In my Kenyote talk at the 11th edition of the Moscow Reading Conference 2019, held at the Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, I both focused on the conceptualization and operationalization of Digital Capital. I stressed how Digital Capital should not be perceived as a subset of other capitals, but should be conceptualized as a specific capital. Furthermore, I presented our empirical model and how we operationalized and measured digital capital. Finally, I explained how this model could be replicated in different socio-cultural contexts.
Categoria: Riflessioni Pagina 6 di 8
Massimo Ragnedda, Maria Laura Ruiu, and Felice Addeo (2019). Measuring Digital Capital: An empirical investigation. New Media and Society. 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444819869604
Abstract
This article develops a Digital Capital Index by adopting the definition provided by Ragnedda, who defines Digital Capital as the accumulation of digital competencies and digital technologies, and the model for measuring it developed by Ragnedda and Ruiu. It aims to develop a measure that can be replicated for comparison in different contexts. This article contributes both theoretically and empirically to the literature by (a) consolidating the concept of Digital Capital as a specific capital and (b) empirically measuring it. A Digital Capital Index is developed through an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and validated with a representative sample survey of 868 UK citizens. The validation procedure shows that the Digital Capital Index is associated with socioeconomic and sociodemographic patterns, such as age, income, educational level and place of residence, while it appears not to be related to gender.
Introduction
This article develops a Digital Capital Index (DCI) by adopting a definition of Digital Capital as ‘“a set of internalised abilities and aptitudes” (digital competencies) as well as “externalised resources” (digital technology) that can be historically accumulated and transferred from one arena to another’ (Ragnedda, 2018). This definition conceptualises Digital Capital as a specific capital (though intertwined with other capitals). Moving on from this conceptualisation, Ragnedda and Ruiu (2019) proposed some indicators to measure Digital Capital. However, this model construct has hitherto never been tested. This article fills this gap in the literature by exploring the empirical application of these indicators which were developed only at a theoretical level.
It has been a real pleasure to give a keynote talk on Digital Capital and Digital Inclusion at the “One day colloquium on Digital Inclusion” in Brussels, the 5th of September 2019. The event has been organized by IDEALiC, a 4-year project funded under the research program BRAIN-BE of the Federal Science Policy (2015-2019). In my keynote speech I focused on the Digital Capital Index and how it can be used, by policy makers, charities and foundations, to address digital inclusiveness and promote digital rights. The “One day Colloquium” was devoted to the presentation of the results of the project carried out over the past 4 years by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) and the Fondation Travail-Université (FTU) and has been financed by BELSPO. The discussion on this theme was enriched by the experiences of field actors from the three regions and by the contributions of work carried out in other European countries.
It has been a great honor and pleasure to be one of the invited teachers at the 6th Summer School at PKU in 15-24 July 2019, organized by the China Media Observatory (CMO) of Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) in cooperation with School of Journalism and Communication of Peking University (PKU). The European Media and Communication Doctoral Summer School (SuSo), the Europe-China Dialogue: Media and Communication Studies Summer School (ECDSS) has been successfully organized for 5 years, taking place in Beijing (China), Lugano (Switzerland), and Brussels (Belgium).
The 2019 programme had a new format and emphasis that focus more on “scientific training” – the provision of theoretical and methodological guidance for PhD students, postdocs and graduate students who are eager to engage in research at the early stage of their academic career. It aims to bring together scholars from different cultures to shed light on contemporary issues in (and not limited to) media, communication, political economy and cultural studies. As the fast-changing world is reshaped by the digitalization of the media sphere, scholars in Europe and China are facing the same challenges posed by the new information world that is full of misinformation, radical emotions, fragmented knowledge and deep uncertainties. The Summer School provided a platform linking scholars from the two great civilizations in order to foster the generation of new ideas or solutions for a better global communication exchange under the framework of Europe-China Dialogue.
During my time in Beijing, I taught classes and discussed with more than 30 students from Europe, USA and China students. Furthermore, we visited the CCTV and China Daily headquarters.
The IAMCR 2019 was the largest conference ever organized by IAMCR, with 1,785 registered participants from 83 countries and 5 continents. The International Association for Media and Communication Research – the preeminent worldwide professional organisation in the field of media and communication research – organized the conference at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid from the July 7 – 11, 2019.
The day before the main conference, I co-organized with my colleagues Bruce Mutsvairo (University of Technology Sydney) and Kristin Skare Orgeret (Oslo Metropolitan University) a preconference/Special issue Information, Communication and Society. The preconference Era or Error of Transformation? Assessing Afrocentric Attributes of Digitalisation has been really successful with 18 case studies presented and discussed.
