Great Idea: Blackboard Blogging

Alfred Sirleaf, a 33-year-old “information evangelist” in Liberia, does his part to keep other citizens of his city properly informed by posting all the news that’s fit to print – on a chalkboard.

Mr. Sirleaf scours newspapers every morning and decides what news should be posted on his busy street corner. He does all of this for those who could not otherwise obtain this information because they cannot afford newspapers, televisions, or in some cases even the electricity they need to watch television.

He says

I do all the dirty work for them, and I just give them exactly what they want.</p> and he has even devised an elaborate system of symbols to use because many of his “readers” cannot actually read.

Read more at <a href=”“http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/04/world/africa/04liberia.html?_r=1”” title=”Blackboard Blogger”>nytimes.com</a> or watch <a href=”“http://vimeo.com/3602427”” title=”Blackboard Blogger on Video”>this video</a>.