Over the past few years the related issues of the importance of
knowledge for development and of the digital divide have achieved
an important position on the international agenda. Despite the
interest, the enormity of the divide between the countries and
sectors that have access and those that do not makes it virtually
impossible that it will be eliminated with purely technical
solutions.
Given this divide, if rural Africa is to harness knowledge for
development, it will have to do so with new strategies, different
technologies, and by building on the strengths it already has.
Research has shown that systems for networking information and
knowledge are most effective when building on existing local
information systems, incorporating community intermediaries
� institutions and individuals that serve as a bridge between
the Internet and the community. Radio is already established as a
key component of local information systems and has the
characteristics that make a good intermediary � "proximity,
trust and knowledge (including the ability to combine
'techknowledge' about ICT with 'context knowledge' about the
environment in which it is used".
Over the past five years three ways of combining radio and
Internet for development and democracy have emerged.
- National, regional and global networks of independent
broadcasters have been established;
- Individual stations have used the Internet to find useful
information for their communities, and then interpreted that
information for the community, establishing themselves as gateways
to the Internet;
- Stations have used the Internet to facilitate communication
with emigrants, enabling communities and cultures to
continue to flourish, despite the new configurations and
locations imposed on them by globalisation.
The paper concludes with the observation that technology is
neither an unavoidable barrier nor a panacea. Communication
technologies and practices are changing. The rural radio/Internet
combination presents an opportunity to mix the best of the two
media and Next-generation Rural Radio can be a powerful
tool, combining research and reflection to harness knowledge for
development and democracy.
[Full
paper] [Mixed Media - Medios Enteros]
