Minorities in the Digital Age

Media and communication technologies have experienced an enormous transformation in the 21st Century. While the traditional dominance of press and television has not been completely replaced by the new and diverse media platforms, the latter are gradually opening up new spaces for communication and information exchange. This bundle gathers different contributions which revolve around the digital diversity and its impact on minorities.   

The ECMI has remained particularly attentive to the question of minorities in the digital age. In 2013, the Center held a workshop with a view to developing a conceptual framework for the analysis of the role of the media in promoting intercultural dialogue and social cohesion. As Federica Prina highlights in her Report, the workshop centred its scope on new technology and intercultural dialogue, state responsibility, and media and dialogue in divided societies.  

In 2014, JEMIE published a Special Issue entitled ‘Freedom of Expression of Minorities in the Digital Age’, which brought together, in the words of Tarlach McGonagle, three concepts of uncertain scope and substance: freedom of expression, minorities and the digital age. As a regular speaker on these topics, McGonagle pays special attention in his introductory article to inter alia the 2003 Guidelines on the Use of Minority Languages in the Broadcast Media and the central theme of the Special Issue, whose relationship can be categorized, in his view, under four interrelated layers: Freedom of expression and new media, Tolerance and understanding, Cultural diversity and identity, Linguistic diversity and identity.  

The aforementioned four dimensions are not strictly the approach followed by contributing authors to the Special Issue. For instance, Christian Möller explores the emergence and possibilities of new digital media and media governance, and the way it has shaped patterns and practices in society. In this vein, Möller examines current technical functioning of new media and their possible consequences on minorities in three fields of media: digital terrestrial television, the Domain Name System and Social Media. For her part, Myria Georgiou’s focus is on diasporic minorities and her definition of media as spaces where these groups increasingly communicate interests, make claims and mobilize identities. Accordingly, Georgiou examines the role of media and communications not only from the perspective of how they affect the cultural and political development of minorities, but also from the view of advancing democracy and inclusiveness in Europe.  

Lastly, Sarah McMonagle underscores in her JEMIE article that the 1992 European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages [hereinafter ECRML] is a relevant instrument in the digital age, even if it does not include specific provisions on media and communication technologies. Throughout her contribution, McMonagle devotes special attention to the evaluation reports of the Committee of Experts and its references to the internet. In doing so, this commentator intends to demonstrate that the objectives of the ECRML are also realistic when it comes to questions related to the information age.  

 

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