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Dialogue and Public Space: An Exploration of Radio and Information Communications Technologies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2005

Ann Dale  and
Ted Naylor
Ann Dale
Affiliation:
Royal Roads University
Ted Naylor
Affiliation:
University of Alberta
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Abstract

Abstract. The use of internet technologies, specifically interactive electronic dialogues, has the potential to revive the shrinking Canadian public sphere. Precedent for this assertion can be found in the historical effect of radio technology. The development of Canadian radio forums in the twentieth century such as the National Farm Radio Forum and the Citizen's Forum provided a crude two way interactive medium that helped to shape collective Canadian norms and values. The internet holds the potential to reintroduce national dialogues and reinvigorate the public sphere at a time when Canadians both need and want to address national issues such as environmental concerns and sustainable development. As such dialogue occurs in a “cyberspace” removed from the limitations of physical geography, internet dialogues allow participants from widely diverse groups to come together, surmounting traditional barriers to interaction. Though the danger exists that internet technologies will be abused to reinforce passive static forms of communication, the potential for highly interactive two way dialogue holds the promise of bringing the public into timely and necessary debates on public policy.

Résumé. L'utilisation des technologies de l'Internet, spécifiquement les dialogues électroniques interactifs, a la capacité de ranimer le public canadien. Cette affirmation peut être prouvée en constatant l'effet historique de la technologie de la radio : au vingtième siècle, le développement canadien des tribunes radiophoniques tels que le forum de la ferme nationale et celui des citoyens ont aidé à mettre sur pied un média permettant un dialogue direct entre les participants sur les normes et les valeurs canadiennes collectives. L'Internet a la capacité de réintroduire les dialogues et de revigorer le public national à un moment où les Canadiens ont besoin et veulent discuter des problèmes nationaux tels que l'environnement et le développement durable. Lorsqu'un tel dialogue se produit dans un “ Cyberespace ”, les limites géographiques sont éliminées et ceci permet à des groupes de divers participants de s'unir, surmontant les barrières de communication traditionnelles. Bien que le danger existe où les technologies de l'Internet pourraient être abusées pour ainsi renforcer les formes passives et statiques de communication, le potentiel pour un média permettant un dialogue direct promet de rassembler le public pour des discussions nécessaires sur l'ordre public.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 38 , Issue 1 , March 2005 , pp. 203 - 225
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

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