The book Digital Media Inequalities. Policies Against Divides, Distrust and Discrimination, edited by professor Josef Trappel, is a collective effort of the members of the Euromedia Reseach Group (EMRG). A group of scholars from 20 European countries that meets to discuss and exchange observations about changes in media policy and media performance across Europe.
One such observation made by the group back in 2014 was of a paradigmatic shift: from early enthusiasm about more equality, democracy and participation delivered by new technologies to a more problem-oriented evaluation. That was the starting point for this book.
"We decided to write a book about digital media inequalities because we consider digital communication as source of more inequalities and disinformation today, which in turn challenges contemporary democracies", says Trappel.
More critical reflection needed
Josef Trappel is Professor of Media Policy and Media Economics at the University of Salzburg and one of the chairs of the Euromedia Research Group. He and the other members believe that there is a need for more critical reflections on the transformations of digital communication. In this book, they identify various stands of benefits and challenges associated with the digital communication transformation.
"Global corporations such as Google and Facebook have defined the way we communicate. Their definition is market-and profit-driven, while contemporary democracies might require community based tools to function properly".
A need for policy and regulation
In order to make media more equal, Trappel concludes that we need to move away from the old way of thinking that digital communication is a global issue that we have no means to regulate. This needs to be replaced by more self-confident governance and policy paradigms. Some countries have started their own initiatives to address the occurring inequalities. But more is needed.
"We need policy and regulation in order to make the digital world a better place", Trappel says.
The book is recommended to students of communication studies, political science and sociology and to scholars, politicians and activists in the field of communication and communication policy.
Mia Jonsson Lindell