Innis and the Emergence of Canadian Communication/Media Studies

The discussion in this paper examines the influence of Harold Innis’ medium theory on contemporary media and communication scholarship in Canada and abroad. The methodological construction of Innis’ medium theory comprises several dimensions including: media bias; the exercising of power through the use and control of media; the bias of communication media toward favouring control over space and control through time; the role of governance in overcoming the bias inherent in media; a materialist understanding of civilizations; space-media outpacing time-media; and dialectics. In this paper particular attention is given to two issues. The first is the connections between Innis’ political economy approach and the work of Marshall McLuhan on the one hand, and the ecological studies of David Suzuki on the other. Both McLuhan and Suzuki, it is argued, may be seen as filling in important gaps in Innis’ work. The second focuses on the reasons why Innis’ medium theory has struck a chord with the Canadian psyche. This stands in stark contrast to the apparent neglect of Innis’ work within American media and communication scholarship

Exploring the Political-Economic Factors of Participatory Journalism: Views of Online Journalists in 10 Countries

This comparative study of user-generated content (UGC) in 10 Western democracies examines the political economic aspects of citizen participation in online media, as assessed by journalists who work with this content. Drawing on interviews with more than 60 journalists, we explore their perceived economic motivations for an ongoing redefinition of traditional journalistic roles, as UGC becomes an increasingly dominant feature of news websites

Economics and Information: Toward a New (and More Sustainable) Worldview

Abstract: Mainstream or neoclassical economics assumes a commodity-only status for information, even though information is indivisible, subjective, shared, and intangible, making information quite ill-suited for commodity treatment. Likewise, orthodox economics posits communication as comprising merely acts of commodity exchange, thereby ignoring gift relations, dialogic interactions, the cumulative and transformative properties of all informational interchange, and the social or community context within which communicative action takes place. This article draws out implications for human survival of continuing to implement policies based on neoclassical modes of analysis, and touches upon some main features of an alternative, communication-centred worldview, this latter perspective being much more consistent with ecosystem vitality and with human community. Résumé: Les courants économiques dominants ou néoclassiques accordent à l'information le statut de strict produit même si, l'information étant indivisible, subjective, partagée, et intangible, elle paraît assez inapte à être traitée comme un produit. De même, les sciences économiques orthodoxes envisagent la communication comme comprenant seulement des actes d'échanges de produits, ignorant ainsi l'échange de cadeaux, les interactions dialogiques, le caractère cumulatif et transformationnel de tout échange informationnel, et le contexte social ou communautaire au sein duquel tout acte de communication a lieu. Cet article discute les implications pour la survie humaine de continuer à mettre en place des politiques fondées sur des modes d'analyse néoclassiques, et relève quelques traits saillants d'une perspective mondiale alternative, centrée sur la communication, cette dernière perspective étant bien plus en harmonie avec la vitalité de l'écosystème et la solidarité humaine