How does the How does the Internet change Internet change

journalism?journalism?

Tunis 15 November 2005

How does the How does the Internet change Internet change

journalism?journalism?

Tunis 15 November 2005

Guy Guy

BergerBergerRhodes University, South AfricaRhodes University, South Africa

““HERE’S THE NEWS …” HERE’S THE NEWS …”

1.1. Media & Global Media & Global Development.Development.

2.2. Research 1Research 1: : Coverage of IS Coverage of IS policy issues.policy issues.

3.3. Research 2Research 2: ICTs : ICTs in newsrooms.in newsrooms.

4.4. Highway Africa.Highway Africa.

5.5. Conclusion.Conclusion.

SECTION 1: THEORYSECTION 1: THEORY

Luddites – left behind in media role!Luddites – left behind in media role! But: alternative – techno-fetishism?But: alternative – techno-fetishism? Consider historical paradigms for Consider historical paradigms for

media when it’s seen as a media when it’s seen as a tech for tech for progressprogress: : – ModernisationModernisation– DependistaDependista– ParticipatoryParticipatory

i. Modernisation paradigmi. Modernisation paradigm

Assumption of desirable devt:Assumption of desirable devt:= urban, affluent, informed, rational. = urban, affluent, informed, rational.

Cause: Cause: exposureexposure to the “modern” to the “modern” Media as “magic bullet” (1 way flow)Media as “magic bullet” (1 way flow) Temporary hurdle: tech have-notsTemporary hurdle: tech have-nots Answer: Answer: disseminatedisseminate (Rogers) (Rogers) Results for democracy, poverty: poorResults for democracy, poverty: poor

Media ≠ force for developmentMedia ≠ force for developmentbut but underunderdevelopment.development.

Cultural imperialism: individualistic, Cultural imperialism: individualistic, escapist, consumerist, materialist.escapist, consumerist, materialist.

Rather: Rather: breakbreak dependency & 1-way flow. dependency & 1-way flow. Use media for national developmentUse media for national development = Nationalisation, development = Nationalisation, development

journalismjournalism Results on poverty/democracy: mixedResults on poverty/democracy: mixed

ii. Challenge! Dependistasii. Challenge! Dependistas

iii. Participatory Approach:iii. Participatory Approach:

Developees must define developmentDevelopees must define development Need human rights & democracy!Need human rights & democracy! Respect people as active & Respect people as active &

knowledgeable subjects - just add knowledgeable subjects - just add capacitycapacity

Horizontal comms criticalHorizontal comms critical… community … community radioradio

Results: early daysResults: early days

The ‘new’ ICTs since ‘97The ‘new’ ICTs since ‘97 Internet, now cellularInternet, now cellular IndividualIndividual & & massmass media media Can be very participatory, Can be very participatory, andand interactive interactive View of “ICT4D” (mass media ignored)View of “ICT4D” (mass media ignored) Dominant view: ICT = access to “global” Dominant view: ICT = access to “global”

(i.e. (i.e. WesternWestern) knowledge (Modernisation)) knowledge (Modernisation) = = telecomstelecoms links needed (Modernisation) links needed (Modernisation) Major issue = Major issue = accessaccess (dd). (dd). Yes, but ………Yes, but ………

Synthesising paradigms & ICTsSynthesising paradigms & ICTs ModernisationModernisation: :

yes, tech is NB, yes, tech is NB, yes, 1yes, 1stst World info is NB. World info is NB.

DependistaDependista: :

inappropriate info, inappropriate info, South needs local content.South needs local content.

Participatory Participatory highlights need highlights need for:for:• Democratic & enabling environmentDemocratic & enabling environment

• “ “Louder voices” from South = global Louder voices” from South = global dialoguedialogue..

Synthesising paradigms: mediaSynthesising paradigms: media

Same insights apply to Same insights apply to mass mediamass media!!– Modernisation (info, Modernisation (info,

tech)tech)– Dependista (local)Dependista (local)– Participatory Participatory

(democratic)(democratic) AndAnd to media assimilation of (& to media assimilation of (& withwith) ) ICTs:ICTs:

• in the use of ICTs for in the use of ICTs for inputsinputs, and, and• also as also as outputsoutputs..

SECTION 2: RESEARCHSECTION 2: RESEARCH Assessing how African media Assessing how African media

seesee & & useuse ICTs in input: ICTs in input:

Using the insights of the 3 Using the insights of the 3 paradigms…paradigms…– Research 1: Coverage of ICT policy Research 1: Coverage of ICT policy – Research 2: ICTs in newsroomsResearch 2: ICTs in newsrooms

Findings underline relevance of the Findings underline relevance of the three paradigms… three paradigms…

Research 1: ICT policy Research 1: ICT policy coveragecoverage

Public sphere, agenda-Public sphere, agenda-setting, framing?setting, framing?

Six countries (Catia)Six countries (Catia) Most have, or are Most have, or are

developing, an ICT policydeveloping, an ICT policy Minimal coverage Minimal coverage

(except Ethiopia)(except Ethiopia) Seen as tech/business Seen as tech/business

storystory No gender or Info No gender or Info

SocietySociety

Research 1: Research 1:

Framing = simple: liberalise & privatise! Framing = simple: liberalise & privatise! “All else shall follow …” “All else shall follow …”

““Africa is behind” – catch-up ethos. Africa is behind” – catch-up ethos. ICTs treated as an unrelated side-issue to ICTs treated as an unrelated side-issue to

democracy (& development).democracy (& development). Journalists grasp their role in political Journalists grasp their role in political

policy, don’t see same in ICTs & IS policy.policy, don’t see same in ICTs & IS policy. = Reinforces modernisation view, that : = Reinforces modernisation view, that :

the media “don’t get it”, i.e. backward!the media “don’t get it”, i.e. backward!