The Digital Inclusion Policy and Research Conference 2019 (18 June to 19 June, London Campus of the University of Liverpool, University of Liverpool in London) brought together academic research with policy makers and stakeholders to review the current state for the art in digital inclusion policy and practice. DIPRC2019 drawn upon over two decades of research, policy, and practice. Over this time digital inequalities, digital inclusion and digital literacies have changed in response to developments in digital technologies and media. The primary aim of this conference was to link up international policy efforts to address digital inequalities, access and skills with the outcomes of recent research at from around the globe.
I underlined how the benefits of digital equity go well beyond the single citizen but impact on the community as a whole. We all known that an insufficient and unequal access to the Internet can create new forms of social segregation that exacerbate already existing social inequalities (Ragnedda 2018a). In fact, in a digital-reliant society being excluded from the digital realm means missing opportunities to improve one’s quality of life (Ragnedda and Mutsvairo 2018).
I have been nominated by students for a teaching award. This the fourth time, since I joined Northumbria University (Newcastle), that students nominate me for this award.
Here details of my nomination:
Why do you want to thank this person?
I want to thank him for delivering good lectures and explaining the content in a clear way to the entire class. His experience in the programme and his patience in helping to explain things if it wasn’t clear from the onset, is very helpful overall.
How do they stand out from other staff at Northumbria?
He shows a lot of passion and enthusiasm in teaching the class and has a way of explaining things that makes him stand out from other ‘teachers’ I have come across in my life. In the seminar slots, he is engaging and challenges the class perception on the subject at hand plus takes the time to listen to people when they try to explain their understanding of the class subject.
Next week (22-24 May 2019) I will be in Washington DC at the Partnership for Progress on the Digital Divide 2019 International Conference. I will be presenting a paper written with Maria Laura Ruiu titled “Operationalising and measuring Digital Capital: identification of indicators”. l will first introduce the Digital Capital and how we have conceptualized in bourdeusian terms as “a set of internalized ability and aptitude” (digital competencies) as well as “externalized resources” (digital technology) that can be historically accumulated and transferred from one arena to another. Then I will try to explain how we have operationlized this new specific capital. Finally I will be presenting the first results of an empirical research we carried out in the UK to measure the Digital Capital. This is the first attempt ever to operationalize and measure this new specific capital. The model we will be proposing can be used and applied in other social and cultural contexts.
Bruce Mutsvairo, Massimo Ragnedda (eds). Mapping the Digital Divide in Africa. A Mediated Analysis. Amsterdam University Press, 2019
Despite issues associated with the digital divide, mobile telephony is growing on the continent and the rise of smartphones has given citizens easy access to social networking sites. But the digital divide, which mostly reflects on one’s race, gender, socioeconomic status or geographical location, stands in the way of digital progress. What opportunities are available to tame digital disparities? How are different societies in Africa handling digital problems? What innovative methods are being used to provide citizens with access to critical information that can help improve their lives? Experiences from various locations in several sub-Saharan African countries have been carefully selected in this collection with the aim of providing an updated account on the digital divide and its impact in Africa.
Reviews
“For many years ‘the digital divide’ has been a catchphrase, often with little analytical content. This book provides studies of how the concept can be understood within an African context. The different contributions address problems related to digital opportunities as well as inhibitions to growth; thus, it has implications for how to comprehend technological, political, economic, social, and cultural development in a wider world. Of particular importance is that the book provides a theoretical understanding as well as an account of the impact of different technologies such as mobile phones.” – Helge Rønning, Professor, Department of Media and Communications, University of Oslo, Norway
“You need to take a different perspective of both the digital divide and Africa to understand the complexity of social and digital inequality in Africa. The digital divide is different in every part of the world. Reading this book you will grasp the complexity of the social, cultural and political affairs of Africa that are reinforcing the digital divide. Surprisingly, while mobile telephony is booming here, ICTs are in fact only reinforcing existing social inequality.” – Jan A.G.M. van Dijk, Professor, Department of Communication, University of Twente, the Netherlands
“This is a timely and much-needed collection that fills an important gap in the literature. It offers excellent conceptual tools and a selection of case studies that provide a useful map of the digital divide across the African continent and between Africa and the rest of the world. I especially appreciate the editors’ efforts to address African issues on their own terms and to problematize interpretive paradigms from the global north. It is a book that many will look forward to reading. I will recommend it to my students.” – Pier Paolo Frassinelli, Professor, School of Communication, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
I am honoured to have been awarded title of Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Faculty Council Meeting was held on 15 March 2019, and the decision was taken by a unanimous vote of the council members. The Faculty Council has justified this title “in recognition of my academic leadership in advancing knowledge through teaching and research, and ford dedicated service to Lomonosov Moscow State University”.
It is a big honour for me to have been awarded this title by the highest-ranked university in Russia. I am really grateful.