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| Figure 1. An image of ProMED-mail's logo. |
The site is constantly updated with reliable news about human, animal, and plant health issues worldwide. In order to provide reliable and accurate information, a group of disease experts reviews and investigates reports and notifications made about disease outbreaks. Since updates are constantly monitored, ProMED-mail encourages people that are exterior to health and biomedical professions to send in reports as well. This site allows for constant updates by subscribers similar to Wikipedia, however it removes the aspects of unreliability by having the site and reports monitored by professionals. As we have learned Wikipedia is an informative location in which to start research however it is not reliable in all cases, so viewers has to check their facts. ProMED-mail does the checking for its subscribers so they can rely on the information on the site in order to start proactive dissemination of knowledge and action plans. The site could potentially us LinkedIn as a resource to do background checks on their subscribers, who have LinkedIn accounts. LinkedIn could allow ProMED-mail to see if their subscribers are knowledgeable in the area in which they are providing information based on their current or previous employment.
However there is one issue I see with this site, which is such public access could allow for potential misinterpretations of posted reports. For example, the ProMED-mail allows for a stream of reliable disease reports to be made, which could cause undue fear to occur if people were to interpret these disease outbreaks as occurring at pandemic proportions or as new pathogenic strains. In order to prevent this ProMED-mail has to be professional about the way in which they present the facts about diseases in order to dampen the potential for unnecessary fear. Professional writing means providing clear and concise facts on a topic which is accessible to a diverse array of people. Also not using jargon, but words that will not create ambiguity when read by the public is important. I think that after reading some of ProMED-mail's reports they are very professional and allow for readers to understand exactly where the outbreaks are occurring and the specific circumstance regarding that report.
ProMED-mail is a great example of how social communication mediums can be used to spread and expand knowledge on particular topics for the benefit of the world. Especially in situations where there are pandemic diseases that are spreading globally. The site allows researchers and epidemiologists the ability to finds out everything they can about the pathogen as quickly as possible. Social media allows for quick coagulation of knowledge from all over the world and ProMED-mail is taking advantage of this collection of knowledge. There are many other websites that are also trying to take advantage of these forms of communication. Jenn Wheeler has another great example on her blog about how the Edmonton Human Society (EHS) is using Twitter and Facebook to distribute knowledge about issues related to animal health and pet topics, specifically the pit bull dog breed. As the world moves forward into an era of online directed communication, businesses and associations will have to become connected with services such as Twitter, Blogger, and Facebook in order to reach their target demographic.
References
Fig. 1. ProMED-mail, the Program for Monitoring Emerging Disease. (2010). ProMED-mail, Facebook. [digital image]. Retrieved April 3, 2012. From Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/photo.phpfbid=424486114728&set=a.101 50103826699729.282255.67404479728&type=3&theater
Becky did a wonderful job choosing a topic that integrates many of the social media sites we have learned about in ALES 204 this term. I like that she addressed the fact that ProMed-mail integrates Facebook, Twitter and e-mail into its professional communications. I also really like that she acknowledged the benefits of using ProMed-mail as compared to Wikipedia. She also suggested that ProMed-mail could be used with other sites such as LinkedIn, which I felt was a good critical observation on her part. Overall, her post was very well written and informative! Great job Becky!
ReplyDeleteI had never really thought of social media in this sort of way. I know it is used constantly to keep informed with friends and family, even keep updated with some news. It is interesting to see how social media is being used as a tool for something as important as the emergence of diseases. I didn't realize something like ProMED-mail keeps people informed through Facebook and Twitter. Although it is comparable to Wikipedia, it's good to see how this site is tackling the problem of public access. This is great to see social media used in this way in the professional world!
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting topic you chose to do your post on. I had no idea that ProMED existed, and it is definitely beneficial to be aware of such websites. I like how this website allows it's subscribers to be interactive and provide feedback and comments, but as you pointed out, this could allow for some potential problems. I have found that some people feed off the thought of pandemics and global outbreaks of diseases for some strange reason, tying into the looming apocalyptic theory that we are approaching upon. It's a very good thing that experts in certain their respective fields are the ones who do the reviewing and ensure the information is factual and reliable. Being a business or association in the 21st Century almost requires the use of social media tools to advertise said organizations, and I think it is a very beneficial business plan that ProMED has linked to Facebook and Twitter in order to achieve this. This is also an aspect that ties in nicely with our course!
ReplyDeleteI also did not know this type of site existed. It is a great idea! With people so glued to their technological devices this sounds like the best way to get information across and fast. Like you pointed out, there is some information that can be blown out of proportion especially with users commenting but it sounds like ProMED has also thought of this and has ways to prevent escalation from occurring. This is a great example of a company morphing to use social media to help society!
ReplyDeleteI am another student who had no idea this site existed! I feel as though this form of open public communication is far better that Wikipedia because I have found using Twitter and Facebook a whole heck of a a lot easier that formatting Wikipedia articles. Because the way to connect is far easier to use I feel as though a greater number of voices will be able to be heard. The more voices that get heard the less bias there will be present in the information relayed, this is a major issue for Wikipedia. I also like the fact that the Website is peer reviewed by experts in the field which for me gives it a sense of validity and credibility which is so important with the seriousness of the information the website could be spreading. Becky thanks so much for sharing the website with me because it really shows a real time way in which social media sources can cause an affect in a positive and professional way!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Becky! I don't think I have ever heard about this site but it does sound very useful. I agree that the general public has a tendency to distort information and exaggerate facts into fiction. This is most of the time and unintentional act but it can nevertheless drastically alter what is actually true. I think that the lack of a basic scientific knowledge base is the main problem because assumptions and predictions made without this knowledge is rarely reliable and accurate.
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