Media Literacy and Universal Access in Europe

The Role of Local Intermediaries in the Process of Digitally Engaging Non-Users of the Internet

“…The influence of social networks in the uptake of new technologies is supported by how important social proximity is in making decisions about products or services (Bandiera and Rasul, 2006;Boschma, 2005;Conley and Udry, 2010). Sourbati's (2009) study of elderly people confirmed the role of close relationships in generating interest among non-users of the internet, and suggests the social, locally situated nature of media use. Local experts are those who people seek out for help, and thus those who have influence over the adoption of new technologies.…”

The digital switchover as an information society initiative: The role of public policy in promoting access to digital ICTs

“…In today's technological environment network infrastructure, services, end-user equipment and the skills to use these are all important dimensions of access to digital ICTs (Jayakar and Sawhney, 2007;Sourbati, 2009). Accordingly, measures to 2 With the corresponding public service model stressing policies with universal service guarantees, content regulation to ensure production and distribution of information essential to public-opinion formation and to education, public investment for social services in employment, health care, and social welfare (Venturelli, 2002, p. 77).…”

“…Convergent, digital communications represent a disruptive development in this respect, shifting some fundamental parameters in inherited conceptual, institutional and policy arrangements of universal access (Sourbati, 2009). Public service broadcasting as shared exposure of the rich and the poor to a (pre defined) range of programmes has been possible on the basis of certain limitations in available media technologies.…”

Digital Rights for Digitally Literate Citizens

“…Sometimes it is used interchangeably with terms like information literacy, media literacy, Internet literacy or even AV literacy [5], [6], [7], [8]. Bowden [4] goes on to show how the terms information literacy, computer literacy, library literacy, media literacy, network literacy, Internet literacy and digital literacy have gradually been introduced into use since 1980 and provides an extensive interpretation of the meanings of those terms based on a survey of professional literature.…”

“…But he also emphasizes and to our mind rightly so, that apart from reading and understanding, the ability to publish and communicate information should be a part of digital literacy. Sourbati [6] describes the drive for universal access to services in the European Union and rightly comments that access to the Internet is a broader concept than service. Therefore physical access to the Internet and connectivity are not adequate to fully understand the media use.…”