Liberation Technology in El Salvador

Re-appropriating Social Media among Alternative Media Projects

verfasst von: Summer Harlow

Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" , Springer Professional "Technik"

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Über dieses Buch

This ethnographic study explores how four alternative media projects in El Salvador integrated digital technologies—particularly social media—into their practices, and whether incorporating these technologies affected citizen participation not only in the media production process, but in a broader discursive sphere of civic and political life as well. Summer Harlow investigates the factors that influence the extent to which alternative media producers are able to use digital tools in liberating ways for social change by opening a space for participation in technology (as content producers) and through technology (as engaged citizens). The book advances existing literature with two main contributions: extending our understanding of the digital divide to include inequalities of social media use, and including technology use—whether liberating or not—as a fundamental component of a mestizaje approach to the study of alternative media.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

1. Introduction

Abstract

This chapter introduces the goal of the book: to understand whether and how alternative media in El Salvador incorporated digital technologies, online social media in particular, for social change, and whether incorporating said technologies changed citizen participation not only in the media process but also in a broader discursive sphere as well as in civic and political life. In other words, what factors influenced the extent to which alternative media producers managed to use digital tools in liberating ways, opening a space for participation in technology (as content producers) and through technology (as engaged citizens)?

Summer Harlow

2. The Roots of El Salvador’s Alternative and Digital Media Environment

Abstract

This chapter sets the scene by situating the four media projects under study within a framework of El Salvador’s mainstream and alternative media ecologies, contextualized by the country’s political, social, economic, and technological realities. This chapter also develops the theoretical framework necessary for understanding the role of technology in alternative media and social change, introducing the idea that El Salvador’s realities, including limited Internet access in this digital era, require a hybridized, or mestizaje (Martín Barbero 1993), approach to the understanding of alternative media. This chapter provides an overview of what other scholarly research shows about alternative media and its relationship to activism, participation, and technology.

Summer Harlow

3. Diario CoLatino

Abstract

This chapter examines the case of Diario CoLatino, a more than 100-year-old leftist, alternative newspaper. This chapter indicates that CoLatino created more of a space for representation than for actual expression or participation. When it came to technology, a seeming lack of resources, training, vision, and even desire prevented CoLatino from using digital tools to move beyond representation and interaction to actual expression and participation. The subjects’ pride in their professional identity as journalists also hindered participation through technology. Despite having verbalized their recognition of the participatory and liberating potential of ICTs, the journalists maintained their mediator roles, speaking on behalf of the voiceless rather than using technology to let the voiceless speak for themselves.

Summer Harlow

4. Radio Victoria

Abstract

This chapter shows how Radio Victoria, a community radio station in El Salvador, used technologies to encourage citizen participation and action, despite digital inequalities. Analysis showed who participated and how they participated changed because of social media. Subjects did not see the digital divide as an insurmountable obstacle: their innovative ways of using digital technology to complement analog technology allowed them to find ways around the problem of lack of access. Despite digital inequalities, interviewees believed technology could be liberating, and they believed it was their responsibility to the community to teach and lead by example, and thus show how the radio’s use of social media could foster participation in technology and participation through technology.

Summer Harlow

5. Voces

Abstract

This chapter details the case of the online newspaper Voces, showing that while Voces wanted to be open to direct participation from marginalized voices, the limitations of the digital divide meant that it had to settle for writing on behalf of those marginalized voices, as participation was limited to those citizens with literacy and technological skills. Further, by using Facebook and the website as information tools rather than communication ones, Voces, while offering participation in technology for those with Internet access, failed to achieve participation through technology.

Summer Harlow

6. Política Stereo

Abstract

This chapter examines the online citizen journalism and debate site Política Stereo, showing how online social media can be used successfully to promote citizen debate, participation, and perhaps even action. Política Stereo served as a digital counter public sphere, encouraging debate and action by emphasizing dialogue among users with opposing viewpoints. Política Stereo’s experience suggests online debate can translate into offline action. Further, this case indicates the emergence of a Salvadoran Twitterati that served as experts and opinion leaders in the mainstream media, which helped bridge the digital divide. The analysis also pointed to a social media divide, in terms of which platforms were used and for what purposes, with implications for activism in digitally divided countries.

Summer Harlow

7. Common Threads: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

This chapter compares and contrasts the two traditional media sites with each other and the two online-only sites with each other, and then compares and contrasts the traditional versus online-only media sites, in order to explore common challenges and benefits of incorporating new technologies. Such a holistic analysis allows insight into the context that influences the possibilities and limitations of using digital tools for social change in El Salvador. Generally, this chapter shows that the four sites incorporated digital tools into their daily processes to various degrees, and their incorporation of ICTs affected citizen participation. Who participated, how they participated, and what they participated in varied among the projects, and this variance can be linked to professional identity, mission, and digital inequalities.

Summer Harlow

8. Conclusions: Toward an Understanding of Participation in and through Technology

Abstract

This chapter offers a discussion of the findings and their theoretical and practical implications, conclusions, limitations of this project, and thoughts on how future research can advance the ideas raised in this volume. Here, I offer a liberation technology model, based off the four sites under study, that helps us better understand what factors influence alternative media’s use of liberating technologies.

Summer Harlow

Backmatter

Titel: Liberation Technology in El Salvador
verfasst von: Summer Harlow
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-319-48039-8
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-48038-1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48039-8