Question for class today

Throughout this course we have been trying to understand the internet as a socio-technical system–a system that is defined both by technologies and what they enable people to do, and by social relationships, conditions, and expectations of people.

In asking whether there is or could be online participatory journalism in Kazakhstan, we also need to consider socio-technical issues. Many have come up in our recent readings.

Today in class we will brainstorm ideas, drawing on and hopefully going beyond the readings. The question I want you to consider: What social or technical factors influence the opportunity for OPJ to work effectively in Kazakhstan?

Some ideas from class:

•  Personal motivation
• Fear of punishment
• Atmosphere of free speech
• Atmosphere in which people speak out
• Lack of unity–need for sense of social cohesion
• Trust
• Economics