Media and Urban Governance: The Quest for Sustainable Cities and Communities

Abstract

Communication creates communities. Connectivity becomes the hallmark of the network society facilitated by digital technologies (Manuel Castells, 2000). As the population is constantly increasing and communities are expanding, we require modern, resilient, and sustainable cities. Cities are fundamentally communicative, being fast, well-connected, and global in outlook. Cities are also known for media concentration, as the structures and people there create, carry and exchange messages: social, political, economic, and cultural. Media technologies influence the future of cities. Media not only perform the responsibilities of information dissemination and community building but also facilitate urban governance and public discourse on policies. The policy-making process that consists of policy inputs, policy processes, and policy outputs is heavily influenced by the public discourse triggered by the media. Media establish a policy issue at the center of the public sphere, sets the policy agenda, and create public opinion. It inevitably leads to the mediatization of public policy. In this context, the proposed research paper intends to explore the following aspects: How do media facilitate the creation of communities and fulfill citizens' rights to communicate in cities? What are the gaps in the urban communication landscape, and how do we bridge them? How do media influence policy decisions in urban governance and ensure accountability? What are the prospects of media to promote Sustainable Development Goals in cities? How do they facilitate dialogue between the people, governments, civil societies, and other development agencies? How does technology contribute to strengthening the urban communication landscape?