Modernisation & Modernisation & Africa’s emerging Africa’s emerging engagement with engagement with the Information the Information

Society.Society.

“AfroGEEKS: Global Blackness and the Digital Public Sphere”, University of California, Santa Barbara. May 19 – 25, 2005.

Guy Guy

BergerBerger

Rhodes University, South AfricaRhodes University, South Africa

Sivu MzamoSivu Mzamo

Invented cycle-powered Invented cycle-powered cellphone chargercellphone charger

Story symbolises:Story symbolises:– tech grasp, tech grasp,

empowerment, economic empowerment, economic rights, development rights, development significance, and a significance, and a culture spin.culture spin.

COMING UP:COMING UP:

1.1. Theory: Media & DevelopmentTheory: Media & Development

2.2. Research 1: ICTs in newsroomsResearch 1: ICTs in newsrooms

3.3. Research 2: Coverage of IS policyResearch 2: Coverage of IS policy

4.4. Highway AfricaHighway Africa

5.5. ConclusionConclusion

SECTION 1: THEORYSECTION 1: THEORY

Development “business”Development “business”– Subject-object; developer-developeeSubject-object; developer-developee– Western-style destinationWestern-style destination

Paradigms: Paradigms: – ModernisationModernisation– DependistaDependista– ParticipatoryParticipatory

Modernisation paradigmModernisation paradigm

Assumption of desirable devt:Assumption of desirable devt:Urban, affluent, informed, rational. Urban, affluent, informed, rational.

Cause: exposure to the “modern”Cause: exposure to the “modern” Media as “magic bullet” (1 way flow)Media as “magic bullet” (1 way flow) Temp hurdle: tech haves, have-notsTemp hurdle: tech haves, have-nots In ICTs, the Digital Divide (widening)In ICTs, the Digital Divide (widening) Answer: Answer: disseminatedisseminate (Rogers) (Rogers)

Media = force for Media = force for

underunderdevelopment, not development, not development.development.

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

Rather: break dependencyRather: break dependency Use media for national developmentUse media for national development = Nationalisation, devt journalism= Nationalisation, devt journalism

Challenge! DependistasChallenge! Dependistas

33rdrd approach: participatory approach: participatory

Developees should define devtDevelopees should define devt Need human rights and democracyNeed human rights and democracy People are subjects, just need capacityPeople are subjects, just need capacity Not recipients, but message makers tooNot recipients, but message makers too = Horizontal comms critical= Horizontal comms critical Focus on community radioFocus on community radio

The ‘new’ ICTsThe ‘new’ ICTs

Internet, cellular (mobile)Internet, cellular (mobile) IndividualIndividual & & massmass media media Not only participatory, interactiveNot only participatory, interactive View of “ICT4D”View of “ICT4D” Dominant strand: - access to “global” Dominant strand: - access to “global”

(i.e. Western) knowledge(i.e. Western) knowledge InfoInfostructure needed (modernisation)structure needed (modernisation)

Synthesising paradigms & ICTsSynthesising paradigms & ICTs

Modernisation: yes, some info is NBModernisation: yes, some info is NB Dependista: yes, need local infoDependista: yes, need local info Participatory: yes, “louder voices” Participatory: yes, “louder voices”

reaching the “info-haves”reaching the “info-haves” Still 3 questionable assumptions:Still 3 questionable assumptions:

– ICTs neutral (but can be –ve?); ICTs neutral (but can be –ve?); – ICTs disseminate ex-centre (but bottom-up?)ICTs disseminate ex-centre (but bottom-up?)– Info = power (interests more fundamental?)Info = power (interests more fundamental?)

SECTION 2: RESEARCH SECTION 2: RESEARCH STUDIESSTUDIES

PARADIGM SYNTHESISPARADIGM SYNTHESIS– Uneven mix, modernisation still on Uneven mix, modernisation still on

toptop Research 1: ICTs in newsroomsResearch 1: ICTs in newsrooms Research 2: Coverage of ICT policyResearch 2: Coverage of ICT policy Findings: give credence to Findings: give credence to

modernisation paradigm’s modernisation paradigm’s relevancerelevance

General: journos & ICTsGeneral: journos & ICTs

Barely use cameraphones, PDAs.Barely use cameraphones, PDAs. Poorly skilled at web research.Poorly skilled at web research. Inadequate access in newsrooms.Inadequate access in newsrooms. Not multi-skilling, SABC bi-media Not multi-skilling, SABC bi-media

reversed.reversed. CMS deployment is rare.CMS deployment is rare. Negligible convergence of native & Negligible convergence of native &

online newsrooms. online newsrooms. Websites just hanging in there. Websites just hanging in there.

