Show-business for ugly people?: media politics and e-democracy

The TV remote has long been a symbol of apathy, a way to switch off from public life. Interactive media, on the other hand, are valorised for allowing participation and deliberation. E-government initiatives are being pursued by state authorities in the hope that they may encourage interest in politics and efficiently provide information to citizens. This paper looks at the democratic possibility of e-government, locating it in the medium’s ability to encourage networks, knowledge and creativity. However, these are outcomes that occur at the level of the self, rather than the public, and are enabled by the information and services aspects of e-government – not necessarily by democratic deliberation. The press and broadcasting successfully congregated audiences and formed narratives that defined the ambitions (and shortcomings) of government in relation to society. Now audiences are turning increasingly to entertainment, reality TV and celebrities, and losing interest in both politicians and the news. How can governments fulfil the public’s need for leadership? The shift towards private life may provide the answers that e-government has been looking for. We argue that e-government initiatives are unlikely to succeed in overcoming political apathy until they produce narratives relevant to contemporary culture.