The meetings were held at Universidad Católica del Norte, Universidad de La Serena and Universidad Católica de Temuco. The workshops sought to strengthen the discussion on digital convergence and its impact on the sector of communications in Chile with the local perspective of the regions.
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 interconnected environments.
In this scenario, Chile is faced with the task of conceiving and developing standards and agreements that allow responding to the demands for greater transparency, pluralism, innovation and fair access in the digital ecosystem.
For this reason, on August 19th, 20th and 26th, researchers of the Fondecyt Project on #RegulaciónConvergente Chiara Sáez and Patricia Peña of the Faculty of Communication and Image of Universidad de Chile, as well as Javier García of Universidad de Las Américas, held two workshops in each region (Coquimbo and La Araucanía) entitled “Digital Governance: A Dialogue from a Regional Perspective” in partnership with the Faculty of Legal Sciences of Universidad Católica del Norte, the School of Journalism of Universidad de La Serena and the Public Policy Center of Universidad Católica de Temuco.
The intention was 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.
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.
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 competitive and diverse digital ecosystem.
As for the reactions and opinions about this workshop, our guests in Temuco said it opened up the dialogue about the challenges of digital convergence and the role of public/private institutions and the civil society in new technological scenarios.
In Coquimbo, journalist Rodrigo Gallardo shared the following on his social media: “This week, I participated in a workshop that not only addresses the important discussion on Digital Governance but also involves the regions as key actors. I would like to thank Chiara Sáez Baeza and Patricia Peña for providing this opportunity in my beloved Region of Coquimbo.”
These meetings are part of the dissemination activities 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 seeks 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 based on scientific evidence and applied research.
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