17/Global Mass Media17/Global Mass Media

• Mass media are globalizing under a few Mass media are globalizing under a few companies. companies.

• American media companies are dominating American media companies are dominating global media products.global media products.

• Globalization works against indigenous Globalization works against indigenous and distinctive media content. and distinctive media content.

• Technology has been eroding the power of Technology has been eroding the power of nations to control mass media content.nations to control mass media content.

A few factsA few facts• The The Simpsons Simpsons (FOX) aired on television in (FOX) aired on television in more more than 60 countries than 60 countries last year.last year.

• Many movies created in the U.S. Many movies created in the U.S. make more moneymake more money on international sales yet on international sales yet more movies are more movies are created in Indiacreated in India than in the U.S. than in the U.S.

• The News Corp.’s The News Corp.’s satellite TV signals satellite TV signals (British (British Sky Broadcasting-United Kingdom, DirecTV-United Sky Broadcasting-United Kingdom, DirecTV-United States, Sky Movies-Japan, Sky Latin America-States, Sky Movies-Japan, Sky Latin America-Latin America, and Star Satellite Broadcasting-Latin America, and Star Satellite Broadcasting-Asia)Asia) reach about three-fourths of the globe reach about three-fourths of the globe..

• BBCBBC, a radio and television system funded by , a radio and television system funded by British government, is British government, is known for its global known for its global news coveragenews coverage. It has 250 full-time . It has 250 full-time correspondents, compared to CNN’s 113.correspondents, compared to CNN’s 113.

A few more factsA few more facts• Mexican and Brazilian soap operas Mexican and Brazilian soap operas (telenovelas) reach(telenovelas) reach as many countriesas many countries as some as some popular U.S. television shows and are more popular U.S. television shows and are more popular in Latin America, Eastern Europe and popular in Latin America, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.Central Asia.

• CNNCNN (Time Warner) can reach one billion (Time Warner) can reach one billion people in most countries. people in most countries.

• MTV MTV (Viacom)-Asia, Europe, United States, (Viacom)-Asia, Europe, United States, Russia, Brazil, Latin America, Canada, Japan, Russia, Brazil, Latin America, Canada, Japan, Africa, and Australia-is the Africa, and Australia-is the world’s largest world’s largest television channeltelevision channel. It can be tuned in a 419 . It can be tuned in a 419 million homes (more than one billion viewers) million homes (more than one billion viewers) in 164 countries in 18 languages. in 164 countries in 18 languages.

A few more factsA few more facts

• American IdolAmerican Idol is broadcast to more than 100 is broadcast to more than 100 nations, including many with their own version nations, including many with their own version of of IdolIdol; however, it is not a live broadcast ; however, it is not a live broadcast and may be tape delayed by several days or and may be tape delayed by several days or weeks (excluding Canada in which is also aired weeks (excluding Canada in which is also aired live). The live). The IdolIdol concept began in Great concept began in Great Britain, moved to the U.S., and then became an Britain, moved to the U.S., and then became an international TV show with local versions in international TV show with local versions in Portugal, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Germany and the Portugal, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Germany and the Middle East. Freemantle, a subsidiary of Middle East. Freemantle, a subsidiary of Bertelsmann, created the original British and Bertelsmann, created the original British and American versions. Bertelsmann’s BMG music American versions. Bertelsmann’s BMG music group signs the winner to a recording group signs the winner to a recording contract.contract.

A few more factsA few more facts

• The The Wall Street JournalWall Street Journal‘s international ‘s international editions reach about one million people, editions reach about one million people, mainly in Europe, Asia, and South America.mainly in Europe, Asia, and South America.

• Reader’s DigestReader’s Digest publishes more than 49 publishes more than 49 international editions that are international editions that are distributed to 19 million readers in distributed to 19 million readers in nearly 200 countries.nearly 200 countries.

Media conglomerationMedia conglomeration• Foreign branches: Foreign branches: many companies have products many companies have products that are altered for international residents. that are altered for international residents. ((Reader’s DigestReader’s Digest))

• Acquisitions:Acquisitions: media companies buy foreign media media companies buy foreign media companies. (Bertelsmann)companies. (Bertelsmann)

• Mergers:Mergers: creating opportunities by joining creating opportunities by joining companies. (Time and Warner/then AOL and Time companies. (Time and Warner/then AOL and Time Warner)Warner)

• Alliances:Alliances: Media companies rely on other Media companies rely on other companies for foreign distribution. companies for foreign distribution.

• Content-Distribution:Content-Distribution: media globalization through media globalization through one conglomerate combining content-creation one conglomerate combining content-creation companies and content-distribution companies. companies and content-distribution companies.

American media productsAmerican media productsAmerican media companies are dominating American media companies are dominating global media products.global media products.

• American media products American media products led the global led the global scenescene for several reasons. for several reasons.

