According to the organisation's blog, it aims to create a network of journalists (“hacks”) and technologists (“hackers”) to rethink the future of news and information.
The organisation spreads knowledge, information and ideas and has local chapter activities in various countries. The chapters do talks, hackathons and demo days and also have parties. It now plans to start offering courses such as coding for beginners, Google Fusion Tables and .js.
The organisers say they are passionate about the future of news.
It has chapters around the world but had only one in Africa. The South African chapter had its code for democracy hack this weekend.
The Nairobi Chapter takes place today at the iHUB in partnership with Code4Kenya open data initiative, the Pawa254 creative incubator and the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE). The chapter brings citizens and journalists around the city on how to use technology to make sense of the happenings in the world. Journalists will also share views on how to use technology to make the world a better place.
The Nairobi chapter is being spearheaded by the African Media Initiative (AMI) and is also working to set up a network of 20 HacksHackers chapters across Africa.
Ory Okolloh Google Policy Manager Africa, co-founder Ushahidi.com and Mzalendo will talk about how technology will play major role as the country heads towards the general elections and how tech should be used to empower citizens to make right choices. The Hacks/Hackers encourages coders and reporters to use new civic technologies, open data, and mobile apps to protect the rights of citizens.
The Nairobi Hacks/Hackers chapter aims to reduce the gaps between hacks and hackers or journalists and coders as both journalists and coders use tech. The organisation wants to use tech to enhance a mutual partnership that would shape the future of media and journalism.
