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Chair: Dr Lee Salter
Groups and individuals: blogging as technological and informal ways for overseas Chinese
Chen Li, University of Glasgow
golden shield project, chinese internet, blogging, web dissidents
The so-called ‘Golden Shield Project’, elaborately developed by the Chinese government, aims at isolating Chinese netizens, the statistically second largest worldwide, from any forms of official-allegedly ‘harmful contents’, especially in terms of sensitive-related topics of human rights. It can also block certain webpages if IP addresses from abroad are detected. Significantly, for those Chinese living abroad, also keep keen on the political development inside China but have been suffering from the problem of lack of credible information sources and discussion platforms. This research will select a series of news of ‘arresting of political dissidents’ from the blogs both at group and individual levels, as the text analysis resources, then placing emphasis on the ways in which people get connected and involved with discussions. In this process, it will analyse different interpretations, associated with different bloggers’ ideologies and political values, trying to find how those information sources and communication ways interact through the internet technology of blogs. Finally, it will explore the underlying reasons why those techniques have to be promoted in the unique case of China and call for again for freeing of news and information in China.
'Have your say' and then what? Civic Engagement, BBC News Online and the 2005 General Election
Einar Thorsen, University of the West of England, Bristol
online journalism, elections, democracy, interactivity
This paper will explore how the BBC used its online presence to facilitate a space for citizens to engage in dialogic interaction during the 2005 UK General Election. In particular, focus will be placed on the Have your say section, which was the core interactive feature where citizens were given freedom to publish their comments on a range of topics. The paper will consider the extent to which the BBC fulfilled their own ambition of delivering ‘democratic value’ and ‘civic engagement’ during the election, in the context of how such forms of Internet use might help initiate a deliberative democracy. The research centres on a critical analysis of user contributions and content from BBC News, contextualised by a critique of policy documents and interviews with members of the BBC Interactivity team.
This paper forms part of a larger project looking at the BBC's online provision during the 2005 election.
Internet use by trade unions in Turkey: a case study on DISK
Gulum Sener, Beykent University (Turkey)
internet, public sphere, trade unions, democratization
According to information society theorists, the technological potential of internet allows a positive transformation in social life. For instance, in the political arena, internet is seen as a tool which creates a global public sphere with its features constrasting mainstream media, such as relative cheapness, more horizontal and democratic flow of information, interactivity, multimedia facilities etc. and helps to revitalize democracy by supporting political participation. The established institutions such as trade unions, which are rooted in modern democracy, face a variety of changes with the implementation of new information and communication technologies. Internet promises more global, transparent, decentralized, democratic and less bureaucratized communication among trade unions’ members. This study aims at analyzing advantages and limits of the use of internet, focusing on D?SK (Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions), one of the ancient trade unions in Turkey, which has existed since 1967. What are the technological, political, economical and cultural barriers the trade union members face while they use internet? Do they create virtual communities? Does the trade union become more global and democratic with the use of internet? Does internet really facilitate the process of political participation and decision taking among members? The methodology consists of in-depht interviews with union’s moderators and also an on-line survey which will reveal the relationships between political activities and the use of internet by members.
Panel 1: Imperialism and Globalisation
Panel 2: Online Citizens and Democracy
Panel 3: Television Audiences
Panel 4: Mediating Identity 1
Panel 5: Reporting the Conflict
Panel 6: Journalism and Social Responsibility
Panel 7: Sexual Representations in Cinema
Panel 8: Popular Culture
Panel 9: Still Image
Panel 10: Branding, Advertising and Corporate Cultures
Panel 11: Film and Theatre
Panel 12: Alternative Film
Panel 13: Feminism, Gender and Identity
Panel 14: Fan Culture and Online Audiences
Panel 15: Public Service Broadcasting and Radio
Panel 16: Design for Screen
Panel 17: Uses of Music and Sound in Film
Panel 18: Mediating Identity 2
Panel 19: Citizens, Interaction and the Public Interest |
