Has the Golden Age of Information already passed us by? (Image c/o Thomas Hawk

We live in an era where, on the face of it at least, there has never been greater access to information.  The emergence of the internet as a tool for spreading information has meant that people with a broadband connection are now able to access a wide-range of information resources.  Previous studies have demonstrated that those with a high-speed internet connection refer to around 3 news sources every day, compared to 1.7 news sources for non-users.  For those without the means to do so, public libraries across the country provide free access supported by skilled staff, ensuring that a sizeable proportion of the population aren’t left behind.  Furthermore, the introduction of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 enables citizens to obtain information about the inner workings of government, a particularly big step for the UK which has been comparatively slow to embrace open government.  However, despite these developments, access to reliable, quality information on a range of issues is very much under threat.

Whilst internet users are able to consult a range of news sources, the quality of these sources is very much in decline.  As Nick Davies explains in his book, Flat Earth News, journalism has increasingly been replaced by ‘churnalism’.  Davies explains that churnalism is produced by:

Journalists who are no longer gathering news but are reduced instead to passive processors of whatever material comes their way, churning out stories, whether real event or PR artifice, important or trivial, true or false” (p.59).

Evidently, the rise of ‘churnalism’ has a substantial impact on the flow of information.  If journalists (professionals that are a prime source of a wealth of information) are simply reproducing copy provided by governments or PR companies, how can anyone be sure of the veracity of the information they provide?  Of course, this is not entirely the fault of the journalists.  Commercial pressures have led to editors putting greater pressure on journalists to produce more for less.  This has meant far less investigative journalism than in the past (although the recent revelations regarding the phone-hacking scandal is an honourable exception – coincidentally led by Davies himself).

But it is not just journalistic standards that are undermining what should be a Golden Age for information.  Government policy is currently driving through changes which would severely restrict the amount of information the public would be able to obtain about public services.  As long as public services remain in the hands of government (both national and local), they are subject to FoI legislation.  Potentially, as a result of government cuts and the increase in services provided by volunteers groups, charities or the private sector,FoI legislation will no longer be applicable in a range of cases.  Indeed, the Campaign for Freedom of Information highlights the likely impact of NHS reforms on transparency and FoI requests:

Under the reforms, NHS services will be provided either by NHS bodies or by independent providers under contract. The NHS bodies which commission services will themselves be subject to the FOI Act though the independent providers will not. However, the providers will be contractually required to provide information to the commissioning bodies to help them answer FOI requests.

The standard NHS contract already contains a clause requiring providers to do this. But according to the Campaign, the clause appears to apply only to the specific information which the contract itself requires a provider to hold or report on. While numerous items of information are specified – for example, about the quality of the service, treatment times, complaints, MRSA infections and other matters – it does not cover the full range of information that would be available under FOI from an NHS body itself.

Clearly there are very real concerns that government policy will create new circumstances which will make the existing FoI irrelevant – leading to a lack of transparency about public services.

Further evidence of the threat to freely accessible information is provided by the current assault on our public library network.  There are currently over 400 libraries under threat of closure in the UK.  These public libraries offer a space where people can access information free of charge and free from discrimination.  As I have written on my other blog, 5.7 million households do not have access to the internet.  40% of those without say that they believe they either cannot afford the equipment or do not have the skills required.  For this 40%, public libraries are essential.  They provide a place to connect to the internet and provide the skilled staff required to support them.  Given that this proportion of the population are likely to be amongst the poorest in society and are likely to miss out on the economic benefits such access provides, it is essential that libraries with trained staff are widely available.

This could be the ‘Golden Age for Information’.  Certainly the introduction of Freedom of Information legislation and the ability for everyone to connect to the internet, should make it so.  However, the quality of information that citizens have access to is in steady decline.  Journalists simply reproduce PR or regurgitate unverified information from ‘trusted’ sources.  Central government are introducing a range of policies that ensure less transparency and make the Freedom of Information Act virtually irrelevant.  And public libraries, the only public institution that ensures free and equal access to information for all, are facing severe cuts and closures.  It could be the ‘Golden Age for Information’, but it could also be that this Age has already passed us by.