Information Society – An African media view

What we’ll cover Information Society – its value What it detracts from & sidelines But keep it for several reasons And revise it from an African point of view.

My view: The use of the term “Information Society” can highlight, and draw attention to, significant features: –Role of IT and information as means of production –Importance thereof in occupational structure –Importance thereof in national economies –Importance thereof in global networked systems –Importance to cultural life

High hopes & rosy assumptions IS points especially to positive ICTs Managed liberalisation (market overseen by state) is seen as the route to reach universal access and solve problems of poverty Community empowerment

Problem: What it “hides” IS detracts from a number of other important issues: –Other factors of production (energy, land) –“Old economy” industries (food, cars, etc.) –People doing menial and manual labour –Cultural contestation –Real distance and time issues –Diverse economic and political systems

Often sidelined (a): While ICTs are romanticised, the following may be marginalised: Questioning the power of information, Misinterpreting problems (eg. war, child abuse) as a simple lack of information. What kind of information defines IS? What relevance, what reliability? What language and what accessibility?

Often sidelined (b): The political issues: Who produces, owns and uses info? Who distributes and who gate-keeps? Gender, race, class, rural issues in production and consumption? Whose info is it, at what price does it come? How free are people to produce & receive it? Access to info in the public domain? Role of info and media in (and after) Iraq war. Are we now in the Disinformation Society?

Definitely sidelined! Where communication fits into Info Soc… Where journalism and media fit in.

Keep concept (if not the faith!): “Information Society” has strong currency. Strong mobilising concept – like the phrase “sustainable development”, led to a UN Summit. “IS” puts items on the agenda (eg. infrastructure, education, governance, work processes, info flows) which need policy responses.

Power of the concept: It draws special attn to the “network of networks” – the Internet, and its effects (see ITU Reader 2) “WSIS” invites us to take part in international policy formulation in regard to what this “Info Society” could be like – to think and understand and act about where we are going. (Gillwald, R2).

Media and the IS How IS impacts on media: Influences who may/can make media – structure. Who can/may say what – content. Global media market & policy. Who is in the info-business? (Telecoms? ISPs? Anyone with website? Disintermediation) How media impacts on IS: Media take up of ICTs to be a stronger actor. Coverage contributes to IS policy debates.

Challenging the paradigm  A key aspect of negotiating with the concept is to reject part of its assumptions –  Especially, the info-haves and info-have nots way of thinking.

Dominant paradigm 1 Info Society assumes that some countries are already Information Societies, while others lag behind in ignorance. = the “developed” (ended) & “developing”. Africans are assumed to be Info Poor, Americans/Europeans as Info Rich. Solution: build bridges to let Africans come and share in West’s achievement & knowledge. Qtn: what are the flaws in this perspective?

Dominant paradigm 2 False dualism: idea that there are two separate worlds of info-rich and info-poor: –Advanced & backward –Modern & traditional Problem 1: –What if 2 sides of same coin? Example: –3rd world dumping ground for “useless” info. –3 rd world can’t afford quality info. –1 st world “steals” 3 rd world intellectuals.

Dominant paradigm 3 Problem 2: –Is the “advanced” (Information Society) situation really more desirable? –Is the “backward” really without value? Example: –What are the human values in the 1st World? –What real “choice” in 1 st world?

Gaps The idea that (ordinary) Africans have something to say, and contribute, is absent. Indigenous knowledge and wisdom, and culture, is undervalued. The recognition that the Info Rich are ignorant about the 3 rd world is missing.

A different view Africa’s people not empty-handed entrants to IS, but can help to transform it. Not only consumers of other people’s knowledge, but also producers and contributors in our own right. Thus, Africans can help shape a global world that takes cognisance of issues otherwise not necessarily on the table.

Changing the paradigm Thus, an African contribution to shaping an ideal Information Society could highlight: –Priority for info/coms to promote peace –Priority for info/coms to put an end to poverty, –Need for abolition of racist information, –Importance of values of community, not only individualism, –Ackn importance of traditional & “old” media.

Changing the paradigm An African contribution could also highlight : –Rejecting info imperialism and colonialism, –Respect for minority languages & culture, –Info to engender solidarity with global victims of wars, famines, repression. But: there is a danger of exploitative info-mining! Intellectual property is an issue!

Policy implications How we can use the concept: –Be sensitive to the links between media, ICT, economy, occupation, culture, global networks. –Don’t treat media policy in isolation of govt policy & practice on these issues. –Be alert to cross-cutting issues – i.e. horizontal policy matters that impact on media and much more.

Policy implications How we can use the concept: –Examine how the policies of a media institution, a government and international bodies, add up in terms of relating to the whole. –Remember the African agenda in all this. –Investigate how actors who use the term “IS” understand it in terms of these issue.

What we’ve covered Information Society – its value What it detracts from & sidelines Why we can keep the concept How to revise it from an African point of view Significance of “IS” for understanding media policy matters.