Democracy.ph: A Textual Analysis of Selected Philippine Government Websites on Their Promotion of Democracy

Democracy.ph: A Textual Analysis of Selected Philippine Government Websites on Their Promotion of Democracy

ABSTRACT

This study deals with how the Philippine government uses the Internet in promoting democracy. Specifically, the research focuses on the content and text posted in the selected websites of 20 government agencies, and the online version of the Official Gazette, the official online portal of the Philippines. This study is grounded on the fact that the fostering of democracy is enshrined in our Constitution and laws.

This evaluative study employs textual analysis as its method. Using Lauth’s dimensions of democracy and Rheingold’s public sphere in the Internet, the selected government websites are evaluated based on their definition of democracy. More specifically, they are assessed on their portrayal and images of freedom, equality and public sphere, three important elements of democracy.

The government websites do not depict a genuine democratic content because they fail to address the rights and freedom of the people, merely depending on established laws that assert what they should upload online. They also fail to promote equality by using the English language, creating a hindrance to democracy. The lack of information about the websites and lack of interaction on their social networking sites imply that they do not fully utilize the public sphere in the Internet.

Santos, R.B. (2013). Democracy.ph: A Textual Analysis of Selected Philippine Government Websites on Their Promotion of Democracy. Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis, University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication.

Keywords: Internet, government websites, Official Gazette, democracy, freedom, equality, public sphere

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