Barriers to Information Access

From KLAMediaWiki

Title:Barriers to Information Acccess

Organisers:Way Africa-Addresses ICTs and Media in Africa

Summary of Key Issues Discussed.

Access for information for the poor and for the rich Gap--Digital Divide

Challenges for Africa

Policy

Technology

Audiences

Policy

Even Governments own media its an extension of the ruling party in government.

Forward looking policies that are against people's ownership.

Dilution/Limit the peoples influence and ownership

Deliberate policies that emphasize pluralism in media i.e Public/community media

We can ensure a fair policy in the media

Fear of threats by governements i.e fear of having local voices in partnership

Policies on content.

Technology

Technophobia of our politicians

Resistence from the old times in meida faced by young ones.

Audiences

Audience have no access to the internet

Consumption of information is mostly through local media e.g Radio,TVs and newspapers No access to the internet and what we publicise online.

Issues Audience is a threat

Political Responses-Pan AFricanisms,news agency was a set up to counter south-North News agencies i.e News exchanges

Government,s response to the poor

Africans leaders are good at signing policies but do n ot implement/support them and they die a natural death

These projects are given private owners to run and this makes it expensive.

Civic response-initiatives and reponses are not sustainable because they depend on donor funding.

Six key issues African governments and media should address

Access/Availability of what is available cost to the access these technologies

Citizenship faces consumerism our governnment policies should ensure state dedicates resourrces to ensure access to information ot citizens instead of Music and adversts.

North-south Relationship interrogation because of globalisation. What alternatives do we want in place of the current globalilsation

Diversity and Pluralism _Range of voices and diverse ownership of the media.

Public media/Community media and not governemnt extension media

We need to help our governments to come up with the necessary environments/best practices Necessary legislation