Media and Democracy

Privatising the public interest: conflicts and compromises in Norwegian media politics 1980-1993

by Eli Skogerbø

Soldering Toward Media Democracy: Technical Practice as Symbolic Value in Radio Activism

by Christina Dunbar-Hester

Journal of Communication Inquiry, 2012

This article follows radio activists engaged in a combination of policy advocacy and broadening access to technology... more This article follows radio activists engaged in a combination of policy advocacy and broadening access to technology and skills through hands-on work. In practice, this largely played out as a systematic elevation of “technical” work and downplaying of policy/advocacy expertise, even though both were salient features of their work. The article argues that radio activists cultivated a technical identity that served to mark boundaries between their group and others in the terrain of media democracy work. Technical identity also took on special significance as the group grappled with organizational maturation, mitigating the anxiety felt by workers as they experienced the shift from an inexperienced, though highly driven and successful activist collective, to a more sustainable nonprofit activist organization. The article concludes by naming technological activism as one strategy in the wider spectrum of work to promote media democracy and speculates on the consequences of technical identity within the wider movement.

Literacy is just reading and writing, isn’t it? The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test and its press coverage.

by Laura Pinto

Co-authored with Norris, T. & Boler M, Policy Futures in Education, 5(1) 77-92.

Information violence and the myth of interactivity: why new media do not mean democracy.

by Jan Motal

In Božena Baluchová - Jana Matúšová - Beata Slobodová. Budúcnosť médií. Piešťany: MEDIATIKA, 2012. od s. 223-241, 18 s. ISBN 978-80-971009-0-2. (In czech)

This theoretical study examines the myth of cyberculture being democratic. Author adapts the Philippe Breton's concept... more This theoretical study examines the myth of cyberculture being democratic. Author adapts the Philippe Breton's concept of democracy as a symmetric speech act, and seeks for this symmetry within the internet, taking notice of the men's situation in particular, democratic divide and interactivity. The man as a central category of democracy stands opposed to technodeterminism and tries to revaluate the question of man's meaning as opposed to the utopian transhumanism. Besides the discourse of utopian, dystopian and social sciences, men's situation in the information society is viewed on the basis of his hermeneutics.

Canadian Multicultural Broadcasting Policy at Crossroads: Mixed Notions of Participatory Democracy and Cultural Diversity

by Chikako Nagayama

2012. Conference paper published in Ritsumeikan Studies in Language and Culture 23(4). A preliminary exploration to further build upon my original contribution.

This paper examines the problematical definition of minority voices shaped by the Canadian multicultural broadcasting... more This paper examines the problematical definition of minority voices shaped by the Canadian multicultural broadcasting policy framework. Although the framework adheres equal rights and intends to encourage media production and dissemination by Canadian population other than ‘Founding Nations’ (i.e. English and French), it limits the scope of media practices based on the monolingual notion of “ethnic programming.” I argue that, because democratic notions, such as the freedom of expression and equal participation, are only partially realized in the policy framework, racialized populations end up being included only as media consumers in the public domain while the imagined national space is maintained as a “white settler society.” In order to make television a “public service” as it was originally intended in the Broadcasting Act, I assert that the prevalent idea of cultural preservation in Canadian multiculturalism should be revised to foster a common space for civic participation.

Perverting Activism: Cyberactivism and Its Potential Failures in Enhancing Democratic Institutions

by Tommaso Bertolotti

Final proof version, co-authored with Emanuele Bardone and Lorenzo Magnani, published in "International Journal of Technoethics" vol. 2(2) (pp. 14– 29)

In this paper we will analyze the impact of new technologies on a range of practices related to activism. In the first... more In this paper we will analyze the impact of new technologies on a range of practices related to activism. In the first section we show how the functioning of democratic institutions can be impaired by scarce political accountability connected with the emergence of moral hazard; in the second section we display how cyberactivism can improve the transparency of political dynamics; in the last section we will turn specifically to cyberactivism and isolate its flaws and some of the most pernicious and self-defeating effects.

In name only? The effect of color revolutions on press freedom in Georgia and Kyrgyzstan

by Elena Devlen

Synthesis: Journal of Humanities and Social Affairs, 3(1), 33-51, 2011.

