This article discusses the role of media and communications in contributing to social progress, as elaborated in a landmark international project – the International Panel on Social Progress. First, it analyses how media and digital platforms have contributed to global inequality by examining media access and infrastructure across world regions. Second, it looks at media governance and the different mechanisms of corporatized control over media platforms, algorithms and content. Third, the article examines how the democratization of media is a key element in the struggle for social justice. It argues that effective media access – in terms of distribution of media resources, even relations between spaces of connection and the design and operation of spaces that foster dialogue, free speech and respectful cultural exchange – is a core component of social progress.

中文翻译：

---

媒体、传播和社会进步的斗争

本文讨论了媒体和传播在促进社会进步方面的作用，正如一个具有里程碑意义的国际项目——社会进步国际小组所阐述的那样。首先，它通过检查世界各地区的媒体访问和基础设施，分析了媒体和数字平台如何导致全球不平等。其次，它着眼于媒体治理以及公司化控制媒体平台、算法和内容的不同机制。第三，本文考察了媒体的民主化如何成为争取社会正义斗争的关键因素。它认为有效的媒体访问——在媒体资源的分配方面，甚至是连接空间之间的关系以及促进对话的空间设计和操作，