About Ciranda
Ciranda was born in 2001 as a collaborative initiative between independent media and writers. It is a concept that emerged with the first World Social Forum, as the first proposal for ’shared communication’ and a place of coexistence and shared action among journalists and social communicators that participate in the Forum universe. Since then it has been a common space for dialogue and a stimulator of new shared experiences.
The Ciranda platform publishes content about the WSF and its movements in a continuous manner, demonstrating that that this coexistence and exchange are still alive and dynamic. Open and ongoing facilitation work contributes to animating participation and updating the platform, indicating that there is collective commitment to keeping it permanently functioning.
Representing this network of facilitators, Ciranda has become part of the International Council of the World Social Forum, to contribute and dialogue with other orcanisations of the IC on the construction of a politics of communication from the viewpoint of participants in the communication movement, alternative media and social communicators (in addition to journalists this includes people who work with blogs, social networks, cultural movements and the free software movement). Ciranda also contributes to the Communication Commission of the WSF.
Dedicated to looking after the principles and continuity of Ciranda, the organisation Compas - International Association of Shared Communication - was created in Brazil in 2009. Its mission is to support and set in motion demands identified Ciranda meetings (at least one in each edition of the WSF). Institutions such as the Paulo Freire Institute, the Arquimedia publishing agency and Casa Lilith in Brazil participate in this joint facilitation initiative, enabling logistical support and accounting for Ciranda in ad-hoc partnerships.
The current demands are: provide the Ciranda platform with new communication features with multimedia compatibility for the network, enlarge the reception and participation of community radio stations, internationalise content, intensify mobilisation for solidary translation of what is produced. Choose your area of contribution and participate.
Ciranda imposes very strict criteria regarding acceptance of support, resources or sponsorship, since it must maintain its nature as a non-commercial platform and not be subjected to conditions imposed by funders that override those of the WSF. Therefore, support for Ciranda will be welcomed when not linked to corporate business and which is given in recognition of and to encourage the dissemination of the concept and practice of shared communication.
Translated by Hilde C. Stephansen