Modeling information equality: Social and media latency effects on information diffusion

by Aram Sinnreich

Published in "International Journal of Communication," 2008. Coauthored by Arul Chib and Jesse Gilbert.

In this study, we build and test a stochastic, agent-based model of information diffusion, called dFusion. The model... more In this study, we build and test a stochastic, agent-based model of information diffusion, called dFusion. The model incorporates diffusion research and social network analysis
into a framework that is consistent with the findings of digital divide and knowledge gap research. Using three separate real-world datasets, our model demonstrates clear causal
relationships between social structure, communication network structure, and the degree of "information equality" (relatively equivalent speed of access to salient information) within a given social network. By focusing on differential, rather than
absolute, speed of access to information, we hope to create an evaluative framework for information technology investment that accurately and comprehensively predicts the
effects of such interventions on social equality.

Les valeurs de l'Europe: entre l'idéal, le discours et la réalité / European Values: Between Ideal, Speech-making, and Reality

by Stella Ghervas

Published in "Rethinking Democracy", Kiev (Ukraine), February 2012
Article in Russian, Ukrainian, and French.

La démocratie est un projet idéal qui a joué un rôle clef dans les évolutions des deux derniers siècles, en se... more La démocratie est un projet idéal qui a joué un rôle clef dans les évolutions des deux derniers siècles, en se matérialisant de façon imparfaite dans une variété de constructions politiques. L'Union européenne ne fait pas exception, en présentant un discours dont la démocratie est certes une valeur essentielle, mais qui est néanmoins différent de celui des États-nations à cause de l'emphase qu'il met sur des valeurs dites "européennes" (diversité, tolérance, liberté de mouvement des personnes et des biens, etc.).

Or ce discours ne dit pas tout sur les idéaux philosophiques qui ont mené à la construction européenne, ni sur les compromis quotidiens voire les contradictions de la politique communautaire. Dans une perspective historique, cette contribution illustrera l'évolution de ces trois "niveaux" des valeurs, du XIXe siècle à nos jours. Leur opposition dialectique, toujours en mouvement, fournit un éclairage sur la "crise identitaire" que vit l'Europe élargie d'aujourd'hui.

Elezioni, galassie, intelligenze artificiali

by antonio caronia

Pubblicato in "Media e potere. Il lato oscuro della forza", a cura di Stefano Cristante e Marco Binotto, Luca Sossella editore, Roma 2000.

Intervento a un convegno di sociologi su Media e potere, alla Sapienza di Roma, alla fine del 1999. Mi confermò... more Intervento a un convegno di sociologi su Media e potere, alla Sapienza di Roma, alla fine del 1999. Mi confermò nell'idea che io e la sociologia viaggiamo su strade molto diverse. Però mi divertii lo stesso.

"Ora, se le reti possono diventare, accanto al non-luogo di circolazione e di valorizzazione del capitale, anche il
non-luogo di comunicazione dei corpi, è possibile che, nonostante le apparenze, il corpo possa
avere quello spazio che non 400 anni di modernità, ma 7.000 anni di neolitico gli hanno tolto."

China in Africa: a new approach to media development?

by Iginio Gagliardone

In the past few years China has rapidly become an important player in the media sector in many African countries. more In the past few years China has rapidly become an important player in the media sector in many African countries.
Its economic success and impressive growth of media outlets and users have quietly promoted an example of how the media can be deployed within the larger political and economic strategies of developing states, moving beyond the democratization paradigm promoted in the West. It has shown that heavy investments in media and information and communication technologies can go in tandem with a tight control over them, posing a lesser challenge to local governments and to political stability. In addition, the Chinese government, and its associated companies, have enhanced their direct involvement in the telecommunication and media markets in Africa. Chinese companies have started winning large bids on the continent, as exemplified by the 1.5 billion dollars project won by the Chinese telecom giant ZTE to overhaul Ethiopia’s telecommunication system. Finally, China’s public diplomacy strategy has been stepped up through expanding the reach and content of its international broadcasters and news agency.

This paper explores how different scholars from China, Africa and Europe are approaching the study of the increased role of China in Africa's media and suggests new paths for research and policy making.

