The Process
At the beginning of the project, our team explored identity in relation to opportunity. After brainstorming, our team delved into cultures and how backgrounds play a role in our identities.
To link this theme to a journalistic purpose, we found that every person has a dominant area of their lives that shapes their identity. From there emerged the idea of a deeper, more meaningful social network.
We decided on creating a much-needed platform for everyone in the Salzburg Academy community. This would be a community of debate and discussion around the issues that shape our identities, linked with the collaboration between students and professionals to turn these debates into substantial works of journalism.
In that respect, we strive to ensure each fellow builds a unique profile that reflects his or her values and identity. Building from there, we can track and locate common interests based on keywords (or hashtags) found in their profiles.
For the journalistic element, these links would provide opportunity for scheduled debates among platform members. The outcome of these discussions would be documented in a publicly available newsletter, allowing anyone to read the product of creditable, newsworthy articles developed by the platform.
The public would have access to a read-only version of the site, and benefit from content created in a unique manner, stemming from a collaborative effort between a diverse crowd of talented students and faculty. On a secondary level, this platform gives outside visitors a much more personal look at the Salzburg Academy.
During the initial brainstorm, our team explored the concept of voice and opportunity as it relates to identity.
Each participant was asked the following questions:
1- Please share your name and nationality.
2- What is the story behind your name?
3- Define yourself in 5 words or less.
4- What do you call home?
5- Describe a moment that has shaped your identity.
6- Describe a moment when you felt like an outsider.
7- Word Association: body, mind, passion, love, struggle, ambition, tradition, society, family, happiness.
