Good news, bad news, and fake news

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Buschman
Keyword(s):  
Information Science ◽  
Social Role ◽  
Good News ◽  
Fake News ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Definition Of

PurposeLibrary and Information Science (LIS) has seen an explosion of responses to fake news in the aftermath of the 2016 US election, political in nature, eschewing “neutrality” supporting democracy. The purpose of this paper is to trace the definition of fake news, the challenges, the roots of recent respondes to fake news, notes that the theoretical understanding of democracy must keep pace with these efforts.Design/methodology/approachConceptual analysis of the LIS literature concerning fake news and its underlying themes; unpacking of actually existing democracy, re-linked to LIS practices.FindingsDemocracy does not require a space cleared of distorting claims but spaces suited to grappling with them, a call to address fake news, and not simply a matter of clearing up information sources; librarians should prepared to engage at the next level. Libraries stand for the proposition that there is more-true information which is worth accessing, organizing, etc., and for inclusion. Whether explicitly political or not, the imaginative uses to which libraries are put do enrich civil society and the public sphere. Libraries help to counter fake news both through specific educative actions aimed at it and as broadly educative institutions with a coherent notion of their relationship to informational discernment in democracy.Originality/valueLIS discourse on fake news has value, and references democracy, but assumes a set of traditional relationships between informing, libraries and democracy. This paper goes at both the lesser role of informing and highlights the (arguably) greater social role of libraries in democratic society.

scholarly journals Archives, libraries and museums in the Nordic model of the public sphere

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Håkon Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Public Sphere ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Theoretical Research ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Archival Science ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Spheres ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Public Sphere

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of ALM organizations within a Nordic model of the public sphere. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual paper discussing the role of archives, libraries and museums in light of a societal model of the Nordic public sphere. Throughout the discussions, the author draw on empirical and theoretical research from sociology, political science, media studies, cultural policy studies, archival science, museology, and library and information science to help advance our understanding of these organizations in a wider societal context. Findings The paper shows that ALM organizations play an important role for the infrastructure of a civil public sphere. Seen as a cluster, these organizations are providers of information that can be employed in deliberative activities in mediated public spheres, as well as training arenas for citizens to use prior to entering such spheres. Furthermore, ALM organizations are themselves public spheres, as they can serve specific communities and help create and maintain identities, and solidarities, all of which are important parts of a civil public sphere. Research limitations/implications Future research should investigate whether these roles are an important part of ALM organizations contribution to public spheres in other regions of the world. Originality/value Through introducing a theoretical model developed within sociology and connecting it to ongoing research in archival science, museology, and library and information science, the author connects the societal role of archives, libraries, and museums to broader discussions within the social sciences.

Social participation in the definition of budgetary instruments

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 737-755
Author(s):  
Luiz Antonio Felix Júnior ◽  
Wênyka Preston Leite Batista da Costa ◽  
Luciana Gondim de Almeida Guimarães ◽  
Glauber Ruan Barbosa Pereira ◽  
Walid Abbas El-Aouar
Keyword(s):  
Social Participation ◽  
Smart City ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Popular Participation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Public Resources ◽  
Definition Of

Purpose The participation of society is a valuable aspect of the governability of cities, for it strengthens the citizens’ collaborative component. Such participation, which is seen as social, is considered an essential element for the design of a smart city. This study aims to identify the factors that contribute to social participation in the definition of budgetary instruments’ planning. Design/methodology/approach Concerning the methodological instruments, this study is characterised by a quantitative and descriptive approach and uses a multivariate data analysis with a sample of 235 respondents. Findings The study’s findings identified a framework that portrays elements that collaborate with the social participation in the definition of the public administration’s budgetary instruments, which are considered as elements that are able to develop the role of the popular participation and are characterised by the definition of a smart city by enabling more assertiveness in society’s needs. Practical implications Identification of a framework that brings out elements that are able to develop the popular participation in the definition of budgetary instruments. Then, one scale of elements that contribute to social participation in the definition of the public administration’s budgetary instruments theoretically represented and statistically validated, thus contributing to the continuity of studies on social participation. Social implications Through studies on social participation in budgetary planning, it is possible to guarantee a better allocation of public resources through intelligent governability. Originality/value The research can bring theoretical elements about social participation in the definition of budget instruments for a statistical convergence through the perception of the sample.

