PROJECTS & PARTICIPATION      CONSULTANCY      NATIONAL PORTALS      ABOUT US

BROADCASTING MODEL

Underlying Principle

The model is based on broadcasting or dissemination of useful governance information which already exists in the public domain into the wider public domain through the use of ICT and convergent media.

The utility of this model is that a more informed citizenry is better able to benefit from governance related services that are available for them. The model can enable citizens to understand what governance services are available, and how to avail them. In addition, the application of this model, allows people to better judge the existing mechanisms that provide governance related services, and make an informed opinion about their performances. As a consequence, people may feel more empowered to voice their concerns and to impact these governance processes.

The application of this model corrects the "information failure situations" that are widespread in developing countries. In addition, it opens up an alternative channel for people to access governance related information and also to validate existing information from different sources. 

Applications

This model could be applied in the following possible ways:

• Putting governmental laws and legislations online.

• Making available the names, contact addresses, emails, fax numbers of local/ regional/ national government officials online.

• Make available information such as governmental plans, budgets, expenditures, and performance reports online.

• Putting key judicial decisions which are of value to general citizens and create a precedence for future actions online. viz. key environmental decisions, state vs. citizen decisions etc. 

Example of organisations / projects based on Broadcasting Model

• India: Directory of Official Websites of Government of India

National Informatics Centre (India) is the official website of the Government of India which makes available Ministerial Information, Indian Laws and Legislations Online, Contact Details etc. online for public access.

 

http://goidirectory.nic.in/exe.htm#min   (Parent Website : http://www.nic.in)

• Brazil: Official government website 
  
  The website provides comprehensive information on Brazilian government as well as links to integrated citizen services. 

http://www.brazil.gov.br

• South Africa: The PIMS Monitor 

   

  Idasa's Political Information and Monitoring Service (PIMS) providing an easy-to-use reference and record (with plain-language summaries) of all bills, acts and policy documents that pass through parliament. The Monitor aims to help audience engage with democracy, intervene in the legislative process and make submissions to parliament in South Africa. 

   

  http://www.pims.org.za/monitor/

• Global: Earth Negotiations Bulletin

A reporting service which keeps informed citizens worldwide about global environmental negotiations, processes and decisions. It has a great value for citizens and even government officials in developing countries to keep track of global negotiations taking place in the West and be more informed about them.

           http://www.iisd.ca/voltoc.html     (Parent Website : http://www.iisd.ca)

• Online Newspapers, Newsgroups and Portal Sites - these are instrumental in bringing key political and other important information into the wider public domain.

Electorales.com - http://www.electorales.com   A political Internet news and tools provider for Spanish-speaking markets around the world.

 

All Africa - http://www.allafrica.com   Provides access to political news relating to various countries in Africa.

 

Chapter 2 Network - http://www.advocacy.org.za :  The Chapter 2 Network is a clearinghouse of information and communication for social justice issues in South Africa. Through its website, it provides information about advocacy campaigns; training on Advocacy and lobbying; research on political intelligence, policy analysis and legislation monitoring and networking opportunities to interact with other civil society organisations.  

Discussions

The Broadcasting Model is the most important, and also the stepping stone to the more complex Digital Governance models. It is the most important model, because it enhances both 'access' and 'flow' of information to all segments of the society, which is the foundation of better governance. In several developing counties, even the most basic of governance related information is unavailable, for instance the opening and closing times of government offices, the concerned department dealing with immediate issues such as agricultural subsidies or making application for ration-cards.

Central and state governments in developing countries need to aggressively adopt this model to provide governance services to their constituencies, and to enhance the participation of citizens in governance processes. Simultaneously, the civil society groups should demand for such models to enable access to governance information which can improve the quality of lives of people. 

The model loses its effectiveness in cases where the free-flow of information is restricted (lack of information sharing culture and in cases of Optimal Ignorance). Optimal Ignorance occurs when injudicious decisions are taken not in the absence of information but because of disregard of available information by citizens and decision-makers. Further, tight governmental controls to  censor information and use of ICT tools could prove to be the bane of this model. 

comments and feedback: vikas.nath@gmail.com   or  v.nath-alumni@lse.ac.uk  

sign guestbook       view guestbook