Research 1: ICTs in newsroomsResearch 1: ICTs in newsrooms

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

Drew from Drew from Modernisation:Modernisation:– ICTs increase ICTs increase

productivityproductivity– Early adopters NB.Early adopters NB.

9 Southern African countries,MA student project (IDRC)

Research 1: findingsResearch 1: 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 Critical of content and languageCritical of content and language Interpretation: “catch-up!” Interpretation: “catch-up!”

(Modernistn)(Modernistn)

Research 2: ICT policy Research 2: ICT policy coveragecoverage

Public sphere, agenda-setting, Public sphere, agenda-setting, framingframing

Six countries (Catia)Six countries (Catia) Most have, or developing, an ICT Most have, or developing, an ICT

policypolicy Minimal coverage (except Minimal coverage (except

Ethiopia)Ethiopia) Seen as tech/business storySeen as tech/business story No gender or Info Society No gender or Info Society

concernsconcerns

Research 2: Research 2:

Framing as simple Framing as simple liberalisation/privatisationliberalisation/privatisation

““Africa is behind” – catch-up ethos. Africa is behind” – catch-up ethos. ICTs seen as side-issue to democracy and ICTs seen as side-issue to democracy and

developmentdevelopment Grasp of media role in political policy, but Grasp of media role in political policy, but

not see role in ICTs and IS policy.not see role in ICTs and IS policy. Reinforces modernisation view: media Reinforces modernisation view: media

“don’t get it”.“don’t get it”.

Summing up:Summing up:

Research 1: need access and trainingResearch 1: need access and training Research 2: need education and Research 2: need education and

sensitisationsensitisation No sense of Africa’s info richesNo sense of Africa’s info riches No sense of participatory possibilitiesNo sense of participatory possibilities = i.e. an empty space!= i.e. an empty space!

SECTION 3: HIGHWAY SECTION 3: HIGHWAY AFRICAAFRICA

Highway Africa history: Highway Africa history:

2001: all African countries connected2001: all African countries connected 1997: HA commenced – 65 people1997: HA commenced – 65 people 2004: 430 external delegs, 17 2004: 430 external delegs, 17

sponsorssponsors Aims:Aims:

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

Conf. themes: Conf. themes:

9797 New media 2000New media 2000

9898 Bringing the highway southBringing the highway south

9999 Net, media & democracyNet, media & democracy

Conf. themes: Conf. themes:

20002000 Africa’s new Africa’s new media centurymedia century

20012001 Digital Digital renaissancerenaissance

Conf. themes: Conf. themes:

20022002 Wiring journalism for Wiring journalism for development (wssd)development (wssd)

20032003 Mainstreaming media in the Mainstreaming media in the Information Society (wsis)Information Society (wsis)

20042004 Media making the Information Media making the Information SocietySociety

20052005 Reinforcing journalism in the Reinforcing journalism in the Information SocietyInformation Society

Highway Africa since 2000: Highway Africa since 2000:

Award for innovationAward for innovation ExhibitionsExhibitions SABC as co-hostSABC as co-host Newsroom of the FutureNewsroom of the Future Website, daily paperWebsite, daily paper Radio, TV, cellularRadio, TV, cellular

HA content management HA content management systemsystem

Going open source:Going open source:

2004: Highway Africa vision: 2004: Highway Africa vision:

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

Highway Africa mission: Highway Africa mission:

sensitizesensitize journalists on role of ICT in journalists on role of ICT in society & media;society & media;

traintrain journalists & journalism teachers in journalists & journalism teachers in understanding & using technology to understanding & using technology to access, generate and distribute access, generate and distribute information;information;

networknetwork journalists, & link them with key journalists, & link them with key stakeholders (academics, policy makers, stakeholders (academics, policy makers, civil society etc)civil society etc)

Networking examplesNetworking examples

Highway Africa mission Highway Africa mission cntd: cntd:

