"A speed-up in communications always
enables a central authority to extend its
operations to more distant margins."- McLuhan, 1995, p. 96
In the chapter “Roads to Paper Routes,” McLuhan talks about the advancement of technology and how it affects society (1995). Alongside the advancements in technology, those who have been controlling the media have also changed and evolved. There has always been some form of technological divide. When the printing press first originated, it was controlled by the state and the governing elite. Then, religion began taking advantage of print as protestants sought to “undermine the social control of the catholic church”(Gasher, Skinner & Lorimer, 2016, p. 340).” Later, “in the twentieth century, the corporate control of media became a central question of concern (ibid).” There was, and still is much controversy relating to how much media organizations should be able to use their powers to push their biases in order to favour big businesses, political parties, and government policies (ibid).
Media convergence, the concentration of media ownership issues of content and the threat of increasing fragmentation, has become a concern with the rise of communication technologies in Canada (Thrift, 2003, p. 227). As a result, Canada has seen growth and reliance on information and communications technologies (ICTs), content ownership, and application (app) development in the private and public sectors (Avanso, Cho & Lertwachara, 2014, p. 60).
While access to the internet provides a crucial link to the rest of the world, high-costs and limited access can leave many Canadians at a disadvantage. (Dobby, 2016, para 1). Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) whose holdings straddle multiple media platforms, control “a substantial portion of the technological conduit for communication in Canada, as well as a great deal of what passes through it” (Barney, 2005, p. 25). The demand for access to communication pathways, are causing the Canadian Government to reevaluate and reestablish new policies in relation to broadcasting, telecommunications, publishing, and other cultural industries (Barney, 2005, p. 27). But are the processes for development of new policies in Canada transparent, inclusive and participatory for all citizens? Or do the voices of the industry speak for the ‘ordinary citizens’ when it comes to development of policies related to communications technology? The existing structures in society that continue to perpetuate this digital gap in Canada, will likely face a call-to-action in the future for increased transparency and accountability as it relates to communication policy development.
Never before has the general populous had so much control over what information they consume. Neither have they been more able to create and market their own content. New media such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, has given some of the power to create and share back to the people. The digital age has given people search engines, and the ability to find information to back up and validate their own opinions; whereas before they would have to rely on a limited supply of information supplied by traditional forms of media (Gasher et al, 2016, p. 340-341).
Media convergence, the concentration of media ownership issues of content and the threat of increasing fragmentation, has become a concern with the rise of communication technologies in Canada (Thrift, 2003, p. 227). As a result, Canada has seen growth and reliance on information and communications technologies (ICTs), content ownership, and application (app) development in the private and public sectors (Avanso, Cho & Lertwachara, 2014, p. 60).
While access to the internet provides a crucial link to the rest of the world, high-costs and limited access can leave many Canadians at a disadvantage. (Dobby, 2016, para 1). Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) whose holdings straddle multiple media platforms, control “a substantial portion of the technological conduit for communication in Canada, as well as a great deal of what passes through it” (Barney, 2005, p. 25). The demand for access to communication pathways, are causing the Canadian Government to reevaluate and reestablish new policies in relation to broadcasting, telecommunications, publishing, and other cultural industries (Barney, 2005, p. 27). But are the processes for development of new policies in Canada transparent, inclusive and participatory for all citizens? Or do the voices of the industry speak for the ‘ordinary citizens’ when it comes to development of policies related to communications technology? The existing structures in society that continue to perpetuate this digital gap in Canada, will likely face a call-to-action in the future for increased transparency and accountability as it relates to communication policy development.
Never before has the general populous had so much control over what information they consume. Neither have they been more able to create and market their own content. New media such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, has given some of the power to create and share back to the people. The digital age has given people search engines, and the ability to find information to back up and validate their own opinions; whereas before they would have to rely on a limited supply of information supplied by traditional forms of media (Gasher et al, 2016, p. 340-341).