Comunicación colectiva y desarrollo socioeconómico: cambio social, información y libertad

Abstract

With regard to the socio-economic development process undertaken by a large number of countries in the so-called Third World and in connection with the central role played by collective communications within modern society, the authors of this article state -and try to answer- the following questions: 1) -What is the role of collective communications with regard to the modernization process? 2) -Is the former at the same time one of the motors and one of the indicators of the latter? 3) -Is freedom of information and of expression one of the sacrifices which have to be made in order to attain the desired objective? To answer these questions, the authors start off by defining the frame of reference of their work which is made up of an adequate notion of what constitutes both terms, collective communications and socio-economic development. Afterwards, they investigate the nexus existing between these two realities. For this task, they bear in mind the latest basic bibliography on the subject, put out by such classic researchers as LERNER, SCHRAMM, ROSTOW, PYE, MERRILL, DE SOLA POOL, FREY, etc. In this sense, and following SCHRAMM aboye all, they point out systematically the uses and the conditions for effectiveness of the means of collective communications in societies which initiate the difficult and long development process. The authors then put forth the problems of freedom and responsibility with regard to development, taking as their starting point for this investigation the freedom and responsibilities of the media themselves. To solve adequately the relations which exist between these two realities, the co-ordination of which holds obvious ethical implications, is not an easy task, and constitutes as the authors point out one of the main challenges facing those nations which hope to attain social and economical development.