Ethics Of Participation: Research Or Reporting?

The diverse assemblage of those involved in Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICTD) efforts exposes inherent tensions between fields and perspectives. While debates between researcher and practitioner "intent" are starting to surface, these conversations primarily pertain to the methods and strategies in common and in question between technologists and social scientists. This paper discusses the differing ethics between the academic researcher, the practitioner, and the journalist - which efforts work in support of each other, and where are they at variance? When the journalist is also the researcher, a phenomenon occurring more frequently (especially in academic ICTD efforts), what position does this hybrid entity assume when conducting fieldwork? The authors, an ICTD professor and a professional journalist pursuing a Ph.D. in ICTD, are interested in exploring issues of representation, identity and responsibility in ICTD initiatives through the lens of Development Informatics in order to study the opportunities and challenges inherent when the traditions and perspectives of different academic and vocational fields merge, requiring those from different backgrounds to mediate and negotiate their involvement strategies with target communities. This paper endeavors to provide a "blueprint" for others in ICTD coming from a variety of backgrounds and methodologies, and to begin a larger discussion that can grow to incorporate the positions of additional journalists, researchers, and the combination, from both Northern and Southern standpoints.