Citizenship on the Public Service Internet: Citizens’ Media Contribution to Reimagining Digital Democratic Communication

The initiative for a Public Service Internet (PSI) aims to restore democratic communication in the digital public sphere by expanding the role of public service media (PSM) into the digital realm. However, historically rooted in the broadcasting model, PSM needs a renewed framework of citizenship and communication that is up to the challenge. Drawing on Latin American scholarship on popular communication, this chapter follows Clemencia Rodríguez’ theorisation of “citizens’ media” to outline a three-point agenda to further democracy on the internet. First, a citizens’ media approach reframes PSM’s remit beyond content dissemination to contemplate the provision of digital spaces where people can come together and organise. Second, it challenges so-called audience engagement as a participation indicator to promote instances of popular governance over platforms. Last, it confronts algorithmic and commercial formalisation by advancing a vision of users who reappropriate digital communication infrastructure to build their own project of citizenship.