So it came as no surprise when Kalathil and Boas continued to illustrate how Singapore has managed to come up with a planned Information Communication Technology (ICT) strategy for implemention and that this strategy is a combination of legal, technical and social measures –all in the effort to control the development of the Internet within the country.
As Thornton (2002) points out people are wistfully thinking that the Internet can offer a public arena free from government control and commercialism. So the word ‘control’ used in the previous paragraph may not go down well with these hopefuls.
Over the years, the Internet has without a doubt, helped China to achieve a freer state of existence for its citizens although the Chinese government still holds an iron grip as Kalathil and Boas demonstrate.
Rebecca MacKinnon attested to this notion in an online roundtable conducted by Frontline. She brought forth a point that China has approximately 15 million blogs and conversations in these same blogs have become more wide-ranging culturally and socially –something unheard of in China 20 years ago.
What MacKinnon is referring to is called ‘citizens’ media’. This phenomenon is not only happening in China, it exists in this semi-authoritarian state of Singapore. In an online roundup of 2006’s politics of Singapore’s new media, Giam (2006) wrote about the major stories that the blogosphere brought forth to the public attention.
Some of these stories were satires, there were stories that were not reported by the traditional media and other stories were intensely thought provoking. Most importantly, all stories were written by citizens and meant for the benefit of citizens. It can be said that Singaporeans are making the effort to engage in participatory democracy.
One particular blogger I made a personal hero out of is Cherian George, an assistant professor at the School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University. While other blogs that make puns out of every local issue (governmental or otherwise) are creatively entertaining, George’s entries are serious, objectively written and provoking.
His earlier blog entitled Air-Conditioned Nation was a place where he wrote essays on local matters; particularly of the local media. I remember coming across his blog while doing research for an in-class speech I had to give. I chanced upon his entry, Freedom from press –Why the media are the way they are and thought that it was one of the most thorough piece I have ever read on the government versus the media.
Now, George has moved to a new blog called Singapore Media. It was set up in September 15, 2005 and it is ranked 265, 106 on Technorati. It goes to show that the academia should never be dismissed even online.
Anybody can engage in citizens’ media. In fact, everybody is encouraged to participate in it. This is the only way Singaporeans can realise a greater democracy. Blogs like George’s offer citizens relevant information and alternative perspectives on issues that need to be addressed online because it is not possible to do so anywhere else.
As rightly put by our dear marketing instructor, Neil Holbert, “Democracy is not so much the destination, it is about the journey.” I think it is because the journey is the most exciting part about it.
References
Frontline. (2006). Roundtable The Struggle to Control Information. Retrieved March 21, 2007 from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tankman/internet/
Giam, G. (2006). Review -The politics of Singapore's new media in 2006. Retrieved March 21, 2007, from http://theonlinecitizen.com/2006/12/31/review-the-politics-of-singapores-new-media-in-2006/
Kalathil, S., &, Boas, T. C. (2001). The Internet and State Control in Authoritarian Regimes: China, Cuba, and the Counterrevolution. First Monday. Retrieved March 21, 2007, from http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue6_8/kalathil/index.html
Thornton, A. (2002). Does Internet Create Democracy. Retrieved March 23, 2007, from http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/
1 comment:
This is great info to know.
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