Page 82 - Culture Technology Communication

Electronic Networks and Civil Society:
Reflections on Structural Changes
in the Public Sphere

Barbara Becker and Josef Wehner

Introduction
The contemporary media system is undergoing a rapid and funda-
mental change caused by the emergence of a new electronic
medium: the “Internet.” In comparison with mass media, this new
medium offers relatively cheap and simple access to worldwide in-
formation and communication opportunities. It supports multilat-
eral communication without the barriers of natural interactive
communication (above all, dependency on the presence of the par-
ticipants, and lack of time to meet face to face). Compared to mass
media and their journalistic professionalism, people do not need
much money or any special higher qualification to use the Internet.
They can publish their points of view, ideas, and comments to a par-
ticular topic without being restricted by time and space, and with-
out depending on greater organizational or professional support. In
this way it becomes relatively easy for every participant to act as an
editor or a publisher. So, the revolutionary significance of the Inter-
net is caused by an increasing independence from the traditional
“intermedia” system (mass media, political parties and other rep-
resentative institutions).
Therefore it is no surprise that people have high expectations
about the societal consequences of the Internet with respect to the
public sphere. Looking at the current debate on this theme, we
would like to comment on a polarization between two different posi-
tions (see Leggewie and Maar 1998). One side emphasizes the dem-
ocratic potential of the Internet. According to this optimistic
interpretation, the Internet may strengthen the position of citizens

67