Digital Divide Report
Originally published Nov. 30, 2010
The Digital Divide and Journalism’s Responsibilities
E-readers, websites, Kindles, and iPads are new electronic tools changing the landscape of journalism. These technological wonders are giving journalists the opportunity to offer news in more ways than ever before. However, many citizens are unable to consume important news and information through these new devices because they are either technologically illiterate or unable to afford the expensive computer hardware. Then, in the current Internet Age, do journalists have a responsibility to continue offering print news to those citizens who fall on the wrong side of this “digital divide”?
Simply put, the digital divide refers to the gap between those who use computers and the Internet and those who do not. It includes the imbalance both in physical access to technology and the resources and skills needed to effectively participate.[1]