Il Salto Quantico E Le Forme Della Democrazia

by antonio caronia

Pubblicato in: Sociologia della comunicazione, anno XX n. 38, Numero monografico su “L’esperienza tecnologica del mondo”, Laurea ad honorem dell’Univ. Di Urbino a Derrick de Kerckhove, II semestre 2005 [ma stampato maggio 2007].

Potenzialità, limiti e contraddizioni del "salto quantico" della società digitale ipotizzato da Derrick de... Potenzialità, limiti e contraddizioni del "salto quantico" della società digitale ipotizzato da Derrick de Kerckhove.

Review of" Digital Media and Democracy: Tactics in Hard Times"

by Michelle Stack

Networked Egypt - The Networked Society and the Democratization Movement in Egypt

by Adam Knowlton

This paper explores the role of the Internet within the Egyptian protests; and in doing so, argues that the Internet,... more This paper explores the role of the Internet within the Egyptian protests; and in doing so, argues that the Internet, and its use, illustrates existence of a truly networked society, a society that is predicated and defined by attention. In addition, this paper critiques the rhetoric of the “internet democracy project,” arguing that the Internet has no mythical democratizing effect, but rather the Internet, and its use in Egypt, is the result of the communicative choices of Egyptian citizens. To do so, this paper: briefly reviews the communicative events surrounding the Egyptian protests; argues that the Internet, and its use, is reflective of the attention based networked society within which it exists; and finally draws some critical conclusions regarding both the Egyptian protests and the “internet democracy project.”

Visibilidade e democracia: dois aspectos em análise na relação entre jornalismo e política

by Fernanda Lima Lopes

A política no ocidente liga-se a duas noções de suma importância: visibilidade e democracia. Este artigo procura... more A política no ocidente liga-se a duas noções de suma importância: visibilidade e democracia. Este artigo procura delinear essa ligação, apontando especifidades estéticas
entre a política e a administração do visível desde a Grécia da Antiguidade, passando pelo Estado moderno e a esfera pública burguesa até chegar à mídia e a sociedade do espetáculo.
Sendo o jornalismo uma voz socialmente constituída para tornar algo público, discute-se a relação entre ele e a política, enfatizando estratégias e negociações dos atores políticos para
alcançarem visibilidade no espaço simbólico que ele oferece. Ao mesmo tempo, analisa-se a importância que o conceito de democracia tem para a atividade jornalística no sentido de
referendar seu poder de fala. Ao discutir isso, o jornalismo não é tomado apenas como esfera de visibilidade, mas é entendido ele mesmo como ator político. Tudo isso é feito tendo como sustentação conceitual as idéias de Carl Schmitt, autor que fez uma definição ampliada sobre o que é o político, a partir da distinção amigo/inimigo.

Participação, Instituições Políticas e Internet: Um exame dos canais participativos nos portais da Câmara e da Presidência do Brasil / Participation, Political institutions and the Internet: An examination of the participatory tools on the Brazilian Presidency and House of Representatives' websites

by Francisco Paulo Jamil Marques

Title in English: Participation, Political institutions and the Internet: An examination of the participatory tools on... more Title in English: Participation, Political institutions and the Internet: An examination of the participatory tools on the Brazilian Presidency and House of Representatives' websites. Text in Portuguese. Abstract in English available: This article investigates how two Brazilian political institutions - The Presidency and The House of Representatives - use the Internet to offer citizens opportunities of political participation. After reviewing part of the relevant literature concerning Internet and Democracy, the paper identifies and describes all the participatory mechanisms available at these websites, proposing further reflections on the political effects which may arise once these channels are employed. Comparing the House of Representatives and the Presidency websites, it is possible to affirm that the former one presents a greater variety of channels able to address participatory politics. The interactive patterns established between citizens and representatives are thus quite different in this case. The article also discusses questions such as representatives’ unwillingness to offer participatory tools, once these mechanisms are costly to implement and may imply a lost of political power. In the end, one reinforces the necessity of thinking on the digital media taking into account the cultural and political contexts of every democratic society.

