The workshop will explore some of the potential of new media for "narrowcasting" patterns of uplift. We will be using Savings-Led Microfinance, or NanaFinance, as an prototype pattern, as discussed by Marcia Odell of PACT and Jeffrey Ashe of Oxfam America. As this form of microfinance requires no external capital (women save their own money), the activity has the potential for rapid spread through electronic communication.

Leading journalists, media professionals, bloggers and technologists will meet in Washington DC on November 10-11 2004 to help create innovative ways to bring people news that can change their world-views – and the world. This issue has never been more important. This meeting will focus on the intersection of the mainstream media and interactive communications supported by the Internet such as blogging.

How can we attract attention to what's working to make the world a better place through TV, radio, print, and Internet? Workshop participants will have a broad spectrum of media, public relations, advertising, and Internet backgrounds. How can we draw attention to positive, life-affirming stories and activities without hitting people over the head with virtue? Are there ways of using irony, humor, juxtaposition, layering, or editing to draw attention to the positive in such a way that it attracts viewer attention?

The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss and brainstorm innovative ways of using the associative technology of Google for humanitarian uplift. This might include the concept of Elevator Links, which might topically relate web information to uplift organizations.