¿Digital Capabilities is a first-of-its-kind exploration of the capabilities that communities in positions of inequality in Israel and the West Bank seek to realize by utilizing information and communication technologies (ICT), the opportunities they have to communicate, and the way ICTs serve their desire to do so. It is the outcome of an eight-year research project in which the nine authors of this book, some of whom came from within the studied communities, conducted their work among the studied populations over an extended period of time. The capabilities approach, much discussed theoretically, takes on a life in this project and is presented as an empirically observable phenomenon for assessing whether ICTs are serving actual needs, whether communication resources are justly allocated and distributed and whether they serve the goal of a universally accessible right to communicate.

Amit M. Schejter is professor of communication studies at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, currently serving as President of Oranim College in the north of Israel. He is a visiting professor, as well as co-director of the Institute for Information Policy at Penn State University and is founding co-editor of the Journal of Information Policy. 

Baruch Shomron is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Communication, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. He holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. in communication studies from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. His research focuses on communication rights, media capabilities, media representations, digital divide, and health communication, especially regarding marginalized populations.

Muhammad Abu-Jaffar holds a B.A. in public policy management from Sapir Academic College and an M.A. in communication studies at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He leadsthe Rotem initiative, which focuses on promoting Bedouin women employment in media-related positions.            

Ghalia Abu Kaf is Director of Economic Development at Yanabia, an NGO promoting Bedouin society in the Negev in the fields of education, health, economic development and human capital. She holds a Ph.D. in communication studies, a Master's in public health and a Bachelor's degree in social work, all from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

Jonathan Mendels is head of knowledge management at the Professional Learning Communities R&D Team at the Mofet Institute and lectures in the Department of Communication Studies at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He holds a Ph.D. in communication studies from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. His research focuses on teacher-professional learning methods, digital inequality and digital games.

Shula Mola is a postdoctoral fellow at Brandeis University (2021-2023). Her research focuses on the preservation of the Ethiopian-Israeli community's history and heritage in a quest to gain recognition for its contribution to Israeli society. Mola holds a Master's degree in education from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a Ph.D. in communication studies from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

Malka Shacham is a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Global Studies (SGS) at Gothenburg University and a former postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Education in Math, Science and Technology at Tel Aviv University. She received her M.A. and her Ph.D. in communication studies from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. 

Amneh Al Sharha received her Master's degree in communication studies at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. She completed her undergraduate degree at Hebron University. Sharha currently works as an English teacher in East Jerusalem and as a mentor at Near (TEC4Schools). She also participates regularly in social-political initiatives such as Wings of Hope, Al-Tariq, Lidice House, Europeans for Peace, and ICNC.     

Noam Tirosh is a senior lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. His research focuses on the relationship between memory and media and their relation with democracy, justice, and human rights. He holds a Ph.D. in communication studies from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

 

 

 

Part I: Foundations.- 1. The theoretical framework: The capabilities approach and social justice.- 2. The context: Marginalized communities in Israel and the West Bank.- Part II: Media and Technology.- 3. Mass media: The case of Israeli broadcast media and Arab-Israelis.- 4. Journalism: The case of Bedouin journalists.- 5. Digital role-playing games: The case of Arab-Israeli teachers.- 6. Mobile digital applications: The case of iNakba, voice and memory.- 7. Social networking applications: The case of Facebook and West Bank Palestinian activists.- Part III: Communities.- 8. Bedouin villagers in the Negev.- 9. Ultra-Orthodox Haredi women.- 10. Zera Beta Israel immigrant activists in absorption centers.- 11. The Bnei Menashe immigrant community.- 12. Asylum seekers and refugees.- 13. Conclusion: Policies and strategies towards a fair digital media society.