26 Feb 2024 Digital platforms versus democratic political discourse: Challenges and the way forward
Seán Ó Siochrú and Anita Gurumurthy At the turn of this century, many in civil society believed we were witnessing the dawn of a new era for the public sphere, one where the internet could realise the promise of a communication space where all voices...
14 Feb 2022 In what ways has the digital era changed the notion of public space?
Working Group An international working group prepared the following paper for the symposium on “Communication for Social Justice in the Digital Age”, which took place in Berlin and online September 13-15, 2021. It sets out an understanding of public space today, outlines what issues are...
04 Aug 2021 It’s time to reclaim a ‘credible, inclusive and trustworthy’ public sphere
The latest issue of WACC’s Media Development magazine examines the concept of public sphere, its role in promoting democracy and political accountability, and why principles of human rights and social justice must underpin it. In “Democratizing the Public Sphere,” WACC General Secretary and Media Development...02 Aug 2021 Democratizing the public sphere
By Philip Lee Digital connectivity has transformed the notion of the “public sphere”. This is true at all levels: global, regional, national, community, and personal, where digital technologies have become ever more present and integral. Before digital, media and communication ecosystems that contributed to public...02 Aug 2021 Reclaiming a feminist digital public sphere from the margins
By Deepti Bharthur and Ankita Aggarwal “Because of the greatness of our city, the fruits of the whole earth flow in upon us,” proclaimed Pericles, one of the founding figures of the Athenian democratic city-state. In a eulogy for the fallen soldiers of the Peloponnesian...
11 Aug 2019 Towards an intersectional analysis of media, communication and social progress
This article responds to the International Panel on Social Progress (IPSP) chapter on “Media, Communication, and the Struggle for Social Progress”. I argue that in order to advance the IPSP’s goals of progress towards a media system that advances human capabilities, we must name specific forms of structural oppression; that the IPSP should develop an intersectional analysis of media representation, employment, and ownership; that online hate speech must be addressed; and that the “filter bubble” critique ignores the importance of subaltern counter-publics, although state and corporate propaganda is indeed a real problem. I urge application of a design justice lens and identify free software as one important tool. And I call attention to media policy proposals by social movements.
13 May 2019 Communication is inscribed in human nature
In 1999, in a landmark essay, WACC’s former Director of Studies and Publications and Editor of its journal Media Development, Fr Michael Traber, explored the philosophical basis for communication in society. In doing so, he linked the right to communicate with other social and political rights and with a democratic body politic.
09 Aug 2018 Media Development 2018/3 Editorial
“What the churches say about communication is not half as important as what they do,” wrote Michael Traber in the editorial of the 1/1984 issue of WACC’s journal Media Development. Its theme was “Church Statements on Communication” and it included “Communicating Credibly” – the declaration of the 1983 Vancouver Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC).