Towards an information society

4 September: The cabinet has approved a concept paper that proposes waiving taxes on all infrastructure used by the media and subsidising newsprint and software to support the growth of a professional media and hence a better ‘information society’.

The paper, prepared by the ministry of information and communications (MOIC), has also recommended that government agencies should behave like professional advertisers to ensure that advertisement is not given as ‘kidu’ but on the basis of the audience they want to reach.

In this regard, the ministry will audit the reach and audience of different media to give a clear idea and choice to society. It is also proposed that the government promote all forms of media education at all levels and provide scholarships and grants to media professionals.

The paper talks of establishing accountability in the printing sector and is looking at establishing a ‘printing city’ to promote the Bhutanese publishing industry.

“Media here are of eight types: the oral tradition of storytelling, television, radio, internet, film and music, printing, gaming and content on mobile phones,” said the MoIC secretary, Dasho Kinley Dorji.

The media, information communication technology (ICT) like e-governance and e-applications and contemporary culture like dance, books, and music together make up the ‘information society’ according to the concept paper.

“This ‘information society’ needs support and professionalism since through news, programmes, newspapers, song and dance will lead to a shared ‘national consciousness,’” said Dasho Kinley Dorji. “This national consciousness means that a farmer in Merak Sakteng, civil servant in Thimphu or a farmer in Samdrupjongkhar share common values and have a sense of nationhood.”

The secretary, however, said that that idea of a high quality national consciousness was not something that the government was doing but would come about naturally with a professional ‘information society’.

The advantages of a national consciousness are listed as promotion of good human values, role models, awareness against crimes like corruption, new ideas, solidarity and not feeling left out.

Explaining the role of contemporary culture in an information society, the secretary said, “In the past, our culture was based mainly on spirituality and tradition, but today the reality is that discos, drayangs, etc., have become a part of our culture, with most Bhutanese youth in urban areas going there.”

He said that the best way forward was to accept it, instead of pushing it under the carpet, and then make sure that it is healthy and safe for the youth.

“We’re also advocating support for Bhutanese singers, dancers, writers, old libraries that don’t make much money but refine and improve the quality of society,” he said, adding that the ministry is proposing opening a new contemporary culture department to deal with all these new issues.

“With ICT, the problem is people see it only as a technology but what’s more important is not the technology but the content, which can be used by us,” said Dasho Kinley Dorji.

The approved concept paper will lead to several key policies on support and development of an information society.

source: kuensel