DEFINING KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY..............

Generally speaking, the term Knowledge Society refers to any society where knowledge is the primary production resource instead of capital and labour. It may also refer to the use a certain society gives to information. A Knowledge society "creates, shares and uses knowledge for the prosperity and well-being of its people". Knowledge societies have the characteristic that knowledge forms a major component of any human activity. Economic, social, cultural, and all other human activities become dependent on a huge volume of knowledge and information. A knowledge society is one in which knowledge becomes a major creative force.

Knowledge societies are not a new occurrence. For example, fishermen have long shared the knowledge of predicting the weather to their community and this knowledge gets added to the social capital of the community.

What is new is that

• With current technologies, knowledge societies need not be constrained by geographic proximity
• Current technology offers much more possibilities for sharing, archiving and retrieving knowledge

Knowledge has become the most important capital in the present age, and hence the success of any society lies in harnessing it.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_society

The proposition 'knowledge society' acknowledges the might of the brain power over of any other kind, be it economic or military or political. The position that a country enjoys in the present day world is determined by its ability to make best use of its brainpower. The capability created by knowledge is the foundation upon which our future is to be built.

SOURCE: http://presscouncil.nic.in/speech11.htm

According to New Webster’s Encyclopaedic Dictionary of the English Language (1997 Ed) ‘Information’ is knowledge communicated or received concerning a particular fact or circumstance, news. Or "Knowledge gained through study, communication, research, instruction, etc, data, facts.

‘Knowledge’ means acquaintance with fact, truths. "Knowledge is a information combined with experience, context, interpretation, and reflection. It is a high value form of information that is ready to apply to decisions and action. (T. Davenport et al. 1998).

Knowledge exists in the minds of the people and when combined with capital, labour, existing knowledge and other inputs, produces goods and service and is thus a factor of productivity. This fact has been realised by many of the developed countries during their transformation into stronger economies.

SOURCE: http://presscouncil.nic.in/speech11.htm

DEFINING KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY............

Generally, the term Knowledge Society refers to any society where knowledge is the primary production resource instead of capital and labour. It may also refer to the use a certain society gives to information. A Knowledge society "creates, shares and uses knowledge for the prosperity and well-being of its people".

Knowledge societies have the characteristic that knowledge forms a major component of any human activity. Economic, social, cultural, and all other human activities become dependent on a huge volume of knowledge and information. A knowledge society is one in which knowledge becomes a major creative force.

Knowledge societies are not a new occurrence. For example, fishermen have long shared the knowledge of predicting the weather to their community and this knowledge gets added to the social capital of the community.

DEFINING INFORMATION SOCIETY.........

Information society can be viewed as a society in which information technology is transforming every aspect of cultural, political, and social life and which is based on the production and distribution of information. It is characterized by the (1) pervasive influence of IT on home, work, and recreational aspects of the individuals daily routine, (2) stratification into new classes those who are information-rich and those who are information-poor, (3) loosening of the nation state's hold on the lives of individuals and the rise of highly sophisticated criminals who can steal identities and vast sums of money through information related (cyber) crime.
SOURCE: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/information-society.html

Information Society is a term for a society in which the creation, distribution, and manipulation of information has become the most significant economic and cultural activity. An Information Society may be contrasted with societies in which the economic underpinning is primarily Industrial or Agrarian. The machine tools of the Information Society are computers and telecommunications, rather than lathes or ploughs.
The idea of a global Information Society can be viewed in relation to Marshall McLuhan's prediction that the communications media would transform the world into a "global village."
SOURCE: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci213588,00.html

Here is a succinct definition from the IBM Community Development Foundation in a 1997 report, "The Net Result - Report of the National Working Party for Social Inclusion."
Information Society: A society characterised by a high level of information intensity in the everyday life of most citizens, in most organisations and workplaces; by the use of common or compatible technology for a wide range of personal, social, educational and business activities, and by the ability to transmit, receive and exchange digital data rapidly between places irrespective of distance.
SOURCE: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci213588,00.html

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THEORY (SRT) AND THE LIBERTARIAN THEORY.

Libertarian theory takes the philosophical view that man is rational and able to discern between truth and falsehood and, therefore, can choose between a better and worse alternative. Man is capable of determining his own destiny, and given all the facts will make the right choice. This is where the media is allowed to operate freely due to democracy, freedom to express opinions etc.