Professional value and ethical self-regulation in the development of modern librarianship

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 1261-1280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joacim Hansson
Keyword(s):  
Professional Ethics ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethical Codes ◽  
New Knowledge ◽  
Institutional Contexts ◽  
Definition Of

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to make a contribution to the theoretical understanding of documents and documentary agency in society through examples from a defined institutional and professional setting; and second, to create an understanding for the role of ethical codes in the process of defining and developing modern librarianship. Design/methodology/approach This study analyses the role of documentation carrying content of professional ethics in the formulation of modern librarianship. This is done through a series of example documents of various kinds, such as founding charters, peer handbooks and ethical codes systematically analysed through the use of document theory and theory on institutional change. Findings The findings of this study suggest that documents pronouncing ethical self-regulation within librarianship play a primarily legitimising role in situations where new types of libraries emerge or when libraries adapt to social change. The study proposes legitimacy as a key aspect of documentality, thus supplementing the established understanding of the concept. Originality/value This study is the first to analyse the role of ethical codes in libraries using document theory. It brings new knowledge to the role of ethical self-regulation in librarianship over time and in different institutional contexts. In suggesting a developed definition of documentality, it contributes to the theoretical understanding of the role of documents and documentation in institutions and in society at large.

scholarly journals Elections in the Public Sphere: the Analysis of Lithuanian TV Debates „Lyderių Forumas“

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 166-188
Author(s):  
Aistė Valiauskaitė
Keyword(s):  
Public Sphere ◽  
Political Communication ◽  
Election Campaign ◽  
Parliamentary Elections ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Definition Of

The article analyses the information that spreads in the media during the election campaign. It looks at the aspect of promises made by politicians through an academic lens. The definition of a political promise is explained; some insights are devoted to an analysis of the reasons why some promises are more commonly fulfilled. The paper mostly concentrates on the role of the media, combining ideas of media theorists with the investigation of pre-election TV debates “Lyderių forumas”.Keywords: campaign, objectivity, parliamentary elections, political communication, professionalism, promise, tv debates.

scholarly journals The short life of a concept: tourismphobia in the Spanish media. Narratives, actors and agendas

2021 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
María Velasco González ◽  
Ernesto Carrillo Barroso
Keyword(s):  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Political Narratives ◽  
Policy Narratives ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Media Narratives ◽  
Dominant Narratives

This article forms part of a classic social science debate on the role of the media in the construction of social and political narratives. The object of the paper is to study the rise and fall of the concept of tourismphobia in the Spanish media. The case is analyzed in the light of public policies studies, especially those analyzing agenda-setting, the social construction of the definition of public problems and the struggles of coalitions seeking to impose their public policy narratives in the policy-making process. With this purpose, a database was used that collected more than 11,000 news items over a substantial period of time. Its analysis reveals that media attention rises sharply after active protest actions against tourist saturation and that the term is mostly linked to specific territories and cities and to certain political figures. It also allows us to observe how some political responses to the problem appear more in the media, while others are minimized. The conclusions indicate that the “tourismphobia” neologism was capitalized on – which is often the case with terms that circulate in the public sphere – by various groups attempting to highlight some of its semantic dimensions over others. The study also reveals that the media assume an active position in the construction of discourses in relation to tourism also as a political and not just an economic issue. Furthermore, it shows that the use of the term has greatly declined, either because the problem has become dormant or because it has been reformulated into other terms that are more in line with dominant narratives.

The public sphere without democracy: some recent work in LIS

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 769-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Buschman
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
And Function ◽  
Role And Function

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze and re-direct recent schematic and empirical scholarship on Habermas’ theory of the public sphere in library and information science (LIS). Design/methodology/approach This paper conducts a critical analysis of the relevant literature in light of Habermas’ origination and use/purpose of the public sphere concept. Findings The authors examined here produced a schematic operationalization of the public sphere that thinned the concept, but in turn, that schematization has produced insight into the civil society functions and communications of libraries, both within and without. For this work to be meaningful, the considerations and contexts of democratic society must be reinserted. Research limitations/implications Further explorations of the relationship between the public sphere and civil society as they are manifested around and in libraries is called for. Additionally, Weigand’s approach to producing data/evidence on the public sphere and libraries should be furthered. Practical implications Understanding the role and function of libraries in democratic societies is essential for libraries to play a productive democratic role in those societies and thus, in guiding them. Social implications This paper helps to situate the bewildering circumstances of libraries who face both popular support and broad political-social questioning of their role and place. Originality/value This paper arguably interjects a more sophisticated and nuanced theoretical picture of the public sphere than prior precis presented in the LIS literature have undertaken. It also engages a unique set of empirical-theoretical students from another perspective in order to deepen and shift that research discourse.

Public librarians' perception of their professional role and the library's role in supporting the public sphere: a multi-country comparison

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie Johnston ◽  
Ágústa Pálsdóttir ◽  
Anna Mierzecka ◽  
Ragnar Andreas Audunson ◽  
Hans-Christoph Hobohm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Sphere ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Professional Role ◽  
Central Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Country Comparison ◽  
The Public Sphere

