Beschreibung
This book bridges media, technocultural, urban and journalism studies to examine the role of journalism in relation to a smart city project on Torontos waterfront. From the announcement of the public-private partnership called Sidewalk Toronto to the projects termination, a mediatized controversy unfolded. Through an assemblage approach to this project and a case study of the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star, it follows the actors and chronicles the Quayside project story as a conversation about the promise and perils of a future smart neighbourhood. In addition to news of Waterfront Toronto, Sidewalk Labs, other actors, events and developments, there were multiple voices, views, interpretations and arguments, that manifested conflicting interests and values. As a situated actor, journalism produced a porous discourse where the prognostic value of the project to come could be expressed. The Quayside story not only clarified the nature of the project and the process with an active propose-and-public pushback movement but articulated relations of transparency and trust, governance and accountability. Journalists work of mediation conditioned the projects emergence and dissolution within asymmetrical relations of power. In the public debate, Sidewalk Labs bid for legitimacy would face an oppositional dimension that indented the projects enactment and modified its scope. Moreover, a time lag between project time and governmental policymaking made the mediatized controversy intractable. With their residual symbolic power, quality journalism added to the stock of public knowledge and contributed to dialogical urban learning. After the project ended, some reassembly of Quayside would be required.
Autorenporträt
Bob Hanke, PhD, is a faculty member in the Department of Communication & Media Studies, York University, Canada.
Herstellerkennzeichnung:
Springer Verlag GmbH
Tiergartenstr. 17
69121 Heidelberg
DE
E-Mail: juergen.hartmann@springer.com
