problematizing media development guy berger rhodes university south africa
TRANSCRIPT
Problematizing media development
Guy Berger
Rhodes University
South Africa
Covering:
1.Context
2.Concepts
3.What & who
4.Foreign policy
5.Development-democracy assumptions
6.Old media & nation-state assumptions
1. Context
Unesco 2007 “indicators” GFMD Center for National Media Assistance MDLF African Media Initiative
2. Concepts
Not “media and/for development” (though linked)
Not “ICT4D” Not so much organic development, or
indirect subsidy (eg. US post & dereg) but interventions.
An activity/process AND a destination “Media assistance” less loaded
2.1 Skirting the issues
UNESCO 5 categories: Conducive legal environment Plural ownership Democratic performance Capacity (skill & organisations) Public access
Circular: 5= “MD” and “MD” = 5
2.2 Pinpointing the problem
Need an over-arching logic Akin to equating vote + rule of law +
free press to “democracy” Eg. of the problem - would cellphone
penetration count as MD? We need more abstract definition of MD And to rise above the normative of
eg.UNESCO approach.
2.3 Pinpointing the problem
Else, do we say a country falls short of MD because it lacks PBS or Community media?
UNESCO: can have MGrowth sans MD Need a common currency for minimum
elements – eg. journalists per 1000. Normative then comes later “Media density” is a better concept
2.3 Avoiding relativism
Otherwise, MD means whatever you want, even in regard to a democratic role:
French: state involvement NB; British: public broadcasting; Canadians: mixed model; US: privately-owned press
- Francis Kasoma
3. Interventions: what and who?
Normatively driven Focus is on Journalism devt, more than Media devt.
Various inputs (money, info, training,kit) Range of players: govt bodies,
foundations, religious groups, universities, consultancies, NGOs, INGOs, local bodies.
4. Foreign policy
Export of media norms, plus.. Assumed means to political end “Foreign policy of media space” Cold War and “war on terror” Marginalising of media role in
development ends. Rising awareness of media and conflict Fads, fashions, fluctuations…
5. Democracy & devt assumptions
Media effects are presumed, not much evaluation.
Democratic media correllated with reduced corruption, although not necessarily.
Democracy – for elites, or participatory makes a difference re: type of media.
Devt: famine correllation; but HIV?
6. Old media thinking
Media as hypodermic effects. Media as professional institutions. Media with a classic business model.
But… New Media up-ends this: Telecoms critical … or are they? Convergence vis-a-vis old media. Mediatisation of groups & individuals. Transnational characteristics...
7. Conclusion
Media Development a growing issue. Conceptual circularity, normativity. Media Assistance and Media Density. Who does what. “MD industry” and foreign policy Media effects problematisation. New media problematisation. Does “journalism” itself get problematised?
1. Context