[Bp_localcontent] Local Content Definition - maybe Locally Relevant Content

Tue Jul 8 14:45:03 EDT 2014

Ok so .. we probably agree ..

I probably posted this already .. though I'm on so many mailing lists these days I'm not sure which one I've posted what to ..

When we started out over 10 years ago the bulk of Irish websites were not hosted in Ireland.
The costs of hosting anything in Ireland back then were stupidly expensive
Also, and I think it's linked, the cost of getting any kind of "broadband" was quite high.

Fast forward to 2014 ..
The bulk of Irish websites are hosted in Ireland.
Broadband speeds have increased across the board and according to Akamai's latest report we somehow have made it into the top 10 globally:
http://technology.ie/ireland-top-ten-internet-broadband-ine/
Though we still have a lot of the country unable to get anything decent ..

Back in 2003 bandwidth and colocation costs in Ireland were significantly higher and prior to that they were really in the realm of the big telcos only
(https://www.inex.ie/about/history )

When I look at some of the developing markets across the globe I see a lot of parallels with Ireland of about 10 years ago (give or take)
The difference today, however, is that mobile devices and mobile technology has evolved a LOT. (Remember when WAP was "cool"?)
It's far easier now to start creating content than it was a few years ago.

"Local" has a lot of different meanings ..

I'm not sure what the exact outcome of any of this is, but there's a lot of interlocking things that impact everything else ..

If it's "hard" to get a stable internet connection, either because of technical issues, or cost or any number of other factors, then the likelihood of people spending a lot of time online is going to diminish ..
When it becomes easier, cheaper etc. to get online and consume content then it also becomes easier to produce content ..

Just my opinion of course ..

Regards

Michele

--
Mr Michele Neylon
Blacknight Solutions
Hosting & Colocation, Domains
http://www.blacknight.co/
http://blog.blacknight.com/
http://www.technology.ie
Intl. +353 (0) 59  9183072
Direct Dial: +353 (0)59 9183090
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mneylon
-------------------------------
Blacknight Internet Solutions Ltd, Unit 12A,Barrowside Business Park,Sleaty
Road,Graiguecullen,Carlow,Ireland  Company No.: 370845

From: Bp_localcontent [mailto:bp_localcontent-bounces at intgovforum.org] On Behalf Of Blackler, Ellen M.
Sent: Tuesday, July 8, 2014 7:26 PM
To: bp_localcontent at intgovforum.org
Subject: Re: [Bp_localcontent] Local Content Definition - maybe Locally Relevant Content

I agree that we want to encourage new producers like the Eastern and Central Europe startups you mention - my concern is that local content is often heard as content produced locally for  a local audience ( ie, content in Hungarian produced in Hungary).  I think we want to encourage that and we want to encourage all the other scenarios that people have mentioned.  I am certainly not wed to locally produced content, or any term, I just want to make sure we are not excluding important content creation scenarios.

I actually hear two main concerns when I hear people talk about more local content.  One, I think of as an economic development angle - they want content creation related industries like the start ups you reference.   Second, they want more stuff designed in languages other than English, more content designed specifically for and about  their local communities, etc.

Both seem valid things to work on and encourage - whatever we call it.

From: Michele Neylon - Blacknight [mailto:michele at blacknight.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2014 2:07 PM
To: Blackler, Ellen M.; bp_localcontent at intgovforum.org<mailto:bp_localcontent at intgovforum.org>
Subject: RE: [Bp_localcontent] Local Content Definition - maybe Locally Relevant Content

While content creation / generation and content provision / serving are both important, surely they're two very different audiences?

A lot of content creators aren't particularly technical ..

IXPs, hosting etc., are all very technical and involve a totally different set of criteria and actors.

I also don't really understand why "locally relevant" is so important, or why the "relevance" factor should outweigh any other considerations. If I look at some of the startups in Eastern and Central Europe, for example, they're working on projects in English with a view to pitching them to the US and other markets. If they limited themselves to their local markets (your "relevance" I think) then they wouldn't be able to survive.

Just my take on it ..

Regards

Michele

--
Mr Michele Neylon
Blacknight Solutions
Hosting & Colocation, Domains
http://www.blacknight.co/
http://blog.blacknight.com/
http://www.technology.ie
Intl. +353 (0) 59  9183072
Direct Dial: +353 (0)59 9183090
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mneylon
-------------------------------
Blacknight Internet Solutions Ltd, Unit 12A,Barrowside Business Park,Sleaty
Road,Graiguecullen,Carlow,Ireland  Company No.: 370845

From: Bp_localcontent [mailto:bp_localcontent-bounces at intgovforum.org] On Behalf Of Blackler, Ellen M.
Sent: Tuesday, July 8, 2014 5:53 PM
To: bp_localcontent at intgovforum.org<mailto:bp_localcontent at intgovforum.org>
Subject: [Bp_localcontent] Local Content Definition - maybe Locally Relevant Content

Greetings everyone -

I look forward to this discussion.  I would like to weigh in in favor of a broad definition of local content along the lines of what Susan started with.  We have actually been using the term locally-relevant content in an attempt to capture the idea that it is whatever the user decides is relevant to the communities (either physical or virtual) that they see themselves belonging to.  Clearly language is a major part of that (and rightfully a focus of efforts to expand content).    Likewise, I think it would be fruitful to understand and encourage ways  to improve capabilities for content creation locally as both an economic development and diversity matter,  and ways to improve facilities likes IXPs, hosting and caching because of the impacts on end users and access Michel Kende has talked about.

I think the biggest pitfall we should avoid (and I think we are so far), is a focus on where the content is produced.  I have no evidence but suspect that often early in the adoption curve process a lot of content in a local language is produced outside a particular locale.  And certainly in repressive places a lot of important but locally relevant content gets produced elsewhere.   The reality is for professional content like movies where they get made is a global market based on things outside the normal Internet policymaking context like tax credits!  And of course in a diaspora situation people in a language community are not in the same physical space.

While I have your attention, I will use this opportunity to make a plug for a panel I am working on at the IGF (Panel 201) that will bring content creators from around the world to talk about barriers to and opportunities for locally relevant content creation.   We have the CEO of iROKOtv, which is often called the Nigerian Netflix, an app developer working in the LatAm market from Guatemala, an app developer from Africa working in the Kenya and SA, and one of our partner producers from Turkey.   I hope it will be a good opportunity to understand the models people are using to successfully create locally relevant content, the barriers and the environment that encourages more creation.

Look forward to continued discussion!  Best, Ellen
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