A series of workshops seek to strengthen the discussion on digital convergence and its impact on the sector of communications in Chile.
The digital transformation has reconfigured the ecosystem of communications across the world. Convergent technologies, which integrate telecommunications, media and digital services, pose unprecedented challenges for regulation, citizen participation and the guarantee of rights in highly interconnected environments. In this scenario, Chile is faced with the task of conceiving and building a digital governance capable of responding to the demands for transparency, pluralism, innovation and fair access that characterize contemporary society.
A series of workshops will be held for this purpose under the banner “Digital Governance: A Dialogue from a Regional Perspective”, a space for conversation and collective reflection aimed at furthering the discussion on the challenges and opportunities of digital convergence. Each meeting will gather representatives of media, public institutions, private companies, civil society organizations and academic communities from two regions of the country (Coquimbo and La Araucanía), recognizing that debates on digital policy must consider the realities and particularities of the territories.
A Space for Dialogue and Collective Construction
The workshop is designed as an open and participatory space in which key questions will be addressed:
- How does digital convergence impact the sector of communications and regional media practices?
- What role must public institutions play to ensure that digital development is inclusive and democratic?
- How can the private sector contribute to a digital governance that promotes innovation in dialogue with fundamental rights?
- What role do civil society organizations have in the supervision, monitoring and promotion of ethical standards in digital environments?
The intention is to garner diverse perspectives and local experiences that enrich the outlook on the institutionalism required to manage these new technological scenarios. Digital convergence not only implies technical changes but also cultural, economic and political transformations that need adaptive and legitimate regulatory frameworks.
Workshops within the Framework of a National Research Project
This is part of a series of regional workshops organized by the team of Fondecyt Project N° 1230748 “Critical Factors for Establishing a Convergent Regulatory Institutionalism of Communications in Chile from the Perspective of Comparative Media Systems”.
The research -developed by an interdisciplinary team- aims to systematize and analyze international experiences in the establishment of regulatory institutions of techno-media convergence. The study analyzes the reality of four countries (Canada, United Kingdom, Colombia and Mexico) that had to adapt their regulatory frameworks to an environment in which the boundaries among traditional media, digital platforms and telecommunications are increasingly blurred.
The project’s central objective is to identify best practices and critical factors that can guide the creation or modernization of regulatory institutions in Chile. This way, solid evidence and specific recommendations are expected to be contributed to the discussion on how to guarantee a balanced digital governance that protects public interest, encourages innovation and promotes information diversity.
Relevance for the Regions
One of the distinctive elements of this initiative is its decentralizing approach. Instead of concentrating the debate in Santiago, the workshops are deployed in other regions of the country, recognizing that the challenges of digital governance manifest differently according to people’s location.
For example, in rural or remote areas, the gap in access to quality Internet continues to be a significant barrier, while issues associated with media concentration or information overexposure emerge in metropolitan areas. In both cases, regulation and institutionalism must consider the local reality to be effective and legitimate.
The work methodology seeks to generate a horizontal dialogue in which communities can voice their concerns, share experiences and propose solutions. The input collected in each workshop will be incorporated into the analysis of the Fondecyt Project, making sure that the voice of the regions is present in the final recommendations.
A Contribution to the Debate on the Digital Future of Chile
At a time in which digital platforms increasingly concentrate the flow of information, advertising and social interaction, it is urgent to reflect on what type of institutionalism can balance the interests of different actors, guarantee rights, and promote a healthy and diverse digital ecosystem.
The workshop “Digital Governance: A Dialogue from a Regional Perspective” represents a concrete opportunity to move in this direction. Gathering public, private and community actors in the same space fosters the building of consensus and the identification of shared priorities.
The results of this process will not only contribute to the analysis of more inclusive policies and regulatory frameworks but also strengthen the ability of the regions to influence decisions on the country’s digital future. Ultimately, it is about thinking about digital governance from the viewpoint of Chile and for Chile based on its territories and communities.
Review the details of each workshop by clicking on the corresponding image.
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