The Reframed Stories Project asks people to respond to dominant themes and issues that appear in news coverage about their communities. These stories are reflections by people who are frequently represented by others in the media. Word clouds are created using the Media Cloud platform, a data analysis tool which examines a collection of media outlets over a specific period of time, allowing participants to analyze and discuss the preliminary insights into how they might be represented in the media. The project refrains from making conclusive pronouncements about the data, and instead is a starting point that creates space for discussion about how they can help shape their own media representation through digital media.

Maria Julia Valdivia is part of #NiUnaMenosBolivia, a civil society organization comprised of volunteers that provides monitoring and follow-up to cases of violence against women across the country. The following is Maria Julia's comments about the word cloud for the term “feminicidio” (feminicide).

Dominant words from 1,540 articles published between May 2017 and May 2018 mentioning “feminicidio” within 2 Media Cloud collections of Bolivia’s Spanish-language media outlets. (view larger image)

Después de un análisis exhaustivo [de la nube de palabras], llegamos a la conclusión de que éstas son las palabras que deberían utilizarse con mayor frecuencia en los medios de comunicación, ya sea escritos, televisivos y la radio también. Normalmente no son estos los parámetros que se utilizan en la perspectiva de género y violencia. Yo considero que ante el compromiso de la sociedad civil y una atención inmediata se puede identificar una tentativa de feminicidio gracias a las políticas públicas, la voluntad estatal y los presupuestos asignados para seguridad. La ley y los jueces podrían hacer un seguimiento, minimizar los riesgos y garantizar a la víctima un acceso a la justicia, la protección y con la celeridad que corresponde una condena, además el compromiso para garantizar la superación de este acto machista y patriarcal.

Following a thorough analysis [of the world clouds], we conclude that these are the words that should be used most frequently in the media, whether written, on television, and or on the radio. Normally these are not the parameters that are used in the perspective of gender and violence. I believe that given the commitment and immediate attention by civil society, an attempted feminicide can be identified thanks to public policies, the will of the state, and the funds assigned for security. The legal system and judges could follow up, minimize the risks, and guarantee the victim’s access to justice, protection, and with the speed that corresponds to a conviction, as well as the commitment to guarantee the overcoming of this male chauvinistic and patriarchal act.

This is part of a Rising Frames series developed as part of an activity organized by Raisa Valda Ampuero of Warmi.Red and Fabiola Chambi. They helped organize a workshop held on May 30, 2018 in Cochabamba, Bolivia that brought together representatives from various collectives and groups to examine how they or issues they care about are represented in a Bolivia media collection and created stories in response to that representation.