Transcript Media for Democracy and Development

Media for Democracy and Development
Professor Robin Mansell
London School of Economics and Political Science
LSE Alumnae, New Delhi, July 2009
What kind of media, democratisation and
development is wanted?
The promise of technological innovation – the
economist’s view
“Knowledge has been at the heart of economic growth
and the gradual rise in levels of social well-being since
time immemorial. The ability invent and innovate, that
is to create new knowledge and new ideas that are
then embodied in products, processes and
organizations, has always served to fuel
development”.
(Paul A David
and Dominique Foray 2003).
Some see media and development as being
about technology only.
We start with Development and
Democracy
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Authoritarian democracy
Partial democracy
Liberal representative democracy
Participatory democracy
– Each is context specific and has different
implications for the media and for
development.
Models of Media and Democratisation
• Media as distribution channels
• Media as actors and agents
– Agenda setting
– Framing
– Supportive or critical
Media and Democratisation
• Transformation from propaganda machine to
(pluralistic) democratic forum.
• Delay of media legislation due to overload.
• Media policy often one of the most contentious
issues.
• Disputes over control of the media (esp.
Broadcasting).
• Conflicts over the role of the media in an emerging
democracy.
• Growing hostility between government and media.
Media and Citizen Roles
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Citizen as video reporter
Citizen as part of a TV forum
Citizen as analyst
Citizen as campaigning journalist
Tools:
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SMS and email
Online video
Online databases
Social networking
Media and Political Empowerment
• New voices and protest movements.
• New communicative practices.
• Greater equality of hubs and spokes of
networks.
• Local media content production.
• Multiple spheres of influence.
Media and Democratisation:
Empowerment or passivity?
Whether networked insurgent
communities can change ‘hearts
and minds’ is tempered by the way
dominant actors manage to create
new electronic enclosures to
contain these communities.
Manuel Castells, 2009
Media and Development
• Cultural diversity - plurality in all social spheres
of activity.
• Governance for inclusion and poverty reduction.
• Education contributing to well-being and choice.
• Dignity, equal and inalienable rights &
entitlements.
• Participatory media – what does this really mean?
Media research
Media & Cultural
Diversity
Media &
Governance
Human Rights, Media and Communication
Access and Literacy
Participatory Media and Communication
Representation by Media
Strategic Media Policies and Action Plans
Monitoring Media for Development
Research Methods
Media &
Professional
Education
Conclusions
• No universal model of democracy.
• Weak democratic institutions are a threat to
the independence of the media.
• Conflictual and irresponsible media can be a
threat to a fragile democracy.
• Local forms of journalism emerge.
• Weak PSB and commercialisation leads to
the absence of a forum for public debate.