Around the world, the gap between those who have access to information and communication technologies and those who do not continues to widen. Issues of access to computers and the internet, literacy, technical skills, availability of quality, useful digital content all contribute to the growing digital divide.

 
In developing countries, traditional media like community radio is still the most effective communication tool. It is available in almost all countries, and reaches mass audiences cheaply and rapidly. Unlike newspapers, which limits its audience to those who can read, radio and television are said to communicate complicated messages through sound and picture, reaching out to both literate and non-literate audiences.

While traditional media like posters, folk theatre, models and charts, wall painting, billboards, publications and other printed materials are the usual Information Education Communication (IEC) materials, development workers have seen the potential of supplementing these with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools.

ICT tools such as computer systems and networks, cellular telephony, desktop publishing, multimedia production, the Internet, cable television are powerful means for reaching more people and achieving social justice and other development goals.
The convergence of broadcast, film and print media is made possible by ICT tools. Organizations can now do a multitude of tasks such as editing video documentaries, manipulating and designing digital photos and graphics for use in advocacy materials, developing databases, creating interactive computer programs, promoting the organisation’s work through websites, communicate with other organisations around the world and share online resources.

However, while the benefits of ICT-enabled projects seem vast, there are many barriers which prevent developing countries from fully utilizing it.

A study by Robert Van Koert on “E-media in development” (2003) explores the electronic media's potential contribution to social development as well as the obstacles of using this tool for rural development in less-industrialised countries. Van Koert notes the limited accessibility of E-media to people in rural areas, the limited availability of local content, and the difficulty of using non-local, mainly international, content for local purposes.

In small communities, traditional IEC tools like posters or flipcharts may be more effective and practical, given the alternative ICT option which often requires expensive equipment such as laptop computers, and LCD projectors. Connecting to the World Wide Web remains a dream for communities that are geographically isolated, without telephone lines or electricity.

Recognising ICT initiatives for social justice

With internet, ICTs and other development tools as potential tools for achieving social justice, organisations like the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) recognise projects that include the disadvantaged in their ICT initiatives.

In 2005, APC awarded their Betinho Communications Prize to a radio-telecentre project from Brasil and a community telecentre project from Chile for improving the lives of people and communities in Latin America. The Betinho Communications Prize recognises and documents outstanding examples of how the Internet can make a real difference for the world's communities today.

Brasil’s project, the "Radio-telecentre: technology for social inclusion" focuses on the disempowered Brasilian northeast, a region home to 15% of the entire poor of Latin America, with a total of 20.4 million people living in poverty. It aims to build capacity for income generation through local entrepreneurship. The project's long-term goal is to train people in areas of computer maintenance, income generation, and in return, get their equipment maintained.

The other joint-winner, the “Community Telecentres” from Redes Programme in Chile gives impoverished communities access to the benefits derived from the use of information technologies. The programme created 25 networks, among children, women, people with disabilities, and traditional fisherfolk.

Two other projects received honourable mentions – MetaReciclagem (a Metarecylcling project) from Brasil and a cultural audiovisual production and promotion initiative from Colombia.

E-Media tips

In his study on using e-media for development, Van Koert gives suggestions for future development projects, including partnerships between local radio stations and development NGOs to combine e-media in a meaningful way for the community:
- identify existing successful and popular local radio stations and subsequently focus on those independent and socially motivated local radio stations as the "anchors" of E-media facilitated rural development projects;
- investigate the feasibility of adding a television station to the radio station;
- incorporate an internet access providing facility to the radio station, including activities aimed at making people feel comfortable with using the internet and other, preferably locally available, databases;
- establish a web site to store, present and provide access to locally generated information, personal testimonies and other relevant information; and,
- establish partnerships between local development NGOs and socially motivated radio stations to collect and electronically disseminate locally generated information and for other mutual support.

While ICTs can be a worthwhile tool, Van Koert states that other factors should be considered when exploring their use. In order for ICT projects to be successful, the social, political and economic contexts of less-industrialised countries, with respect to free dissemination of information should also be taken into context.

Sources:

“Digital divide in the Commonwealth deepens inequalities” released December 15, 2005. CNIS - Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 265, 14 December 2005. Commonwealth Secretariat <http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Templates/System/LatestNews.asp?NodeID=147788>.

“Brazil and Chile, that open doors to excluded, win 2005 Betinho Prize.” APCNews posted on December 19, 2005 <http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=3029730>.

“How digital partners helps bridge digital Divide - Meet the champions: DG interview with Dr. Akhtar Badshah.” Published on October 16, 2002.

About ICTs

Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) facilitate, through electronic means, the creation, storage, management and distribution of information.

ICTs encompass a wide spectrum of communications software, including: television, radio, internet, satellite technology, computer systems and networks, cellular telephony, desktop publishing, multimedia production and others.

Old and new forms of ICTs have emerged through the years. Old forms include newspapers, radios and televisions, while the newer forms of ICTs involve satellites, networked computers and the internet.

Sources:
“ICT.” Ongkiko, Ila Virgina C. & Flor, Alexander G. (1998) UP Open University. Introduction to Development Communication.

M/Cyclopedia of New Media. <http://wiki.media-culture.org.au/index.php/Youth_Culture_and_New_Technologies_-_Usefulness_of_ICT's>.

“Youth Culture and New Technologies – Usefulness of ICTs” developed by KCB336 New Media Technologies students in the Creative Industries Faculty, Queensland University of Technology.