• The media products are created in a The media products are created in a language (English) that is spoken by more language (English) that is spoken by more people worldwidepeople worldwide than any other language. than any other language.

• Freedom of expressionFreedom of expression has worldwide appeal. has worldwide appeal. The freedom available in the U.S. allows a The freedom available in the U.S. allows a wide range of books, movies and television wide range of books, movies and television shows to be created, with limited shows to be created, with limited interference by the government.interference by the government.

American media productsAmerican media products

• Audience diversityAudience diversity in the U.S. inspires in the U.S. inspires media companies to create a range of media companies to create a range of products. The chance for these products to products. The chance for these products to be successful in other countries is be successful in other countries is greater than those produced in less greater than those produced in less diverse societies.diverse societies.

• Companies have the abilitiesCompanies have the abilities to produce to produce popular entertainment because of the popular entertainment because of the big-big-business structure of the American business structure of the American economyeconomy..

GlobalizationGlobalization• Globalization works against indigenous and Globalization works against indigenous and distinctive media content. distinctive media content.

• Cultural ImperialismCultural Imperialism

An unbalanced relationship in culture and An unbalanced relationship in culture and media between countiesmedia between counties. National cultures . National cultures are overwhelmed by the importing of news are overwhelmed by the importing of news and entertainment from other countries—and entertainment from other countries—mainly from the United States and other mainly from the United States and other industrialized nations.industrialized nations.

• It’s the idea that Western values are It’s the idea that Western values are exported onto other cultures in countries exported onto other cultures in countries that heavily use U.S. media products. that heavily use U.S. media products.

• The The concern is not the flow of values concern is not the flow of values among developed countriesamong developed countries, but the , but the flow of flow of values from developed countries to values from developed countries to developing countriesdeveloping countries..

• Scholar Herbert SchillerScholar Herbert Schiller said that said that professional Western productionsprofessional Western productions will will overwhelm overwhelm locally produced programminglocally produced programming..

• As a result, the Western-controlled mass As a result, the Western-controlled mass media preempt native culture.media preempt native culture.

ExamplesExamples• In South Africa, bank robbers yell “freeze” In South Africa, bank robbers yell “freeze” after watching bank robberies for U.S. after watching bank robberies for U.S. television programming.television programming.

• Schiller and others say that audiences will be Schiller and others say that audiences will be persuaded to adopt the values of Western media persuaded to adopt the values of Western media content such as capitalism, materialism and content such as capitalism, materialism and consumption.consumption.

• Other scholars say that theOther scholars say that the growing effects of growing effects of Western media on Third World cultures Western media on Third World cultures are more are more of aof a melding of Western programming into local melding of Western programming into local content content because most conglomerates modify because most conglomerates modify programming for local cultures. programming for local cultures.

• Also, Also, many countries limit the amount of many countries limit the amount of imported media content to their countryimported media content to their country, so the , so the media’s impact is reduced.media’s impact is reduced.

Cultural imperialismCultural imperialism• Schiller’s criticsSchiller’s critics explain that the explain that the cultural imperialism argument cultural imperialism argument seems to seems to assume that people in other countries are assume that people in other countries are weak and simply absorb and accept cultural weak and simply absorb and accept cultural messagesmessages. .

• Other experts say thatOther experts say that global media global media companies are neutral as to content and companies are neutral as to content and have no ideological preferences except have no ideological preferences except making money making money so they don’t really so they don’t really influence a country’s culture.influence a country’s culture.

Emerging Global MediaEmerging Global Media• Concern about Western cultural imperialism Concern about Western cultural imperialism is changing is changing because many international because many international media companies are starting to come from media companies are starting to come from countries other than the U.S. and Europe.countries other than the U.S. and Europe.

• U.S.-based companies U.S.-based companies are working with local are working with local companies or subsidiaries to produce new, companies or subsidiaries to produce new, local contentlocal content. U.S. companies . U.S. companies are investing are investing in local programmingin local programming because of because of competition competition with media companies in Europe and Asiawith media companies in Europe and Asia. . (For example, MTV and ESPN both have built (For example, MTV and ESPN both have built advanced production studios in Singapore. advanced production studios in Singapore.

• HBO and Venezuela’s Omnivision are partners HBO and Venezuela’s Omnivision are partners in producing HBO Ole. Mark Burnett’s in producing HBO Ole. Mark Burnett’s The The ApprenticeApprentice rights recently were licensed to rights recently were licensed to a company developing a similar show in a company developing a similar show in China.)China.)

Emerging Global MediaEmerging Global Media

• For example, Middle Eastern television producers For example, Middle Eastern television producers created created reality showsreality shows based on the popular shows based on the popular shows in Europe and the United States.in Europe and the United States.

• Globalization of mass media content is expected Globalization of mass media content is expected to to increaseincrease..