The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech so that the press can remain fully free, and the public can be fully informed. This freedom may sometimes be hindered by corporate pressures and government control. In countries without freedom of the press, messages are filtered through the government, allowing only what is considered acceptable information to be released to the public.

To combat the pressures that threatened freedom of the press, this theory was first introduced in 1947 and was recommended by the Hutchins Commission on Freedom of the Press. It stated that the media should serve the public, and in order to do so, should remain free of government interference. It defined guidelines that the media should follow in order to fulfill its obligation of serving the public.

There are certain similarities among the social responsibility and the liberitarian theory and these are

• There is private ownership in both libertarian and the SRT theories. In these theories, the media is owned by private individuals without government influence or interference.

• Objectivity: Both libertarian and SRT theories, because of their independence from the government seeks to give out facts as they are (objective truth). This is because of the media or press role as watchdogs to government policies. Also it is the mandatory for the media under social responsibility theory to deliver the right information to it’s publics.

• Under both the libertarian and SRT theories, the press is seen as a source of information and a platform for expressing divergent opinions by the public. This enables the people to monitor government and form ideas about policies.

DIFFERENCES.

• Fairness: SRT is under obligation to to create a forum for divergent viewpoints and opinions. In other words the media gives attention to all ethnic groups, tribes without discrimination. Whilst under the libertarian theory the press is not obliged to do so. It can favor some cultures and be bias to others under the libertarian theory.

• Ethics: Under libertarian theory, because of sensationalism there is lack of ethics of the profession whilst in SRT the media operates on code of conducts: code of ethics.

• Professionalism: SRT operates on professionalism. Training and continuing development of professionals to advance and nature balanced and impartial news presentation. Libertarian theory does not place emphasis on professionalism due to sensationalism leading to yellow journalism practices.

• Accountability: Under SRT the media is charged to deliver on ethics, professionalism, and objectivity hence the public holds them accountable for information given out. But this does not apply to the media under libertarian theory.

• Transparency: SRT as part of its social responsibility is transparent in its operations to the public but this does not apply to the libertarian theory. The libertarian theory is not obliged to be open to the general public in terms of it's operations.
  

GIJ HOLDS ALUMNI NIGHT

Despite the downpours last Friday, the venue was heated up as many people thronged to GIJ’s campus to witness the alumni home-coming night.

The programme was organized as part of the institute’s 50th anniversary celebrations. It was directed at bringing all past and present students of the school together. The programme was graced by familiar faces in the media industry and these included distinguished journalists in the country.

The programme which was delayed due to the rains did not stop people from crowding the institute’s forecourt. The programme was officially started at 6:10pm instead of the hyped 5:00pm. MC for the night, Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD), a renowned broadcaster and a continuing student was at his best as he steered the affairs of the show.

The night witnessed a splendid performance from Obour, who performed most of his hit tracks which included his recent single “the game” featuring Okyeame Kwame. In spite Of the energetic performance of Obour and co, the night was stolen by spectacular performances from ace highlife musicians Gyedu Blay Ambulley and Mac Tonto. They thrilled audience to non-stop live band hilife tunes which was the style of the night.

The night also saw G-2, a group on campus perform

K.K.D- THE FINEST ADVICES EDDIE

K.K.D- The finest advices Eddie
Kwasi Kyei Darkwa a.k.a. K.K.D a renowned journalist and a media practitioner has personally advised Edward to take his journalism career serious.
K.K.D was speaking to him after an inter-faculty lecture held on G.I.J campus last week. The veteran broadcaster said 'you are good but i expect more from you'.
story: Michael Oti Nyantakyi.
Publisher, blaqueorigin gh ltd.

EDDIE TO STORM GIJ TV

EDDIE TO STORM GIJ TV with the environment & you!
Edward, a concept developer is currently working on a new project yet to be aired on GIJ tv. Environment & you is an hour magazine programme which would unveil environmental problems and seek concrete solutions from experts on their respective fields. This programme is a blaque-origin Gh conceptualization in collaboration with GIJ tv.
Details of this programme yet to be post on this site. - Watch out!

EDDIE REVEALS AN ADMIRATION...........

EDDIE REVEALS AN ADMIRATION!
It is undoubtedly clear that Kwame Sefa-Kai is the King of morning shows and also dominate the radio airwaves in Ghana. It is obvious that Kwame has over the years developed into a force to rekkon within the media landscape. Edward is multivated by him and looks up to him as his mentor. "I want to be like him and become even better", eddie told www.blaquesoil.blogspot.com