Should we favour the creation of original French content or should we adapt existing content from other mediums?

Participants at the content workshop undoubtedly agreed, there is no need to choose. The example of the Senegalese newspaper, Le Soleil, for which the computerization of archives is an inevitable resource in West Africa, indeed demonstrates the usefulness of adapting existing content and making it accessible to all. However, participants agreed that it is imperative to create original French content. “The computerization of archives is an interesting issue, but the creation of content intended for the Web should not be neglected,” affirms René Morin, who for over four years has worked for the Centre international pour le développement de l’inforoute en français.

Odile Ambry, the French journalist hosting the workshop, adds: “The Web is another medium.” Producing content that is conceived specifically for the Internet is therefore absolutely essential. She also put forth the idea of using computerized archives to create new content. “We could liven up the archives by adapting the content to multimedia and making it more creative.”

There was also a general agreement that content needs to be structured in a more coherent way. “The problem is not so much the content, but rather how it is organized,” insists Alex Corinthin, professor and president of the Internet Society’s Senegalese Division. “It must be interactive.” He gave the example of African sites where cybernauts must click twenty or so times before accessing information.

One Single Model for the French Community

The standardization of ergonomics was another issue brought up by Odile Audry. For example, should we use the same basic structure in Europe and in Africa? Alex Corenthin, believes that yes, but to a certain extent. As we do not produce content exclusively for ourselves, we must, according to him, leave an opening. “The Web is about targets,” he believes. Despite the scepticism of other participants, he considers it is possible to use the same base structure for the francophone community, while adding a cultural touch.

Moreover, Mr. Corenthin deplores the passive role of Africans with regard to content, affirming “Africa cannot continue to be a consumer, it must also be a producer.”

For him the goal is clear, as he announced at the beginning of the workshop: “The goal is not to put French online, it is to put diversity online.

Article mis en ligne le 13 juin 2002