"Muro Baixo, O Povo Pula": Iniciativas Institucionais de Participação Digital e seus Desafios Fundamentais / Is a short wall easy to climb? Digital democracy and participatory tools

by Francisco Paulo Jamil Marques

Title in English: Is a short wall easy to climb? Digital democracy and participatory tools. Text in Portuguese.... more Title in English: Is a short wall easy to climb? Digital democracy and participatory tools. Text in Portuguese. Abstract in English available: The article examines the difficulties faced by government projects aimed at fostering citizens' political participation by using the Internet. After presenting the participatory tools found on two institutional websites (the Brazilian Presidency and the House of Representatives), I examine how the constraints pointed out by a relevant part of the literature in e-participation are reflected on such initiatives. The discussion grounded on empirical evidences highlights the argument that promoting online participation needs more than providing communication resources, since civic culture and other issues are still key factors in influencing our patterns of political involvement. A participatory use of digital tools will then depend more on circumstances such as institutional willingness than on the technical mechanisms available.

Participação e Deliberação na Internet: Um estudo de caso do Orçamento Participativo Digital de Belo Horizonte

by Francisco Paulo Jamil Marques

Co-authored with Rafael Sampaio and Rousiley Maia.

Text in Portuguese. Abstract in Portuguese: Esse artigo busca avaliar trocas discursivas realizadas no fórum online do... more Text in Portuguese. Abstract in Portuguese: Esse artigo busca avaliar trocas discursivas realizadas no fórum online do orçamento participativo digital (OPD) de Belo Horizonte, Brasil. Para tanto, é formulado um modelo de análise das discussões entre os cidadãos participantes do programa baseado nas teorias de democracia deliberativa. São analisadas as mensagens dos usuários (n=375) postadas na ferramenta de comentários do site do OPD. Os resultados apontam que os aspectos discursivos concernentes à reciprocidade e à reflexividade se mostraram relativamente escassos; entretanto, o respeito pelos outros interlocutores, bem como a construção da justificativa dos pontos de vista expressos no fórum, alcançaram índices elevados, mesmo não havendo empowerment da ferramenta ou incentivo por parte da Prefeitura. Conclui-se que a internet pode, efetivamente, oferecer ambientes voltados para o estabelecimento de trocas discursivas qualificadas e que, mesmo nos casos onde há baixos índices de deliberatividade, há progressos importantes do ponto de vista do aprendizado a que são expostos os usuários.

Participation and Deliberation on the Internet: A case study on Digital Participatory Budgeting in Belo Horizonte

by Francisco Paulo Jamil Marques

Co-authored with Rafael Sampaio e Rousiley Maia.

This paper aims to examine how political conversations take place on the digital discursive tools offered as part of... more This paper aims to examine how political conversations take place on the digital discursive tools offered as part of the Digital Participatory Budget (OPD) in Belo Horizonte (Brazil). The authors propose an analytical model based on deliberative theories in order to investigate the discussions over this participatory program. The main sample consists of the messages posted by the users (n=375) on the commentaries section. The results show that reciprocity and reflexivity among interlocutors are rare; however, the respect among the participants and the justification levels in several arguments were high during the discussion. The authors conclude that, even in a situation in which there is no empowerment of the digital tools, the internet can effectively provide environments to enhance a qualified discursive exchange. In spite of low levels of deliberativeness, the case study shows that there are important gains concerning social learning among the participants.

Internet and opportunities of political participation - Examining Brazilian and American senators websites / Internet e Oportunidades e Participação Política: Um exame dos websites de senadores brasileiros e norte-americanos

by Francisco Paulo Jamil Marques

Title in English: Internet and opportunities of political participation - Examining Brazilian and American senators... more Title in English: Internet and opportunities of political participation - Examining Brazilian and American senators websites. Text in Portuguese. Abstract in English available: This article examines the personal websites of political representatives taking into account the main resources offered to make the political participation of citizens feasible. If, on the one hand, one can indicate many possibilities brought by the Internet to improve political practices, on the other hand, the examples of actual use of digital tools to strengthen the citizens participation are scarce. This paper proposes an analytical grid to evaluate the quantity and quality of the tools present in senators websites. The idea of levels of citizens participation seeks to measure how porous these websites are on the basis of the importance they give to citizens contributions. The empirical comparison between websites of Brazilian and American senators leads to the conclusion that the Internet could be far better used to improve democratic participation..