I've been doing some reading on public opinion for a paper I'm writing for my PhD and I got to thinking about whether there is really public opinion today. I'm using public opinion in the way the term was first used: a collective 'truth' or belief amongst a group of citizens and traditionally these came about in public meeting places. As these meeting places started to become obsolete, the media began to take up that mantle and convey public opinion (though its questionable whether it portrayed public opinion that was generated by the public).
So can we say there is such a thing as public opinion today? The mass media are all dominated by big business and conglomerates and if they are conveying 'public opinion' then it might be more like public profit. Can we say the Internet is the new meeting place for the public to generate their collective view? I'm not so sure. The blogosphere for sure is not a space of public opinion, its a few (and in the bigger scheme of things it really is a small number) ranters going on about their own personal issues and gripes, daily lives, life changing moments etc. There doesnt seem to be a collective voice and we dont really seem to be talking about anything of any real importance! Bring back Public Opinion.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Highway Africa 2007
For the first time in many years I've had to miss the biggest gathing of ICT journalists in Africa, the annual Highway Africa conference. Unfortunately I also haven't had much time to follow the goings-on so am not able to comment on the conference this year. I was invited to do some training before the conference, but due to the fact that I was registering for my PhD at the same time it was impossible to take up the opportunity (despite the fact that I really wanted to go).
The conference, which took place between 10 and 12 September in Grahamstown (South Africa) was always an interesting event. Not only was it a meeting place of media enthusiasts (journalists, owners, media scholars, civil society organisations), but also a meeting place of old friends - it always felt like a bit of a reunion because many of the same people would attend year after year. While this could lead to a bit of stagnation in terms of the ideas beings generated and debated, it also meant those attending could always find a familiar face amongst the delegates (not always something easy to do at conferences).
Looking through the list of speakers, I see many familiar faces, faces I would have liked to greet and meet up with again. And, surprisingly, many that haven't been on the programme before, who would have been equally exciting to greet and meet. Hopefully next year I'll be in attendence and can give my own account, but for now have to count on the writings of others.
The conference was, as usual, covered by its news agency (the Highway Africa News Agency, HANA) so you can read all about at their website. Unfortunately you have to register to read the full stories which is a pity and something I never really agreed with when newspapers or news organisations did it on their web content. Although there is no subscription fee, many people are opposed to the bit of time it takes to enter details for registering and are often deterred from doing so which is a pity.
The conference, which took place between 10 and 12 September in Grahamstown (South Africa) was always an interesting event. Not only was it a meeting place of media enthusiasts (journalists, owners, media scholars, civil society organisations), but also a meeting place of old friends - it always felt like a bit of a reunion because many of the same people would attend year after year. While this could lead to a bit of stagnation in terms of the ideas beings generated and debated, it also meant those attending could always find a familiar face amongst the delegates (not always something easy to do at conferences).
Looking through the list of speakers, I see many familiar faces, faces I would have liked to greet and meet up with again. And, surprisingly, many that haven't been on the programme before, who would have been equally exciting to greet and meet. Hopefully next year I'll be in attendence and can give my own account, but for now have to count on the writings of others.
The conference was, as usual, covered by its news agency (the Highway Africa News Agency, HANA) so you can read all about at their website. Unfortunately you have to register to read the full stories which is a pity and something I never really agreed with when newspapers or news organisations did it on their web content. Although there is no subscription fee, many people are opposed to the bit of time it takes to enter details for registering and are often deterred from doing so which is a pity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)