Research 2: journos using Research 2: journos using ICTsICTs

IMPRESSIONS:IMPRESSIONS:

Computers, but …Computers, but … Barely use cameraphones, PDAs.Barely use cameraphones, PDAs. Not multi-skilling, SABC bi-media Not multi-skilling, SABC bi-media

reversed.reversed. CMS deployment is rare. CMS deployment is rare. Little convergence of parent & online. Little convergence of parent & online. Output: websites just hanging in Output: websites just hanging in

there.there.

Research 2: ICTs in newsroomsResearch 2: ICTs in newsrooms

Theory drew from Theory drew from Modernisation:Modernisation:– ICTs increase ICTs increase

productivityproductivity– Early adopters NB.Early adopters NB.

Findings = “laggards Findings = “laggards on input side” on input side”

9 Southern African countries,MA student project (IDRC)

Research 2: findingsResearch 2: findings

Computers, not connectedComputers, not connected– Limited access (hence, cybercafes)Limited access (hence, cybercafes)

No training policy or practiceNo training policy or practice All interviewed use Net for emailAll interviewed use Net for email Only 1/2 use it for research, poor skillOnly 1/2 use it for research, poor skill Early adopters - unclearEarly adopters - unclear So what?: “catch-up!” So what?: “catch-up!”

(Modernisation)(Modernisation)

Summing up:Summing up:

Research 1: need education & sensitisationResearch 1: need education & sensitisation Research 2: need access & skillsResearch 2: need access & skills

Poor sense of Africa’s info richesPoor sense of Africa’s info riches Poor sense of participatory possibilitiesPoor sense of participatory possibilities

BUT: BUT:

Actors, not objects. Actors, not objects. Critical of content and languageCritical of content and language Visit cybercafes; use own cellular.Visit cybercafes; use own cellular.

SECTION 3: SECTION 3:

A vibrant & growing A vibrant & growing networknetwork of African of African journalistsjournalists empoweredempowered to advance democracy to advance democracy & development & development through through understanding understanding & use& use of appropriate of appropriate technologiestechnologies..

Highway Africa history: Highway Africa history: 2001: all African countries connected2001: all African countries connected 1997: HA commenced – 65 people1997: HA commenced – 65 people 2005: 480 delegates, 17 sponsors2005: 480 delegates, 17 sponsors Aims:Aims:

– Raise awarenessRaise awareness– Impart skillsImpart skills– Bridge industry-academyBridge industry-academy– Continental networkingContinental networking

HA, partners, progress HA, partners, progress Dept of CommunicationsDept of Communications SABC as co-hostSABC as co-host Award for innovationAward for innovation ExhibitionsExhibitions Website, daily paperWebsite, daily paper Radio, TV, cellularRadio, TV, cellular Experimental journalismExperimental journalism News feedNews feed

2. HA training: report, use, 2. HA training: report, use, lobbylobby

Conference pm Conference pm workshops workshops

5-day courses (x 3 years)5-day courses (x 3 years) In our degree curriculumIn our degree curriculum Advocacy & civil society Advocacy & civil society Declarations, PrepcomsDeclarations, Prepcoms

= expand media role as = expand media role as

stakeholder in IS policies:stakeholder in IS policies:

4. Information - HANA4. Information - HANA

HANA has a history:HANA has a history:

2002: WSSD x 152002: WSSD x 15 2002: launch of African Union x 152002: launch of African Union x 15

2003: WSIS – prepcoms, 2003: WSIS – prepcoms, Geneva x 25Geneva x 25

2004: Africa Telecoms, 2004: Africa Telecoms, WSIS prepcom, Aitec, WSIS prepcom, Aitec, Marrakesh, Icann x 20Marrakesh, Icann x 20

2005: Accra prepcom, 2005: Accra prepcom,

Tunis today (with UNECA)Tunis today (with UNECA)

For HA, Info Society spans: For HA, Info Society spans: Freedom for new Freedom for new && old media. old media. Quality of info, African voices, policy Quality of info, African voices, policy

issues. issues. Media use of ICT potential. Media use of ICT potential.

““IS” conceptualises this big pictureIS” conceptualises this big picture = Participatory paradigm in practice! = Participatory paradigm in practice!

SECTION 5: SECTION 5: CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Modernisation, dependista, participatory Modernisation, dependista, participatory paradigms – some flaws, but also insights.paradigms – some flaws, but also insights.

2 research projects: = modernisation2 research projects: = modernisation– But journos are subjects, not objects:But journos are subjects, not objects:

Visit cybercafes; own cellular; criticalVisit cybercafes; own cellular; critical HA: fuse paradigms, stress participatoryHA: fuse paradigms, stress participatory

Intervention to empower and make space.Intervention to empower and make space.

Thank youThank youGuy BergerGuy Berger

G.Berger@ru.ac.zaG.Berger@ru.ac.za

C U @ C U @ HA@10HA@10

11-15 Sept 200611-15 Sept 2006

““Celebrations, Reflections, Directions”Celebrations, Reflections, Directions”

Grahamstown, South AfricaGrahamstown, South Africa

C.Kabwato@ru.ac.zaC.Kabwato@ru.ac.za

www.highwayafrica.ru.ac.zawww.highwayafrica.ru.ac.za/hana/hana