag #SMEX19
We’re crowdfunding a six month mentoring programme to form a network of media confident storytellers with lived experiences of the social challenges facing society today. Find out more and support our crowdfunder.