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Digital Divide

The aims of this Working Group are to contribute to theoretical understanding of inequality in access to information and media in the new digital environment; trace the development of new media through the concept of digital divide; identify gaps and inconsistencies in the digital media world, their origins and development; specify problems for media and communication systems brought about by ICT progress in local, national and global environments; promote better communication between researchers from different countries and continents; support innovative research in the field; and support young researchers.

This Working Group is concerned with issues around whether it is possible to measure the ‘digital divide’ and with new signs of knowledge and information inequalities and their implications. Members examine these issues in the light of the history of the interrelations between media, technology and their uses by audiences as well as the social implications of unequal access by the general public to the media.

Chair: Elena Vartanova [Contact]
Vice-Chair: Olga Smirnova [Contact]

Members of the Digital Divide Working Group.

IAMCR 2012 - Digital Divide Working Group Call for Papers

erythrina_caffra The Working Group on Digital Divide of the International Association for Media and Communication Research invites submissions for the IAMCR Conference that will be held from July 15-19, 2012 at the Howard College Campus of the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) in Durban, South Africa. The deadline for submissions is February 14, 2012.

The conference will be held under the general theme, 'South-North Conversations'. The theme reflects the asymmetry of global communication flows, but without implying the negatives that usually accompany discussions of the 'digital divide'. The theme also calls for balanced and empowering narratives that do not regard those in ‘the South’ as victims primarily in need of handouts from the more affluent.

Digital Divide Working Group Report 2011

The Working Group on the Digital Divide has just issued its Report from the 2011 Istanbul Conference:

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Digital Divide Working Group Report 2011 (33.81 kB)

Mexico 2009 - Digital Divide Working Group Call for Papers

Mexico 2009 - Digital Divide Working Group Call for Paper The WG on Digital Divide invites submissions for its open sessions at the IAMCR Conference (July 21-24 2009) in Mexico City, Mexico, under the general theme of the Conference "Human Rights and Communication".

The Conference addresses relationships between media and contemporary understanding of the freedom of expression and right to information. It will explore the pivotal roles of the media with regard to today's global injustices to the human rights.

Istanbul 2011 - Digital Divide Working Group Call for Papers

The Working Group on Digital Divide of the International Association for Media and Communication Research invites submissions for the IAMCR Conference that will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, from July 13 to 17, 2011.

The general theme of the conference is 'Cities, Creativity, Connectivity'.

Braga 2010 - Digital Divide Working Group Call for Papers

braga_2010 The Working Group on Digital Divide of the International Association for Media and Communication Research invites submissions for the IAMCR Conference that will be held in Braga (Portugal) 2010 from July 18-22. The overall conference theme is Communication and Citizenship. Rethinking Crisis and Change.

This year the theme to be discussed in WG on Digital Divide is The Influence of Crises on Digital Media: Digital Communities Divided. Papers addressing the theme are most welcome.

Stockholm 2008 - Digital Divide Working Group Call for Papers

Stockholm 2008 - Digital Divide Working Group Call for Papers EXTENDED DEADLINE: 15 FEBRUARY 2008!

In modern societies the role of media is getting more crucial. Our political life and national economy, professional career and leisure time are increasingly been shaped by the media in various respects. The idea of a mass mediated society is getting more popular. However, the process of media being increasingly digitized there is a clear need to ask how different media consumption and media performance become in different national digital environments.