Feed the dogs: A case of humanitarian communication in social media

MedieKultur | Journal of media and communication research | ISSN 1901-9726Article – Open sectionPublished by SMID | Society of Media researchers In Denmark | www.smid.dkTh e online version of this text can be found open access at www.mediekultur.dk196Feed the dogsA case of humanitarian communication in social mediaGry Høngsmark Knudsen and Domen BajdeAbstractIn this paper, we address negative aspects of the interplay between networked media and humanitarian communication through the lens of mediatization theory. We analyze a case of humanitarian communication that travelled through Facebook in unpredictable ways and demonstrate the breakdown between sender and receiver positions. Th e case shows how communicative practices are challenged and how humanitarian organizations are destabilized in a new and unpredictable commu-nication environment. Using mediatization theory, we outline four aspects of social media processes that challenge the current practice of humanitarian communica-tion. Furthermore, we suggest that broadening the consideration of media amalga-mation enables a critical discussion of humanitarianism in networked media.