AdvocateAdvocate for a media & technology for a media & technology environment which enables journalists to environment which enables journalists to play their full role in democracy and play their full role in democracy and developmentdevelopment

ResearchResearch the use and impact of ICTs in the use and impact of ICTs in Africa with particular ref to the mediaAfrica with particular ref to the media

PublishPublish and disseminate research and and disseminate research and information across a range of platformsinformation across a range of platforms

CelebrateCelebrate innovation & excellence & to innovation & excellence & to promote better practice thru peer reviewpromote better practice thru peer review

Celebrate example - Celebrate example - awards:awards:

Highway Africa Highway Africa programmes: programmes:

Five complementary Five complementary interventions:interventions:

1.1.ResearchResearch2.2.TrainingTraining3.3.Policy reformPolicy reform4.4.InformationInformation5.5.ConferenceConference

1. HA research1. HA research

Viability of news-sites;Viability of news-sites; Web software used;Web software used; Africa Media Online booklet (& Africa Media Online booklet (&

French)French) Goldmine for journalists (booklet)Goldmine for journalists (booklet) Configuring convergence (booklet)Configuring convergence (booklet) 05: Content management in 6 05: Content management in 6

states. states.

2. HA training2. HA training

Conference workshops x 20 p.a.Conference workshops x 20 p.a.

2003: 10 day intro course;2003: 10 day intro course; 2004: 2004:

Intro course (22 journos)Intro course (22 journos) Advanced course to IS (26);Advanced course to IS (26);

2004: Advocacy (Kenya)2004: Advocacy (Kenya) 2005: Zim online, short courses.2005: Zim online, short courses.

Training: to report on, and useTraining: to report on, and use

Digital techDigital tech PolicyPolicy Internet governanceInternet governance Intellectual propertyIntellectual property Indigenous Indigenous

knowledgeknowledge ICT reportingICT reporting

3. HA advocacy3. HA advocacy

Objective: to expand media role as Objective: to expand media role as stakeholder in IS policies: stakeholder in IS policies: – Conference DeclarationsConference Declarations

““03 Media & the Info Society”03 Media & the Info Society”

– WSIS prepcomsWSIS prepcoms– IS policy databaseIS policy database

4. Information - HANA4. Information - HANA

HANA history:HANA history:

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

2003: WSIS – prepcoms, Geneva x 252003: WSIS – prepcoms, Geneva x 25 2004: Africa Telecoms, WSIS prepcom, 2004: Africa Telecoms, WSIS prepcom,

Aitec, Marrakesh, Icann. x 20Aitec, Marrakesh, Icann. x 20 2005: Accra prepcom, Tunis in Nov 2005: Accra prepcom, Tunis in Nov

200 outlets …200 outlets …

5: Conference:5: Conference:

Pulling it all together: Pulling it all together: Conference objective: Conference objective: To create a platform To create a platform

for sharing information, knowledge and for sharing information, knowledge and experience in media and ICTs and to experience in media and ICTs and to celebrate excellencecelebrate excellence

Research feeds training, and conference;Research feeds training, and conference; Training feeds HANA; Training feeds HANA; All feed advocacy.All feed advocacy.

For HA, Info Society spans: For HA, Info Society spans:

freedom for new freedom for new && old media. old media. quality of information, African voices, quality of information, African voices,

policy issues. policy issues. global ICT potential. global ICT potential.

And: it frames this big picAnd: it frames this big pic = Participatory paradigm in practice! = Participatory paradigm in practice!

SECTION 5: CONCLUSIONSECTION 5: CONCLUSION

Modernisation, dependista, Modernisation, dependista, participatory paradigms.participatory paradigms.

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 Intervention to empower and make space.space.

Prognosis:Prognosis:

Not just what Info Soc can do for Not just what Info Soc can do for Africa, but vice versa as well.Africa, but vice versa as well.

Media a vital bridge from First to Media a vital bridge from First to Third Third and backand back;;

New media esp critical – New media esp critical – – African elitesAfrican elites– Link to mass audience via old media.Link to mass audience via old media.

But question: But question: tech flow; tech neutrality; info power.tech flow; tech neutrality; info power.

Thank youThank you

Guy BergerGuy Berger

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

http://www.highwayafrica.ru.ac..zahttp://www.highwayafrica.ru.ac..za