1. Global Media: Communication Around the World
Chapter 15

2. Journalists imprisoned for trying to report international news
Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian imprisoned in Iran for more than 500 days starting in 2014.
As of 2016, China held 49 journalists in prison; Egypt held 23, Iran 19.
Imprisonment of journalists keeps news outlets from covering offending countries.

3. Media Ideals Around the World
Four Theories of the Press, first published in 1956
Reaction to Cold War world
Theories
Authoritarian
Communist
Libertarian
Social responsibility

4. Authoritarian Theory
Roots in royal control of society where aristocracy derived its authority to rule from God.
The role of the press is to be a servant of the government, not a servant of the citizenry.
Controls press through regulation, intimidation, and force

5. Communist Theory Product of Cold War Soviet Union
Media are an instrument of the Communist Party; independent press is undesirable and should be suppressed.
Media should be closely tied to government power.
Media’s main purpose is to act as a tool for government propaganda.

6. Libertarian Theory
The only way to arrive at the truth is for ideas to be freely and openly discussed.
Different people will have different opinions, and everyone must be allowed to develop his or her own.
The most rational ideas will be the most accepted.
The theory assumes that government is greatest threat to free press, not corporate interests.

7. Social Responsibility Theory
Press must provide the following social functions:
Provide information needed for political system
Give public information needed for self-governance
Serve as a government watchdog
Bring together buyers and sellers
Provide entertainment
Be profitable enough to avoid outside pressures

8. Social Responsibility Theory
Essentially advocates non-authoritarian media controls
Response to Hutchins Commission report of the late 1940s

9. Norms for the Press in the Twenty-First Century
Additional norms for the press in twenty-first century
Developing nations may need to implement press controls in order to promote industry, national identity, and partnerships with neighboring nations
Do these controls differ from authoritarian controls?

10. The Internet in the Twenty-First Century
The unique nature of the Internet, especially in a global context, poses new moral dilemmas concerning national boundaries, corporate control, freedom of the press, and the rights of individuals.

11. Going Global: Media Standards Around the World
Five Dimensions of Media
Control Who controls the media system?
Finance How do broadcasters pay the bills?
Programming goals What are the media trying to accomplish with their programming?
Target audience For whom are the media producing and distributing content?
Feedback mechanism How do media organizations hear back from their audience.

12. Canada, Western Europe, and Great Britain
Canadian Media
Relatively free press
Rules to protect Canadian content
Many U.S. media companies produce content in Canada because of lower costs.

13. Canada, Western Europe, and Great Britain
Western Europe and Britain
Growing availability of cable/satellite television
Broadcast networks heavily regulated with strong public service component
Newspapers take a more obvious partisan political point of view than do U.S. newspapers.

14. Canada, Western Europe, and Great Britain
Charlie Hebdo, the Danish Cartoons, and Terrorism
2005: Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten publishes 12 cartoons portraying the prophet Muhammad.
2006: Cartoons are reprinted, leading to rioting in Middle East and dozens of deaths.
French magazine Charlie Hebdo has long history of publishing cartoons offensive to virtually every religion, including Islam.
2015: Terrorists attack Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris, killing 12 journalists/cartoonists.
Hard decision for news outlets on reprinting any of these cartoons. Many from CH too offensive to publish.

15. Central and Latin America
Television dominated by North American, Mexican, and Brazilian programming
Popular telenovelas exported to United States
Since 1990s, governments more stable, have freer press
Growing newspaper circulation

16. Islamic Countries and the Middle East
Elements of Social Responsibility and Authoritarian theories
Many of these countries are dangerous for journalists.
Television heavily regulated
Most popular programming comes from ARABSAT.
Importance of “small” and social media
Alternative media such as faxes, photocopies, home video, blogs, and social media
Mobile devices far more important than computers for online access
Internet most important single medium

17. Islamic Countries and the Middle East
Al Jazeera
Arab-language satellite news channel that originates in Qatar
Popular in Arab world; controversial in West
Audience of 40 million viewers dwarfs CNN or Fox
Presents a broad Arab version of news rather than that of a single country

18. Africa Wide range of press controls
Newspapers created to serve needs of white colonials; published primarily in English and French
Radio is the most important medium.
Television not a major medium
No dominant language
Global popularity of South African pop music

19. Russia and the Former Soviet Republics
No tradition of free press
Media generally viewed as propaganda outlet for people in power
High levels of self-censorship
Government controls television and radio.
Media owned privately but closely connected to the government

20. Asia India Very large media market
World’s second largest newspaper readership
All India Radio is dominant radio service.
Television going through period of growth, increasing freedoms; engage in self-censorship to prevent government controls
Mumbai terror attacks highlighted importance of mobile social media.

21. Asia China Rapidly changing media environment
World’s largest newspaper market
Talk radio popular, relatively free
Levels of free speech vary over time and political regimes
Internet closely monitored
The Great Firewall

22. Asia Japan Large manufacturer of media technology and innovations
Broadcasting is a mix of commercial and public service.
Popularity of manga comic books

23. Media Transformations: Are We Really Living in a Media World?
Marshall McLuhan wrote about the global village in 1962’s The Gutenberg Galaxy.
Looked at how electronic media help people interact globally
Electronic media do bridge distances.
Are we really residents of a global village or just sightseers?