Mäkinen, Maarit. “Digital Empowerment as a Process for Enhancing Citizens’ Participation.” E-Learning and Digital Media, vol. 3, no. 3, Sept. 2006, pp. 381–395, doi:10.2304/elea.2006.3.3.381.
The author rejects standard top-down authoritarian policymaking in information technology and advocates for a citizen and community-oriented approach to using information technology. Her idea of digital empowerment is in which people are more participant members of society, rather than consumer-based ones. This empowerment comes from better networking, communication and cooperation opportunities, in order for individuals to come together as influential participants in their society.
Makinen rejects the idea that in this information world, people’s roles revolve around adapting to changing circumstances and receiving from higher authorities. She argues that people must not be seen in this role of only adapters, as then they become subjects of the top-down power hierarchy, incapable of participating and making differences in society. People must be ready to participate meaningfully and that requires technical abilities and civic knowledge on influencing decision making, such as access to political platforms for voting.
In order to do this, people must invest in equipment and training so that they are able to communicate and participate equally. Those who are excluded from the information society are those that could increase their welfare by using technology but don’t have the chance or ability to do so. Information technology can be a tool for empowerment and enriching participation in three ways. By allowing us to diversify our information flows, we should be able to access not only media from our country but others too, sources such as Al-Jazeera, BBC and others. Allowing horizontal communication, expanding our abilities to come together and organize as a community in order to have our problems heard. And opening opportunities for marginal or remote areas and people, allows those of us who need the most assistance to be able to participate.
Works Cited:
‘23 National Political Party Platforms | The American Presidency Project’ <https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/presidential-documents-archive-guidebook/national-political-party-platforms>
‘Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera’ <https://www.aljazeera.com/>
Baltruschat, Doris. “Television and Canada’s Aboriginal Communities: Seeking Opportunities through Traditional Storytelling and Digital Technologies.” Canadian Journal of Communication 29.1 (2004): 47-59. ProQuest. Web. 4 Apr. 2020.
In this paper, Doris Baltruschat speaks about the development of First Nation participation in the media of television and film, mainly concerned with the APTN and the future of online media. Since the 2000s there has been a proliferation of First Nation film and television due to the emergence of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). These types of broadcast technologies allow the transmission of non-indigenous cultural and social values into communities and often become the main source of entertainment and culture for the youth, and contributed to social disintegration and cultural hybridization. Though there is programming provided by the CBC for Indigenous broadcasts, it was delivered during unpopular hours and primarily dominated by non-indigenous programming. APTN’s primary goal is to benefit the Aboriginal people in the North, increasing communications and promoting culture.
A concern mentioned by Baltruschatis the potential of the commodification of First Nation life through the mainstream media buy selling it as “exotic”. And with that exists the conflict between a desire to document their way of life and to create a cultural media product that appeals to a mainstream audience and can be profitable. Even APTN faces the same problems that big network operations face. It focuses on the production of one-hour and serial documentaries. It also has similar financial and commercial aspects, as they are crucial income, when many of the traditional sources for First Nations no longer exist.
Baltruschat agrees that digital media would be able to provide a better alternative for production and distribution. With Aboriginal producers experiencing a resurgence of culture by combining the traditional storytelling methods and new digital technology. This could be a great attempt at retaining and preserving their culture, as we see with accessibility to documentaries and other media, such as music, created by professionals and youth in First Nation communities.
Works Cited:
‘APTN’, APTN<https://www.aptn.ca/>
‘CBC North | Aboriginal Radio On Demand’ <https://www.cbc.ca/north/features/indigenous-radio/>
Ottenhof, Luke, ‘Go with the Floe: Inside the Ice-Cool Inuit Pop Scene’, The Guardian, 24 May 2019, section Music <https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/may/24/go-with-the-floe-inside-the-ice-cool-inuit-pop-scene>
‘Television and Canada’s Aboriginal Communities: Seeking Opportunities through Traditional Storytelling and Digital Technologies – ProQuest’ <https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/docview/219616252?accountid=14656&pq-origsite=summon>