These days most of us are on information overload.  Already today I have read the newspaper and checked various online new sources and blogs for the most breaking news and opinions. This, of course is on top of television and internet shows I regularly watch and periodicals I keep up with.  This bombardment of information might lead us to assume that the fall of a few newspapers might not hurt anyone. That’s easy to say when we get our information from a ton of other sources.

The Economist recently contained an article that presented a crisis unique to our modern era.  A local newspaper in the small town of Bedworth, Great Britain, shut down after it faced steadily declining ad revenue and competition from larger publications. However, local residents found themselves facing a situation where vital day-to-day information would not be easily accessible anymore. With the town being on the wrong side of the digital divide, the situation serves as a study into how technology has been a curse towards hundreds of local publications like the Bedworth Echo.

It is interesting to see how this dilemma is facing a developed nation such as the United Kingdom, a country where access to technology is more widespread than in many other places. More fascinating is how the local government and private organizations reacted to the loss of a vital channel of information by creating alternative strategies such as pamphlets and citizens groups as a tool to keep the public informed.

I realized after reading this article that this situation is not unique to Bedworth or other small towns. Many local governments around the world do not have the means or capabilities to implement a program much as Bedworth did. This situation should serve as a reminder to organizations within the developing world that the basic act of “spreading the word” is just as important as creating agricultural programs and economic development policies.  With this basic level of social networking, communities can spread important information such as government programs, health clinics, and employment opportunities to the population. In areas where technology is not as widely available or used, a low-tech solution much like Bedworth’s can be the model. An effective information policy is the foundation by which people can become effective members of their community.

Photo Credit: Dougtone http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/2760961579/

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