PurposeThe overarching aim of this article is to consider to what extent the perceptions of librarians in Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland and Sweden reflect a unified view of their professional role and the role of their institutions in supporting the formation of the public sphere and to what extent the variations reflect national contexts.Design/methodology/approachThe multi-country comparison is based on online questionnaires. The central research questions are how do librarians legitimize the use of public resources to uphold a public library service? How do librarians perceive the role of public libraries as public spaces? How do librarians perceive their professional role and the competencies needed for it? Consideration is given to how the digital and social turns are reflected in the responses.FindingsThe results show evidence of a unified professional culture with clear influences from national contexts. A key finding is that librarians see giving access as central for both legitimizing library services and for the library's role as a public sphere institution. Strong support is shown for the social turn in supporting the formation of the public sphere while the digital turn appears to be a future challenge; one of seemingly increased importance due to the pandemic.Research limitations/implicationsThis study shows that libraries across the seven countries have expanded beyond simply providing public access to their book-based collections and now serve as social, learning and creative spaces: both in the physical library and digitally. Qualitative research is needed concerning librarians' notions of public libraries and librarianship, which will provide a more in-depth understanding of the changing professional responsibilities and how public libraries recruit the associated competencies.Originality/valueThe article provides a much needed insight into how librarians perceive the role of public libraries in supporting the formation of the public sphere and democratic processes, as well as their own role.

scholarly journals Theoretical and methodological foundations for the study of federalism

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 ◽  
pp. 01012
Author(s):  
Vladimir Mikhailovich Platonov
Keyword(s):  
Separation Of Powers ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Russian Society ◽  
The Public ◽  
Historical Method ◽  
Historical Specificity ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

The purpose of the research is to determine the basic methodological rules that allow to form a science-based concept of separation of powers between the levels of government, taking into account the cultural and historical conditions of development of Russian society, the establishment in it of stable principles of relations in the public sphere, standards and stereotypes of social interaction. The research conducted on the basis of the dialectical method, which was used in combination with the systematic method, the historical method and the socio-cultural vision of political and legal phenomena, showed the following results: a) there are only general guidelines that guide states in choosing a federal model, not any of its benchmarks; b) the problem of correlation of vertical separation of powers with responsibility and cultural and historical specificity in the implementation of powers in the sphere of joint jurisdiction of the federal center and the subjects of the federation is the key one; c) significant in the methodology of the study of federalism is the assessment of the weakness of political ambitions of the power elites in relation to the role of socio-economic factors that determine the degree of effectiveness of the implementation of their powers by the subjects of public authority; d) the separation of powers in a federal state is a dynamic process, the content and direction of which are conditioned by concrete and historical tasks; e) the centralization of federal relations in Russia is a factor in their evolution and dynamics. The novelty of the research is due to the author’s approach to the substantiation of the system of methodological rules, which will ensure a) the integrity of the state, b) the need for decentralization of power on the basis of the principles of federalism, c) the definition of the principles that determine the model of separation of powers.

scholarly journals Re-Appropriation of Urban Heritage Buildings and Their Role in the Conservation of Historic Sites

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Djelloul Zenati ◽  
Ibrahim Zeroual
Keyword(s):  
General Concept ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
The Public ◽  
Heritage Buildings ◽  
Building Factors ◽  
Historical Heritage ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Historical Sites ◽  
Definition Of

The importance of historical sites containing archaeological and architectural fabrics has many physical, economic and social; they differ depending on the form and structure in different areas of the city. The historic environment of the urban content for historic buildings and heritage guides the manager to the preservation of the entities. Research shows that there is a large gap between the classroom buildings and the development process of the surrounding urban environment. By focusing on sustainable development of the historical heritage areas, it is necessary to operate a reallocation of buildings for better preservation. The study covers the following: the attempt to link the new features for creating activities of the heritage of the population of the surrounding environment, to increase the degree of attention of the living environment around the building. Factors that affect the process of maintenance, and reuse of heritage buildings in the choice of assignment. It is proposed to try to find a general concept for the development of heritage areas within the public sphere. The role of community participation as a means of awareness and the definition of ordinary citizens of the importance of the environment and heritage content. It also discusses the mapping methods to study and treat to represent the heritage buildings through reallocation as one of the important conservation measures through the example of the Casbah of Belamech. This research also presents a set of conclusions and recommendations in the form of a model with an information system on the environment (SIE) to develop the most important features in the development of heritage buildings, to ensure the sustainability of its environment.

scholarly journals The public sphere and Habermas: reflections on the current state of theory in public library research

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 251-258
Author(s):  
Håkon Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Public Sphere ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Spheres ◽  
The Public ◽  
Library Research ◽  
The Public Sphere

PurposeThis article addresses a recent debate in this journal between Buschman and Widdersheim and Koizumi on public libraries and public sphere theory in library and information science (LIS). The article moves beyond the debate as the debate has been too focused on the theories of Jürgen Habermas. In order to really understand the democratic mission of public libraries and how it is related to the public sphere, the author argues that LIS scholars need to look beyond Habermas' theories of the public sphere.Design/methodology/approachThis is a theoretical article that discusses different theories of the public sphere, and how they have been and can be applied in library and information science.FindingsThe author finds that a main disagreement between Buschman and Widdersheim and Koizumi is whether one can use the concept of a public sphere without doing it in a “traditional” Habermasian way. The answers put forward in this article, is that we can and should look beyond Habermas' work when seeking to understand the role of public libraries as public spheres.Originality/valueThe article puts forward theories that are not commonly used in LIS, and advocates for broadening the theoretical scope of LIS scholars studying the relations between public libraries and public spheres.

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