• The six media conglomerates The six media conglomerates Time Warner, Disney, Time Warner, Disney, News Corporation, Viacom/CBS, NBC Universal News Corporation, Viacom/CBS, NBC Universal Vivendi and BertelsmannVivendi and Bertelsmann (together own more than (together own more than 80-90 percent of the U.S. media products market80-90 percent of the U.S. media products market) ) are developing new ways to distribute media are developing new ways to distribute media content worldwide.content worldwide.

The Internet and The Internet and GlobalizationGlobalization• New technologiesNew technologies are opening the way for are opening the way for more companies to seek global audiences more companies to seek global audiences directly with no middlemen at low cost. (e-directly with no middlemen at low cost. (e-books, streaming radio/television)books, streaming radio/television)

• The Internet also has provided an avenue The Internet also has provided an avenue for for people to be media creatorspeople to be media creators instead of instead of passive users with blogs, podcasts, and passive users with blogs, podcasts, and personal websites.personal websites.

• Media scholars Media scholars are studying if the Internet are studying if the Internet will give small companies the chance to will give small companies the chance to completecomplete on the international level with on the international level with conglomerates. The conglomerates. The resulting diversityresulting diversity would ease concerns about would ease concerns about the media the media becoming concentratedbecoming concentrated in only a few in only a few companies. companies.

Government controlGovernment controlTechnology has been eroding the power of nations to Technology has been eroding the power of nations to control mass media content.control mass media content.

Media controlMedia control• Many countries’ governments have been able to Many countries’ governments have been able to control control media contentmedia content, but citizens are , but citizens are finding ways to create finding ways to create and get informationand get information, especially via the Internet. , especially via the Internet.

Web-based publishing versus traditional publishing or Web-based publishing versus traditional publishing or terrestrial television versus satellite televisionterrestrial television versus satellite television

• For example, citizens who live in a country that bans For example, citizens who live in a country that bans certain information can find it on websites hosted certain information can find it on websites hosted outside that country. outside that country.

Government controlGovernment control• Or citizens in countries that ban certain television Or citizens in countries that ban certain television

programs can get television reception from orbiting programs can get television reception from orbiting satellites via a blackmarket receiver. satellites via a blackmarket receiver.

• On the other hand, countries such as China are still On the other hand, countries such as China are still able to control the Internet in many ways. The Chinese able to control the Internet in many ways. The Chinese government has extracted agreements from U.S. Internet government has extracted agreements from U.S. Internet firms to contain e-mail message content as a condition firms to contain e-mail message content as a condition of doing business. of doing business.

• In order to do business in China, U.S. Internet firms In order to do business in China, U.S. Internet firms must agree to restrict online content.must agree to restrict online content.

• Consistent with Chinese laws, Consistent with Chinese laws, Google, Yahoo Google, Yahoo and and MicrosoftMicrosoft restrict e-mail, news and discussions restrict e-mail, news and discussions onlineonline. .

• Google and Yahoo censor their Chinese search engines. Google and Yahoo censor their Chinese search engines. Microsoft bans certain words on Chinese blogs that it Microsoft bans certain words on Chinese blogs that it hosts.hosts.

Examples of restrictionsExamples of restrictions• After a steamy video of a Brazilian model leaked After a steamy video of a Brazilian model leaked onto the Internet, a judge ordered YouTube banned in onto the Internet, a judge ordered YouTube banned in Brazil until the site took down all copies of the Brazil until the site took down all copies of the video. video.

• Pakistan officials tried to embargo a handful of Pakistan officials tried to embargo a handful of blogs hosted by Blogger.com, but every blog on the blogs hosted by Blogger.com, but every blog on the site was blocked because of faulty ISP filtering. site was blocked because of faulty ISP filtering.

• Some filtering programs will allow a government to Some filtering programs will allow a government to ban entire categories of sites, like pornography, ban entire categories of sites, like pornography, gambling, or advocacy groups. This often means a gambling, or advocacy groups. This often means a country doesn't even know what sites it's blocking. country doesn't even know what sites it's blocking.

• Most countries only censor sites in their local Most countries only censor sites in their local language, so CNN is accessible just about language, so CNN is accessible just about everywhere. In Iran, you can read any BBC site everywhere. In Iran, you can read any BBC site except BBC Persian. except BBC Persian.

Media control in ThailandMedia control in ThailandSeptember 2006September 2006—The leaders of Thailand’s military —The leaders of Thailand’s military coup issued broadcast media directives that coup issued broadcast media directives that resulted in the resulted in the closure of more than 300 community closure of more than 300 community radio stationsradio stations..

They They dissolved Thailand’s 1997 constitution, which dissolved Thailand’s 1997 constitution, which guaranteed press freedomguaranteed press freedom. .

The Information and Communications Technology The Information and Communications Technology Ministry ordered the Ministry ordered the closure of the Web siteclosure of the Web site www.19sep.org, which had posted comments critical www.19sep.org, which had posted comments critical of the coup. of the coup.

Earlier, the military leaders had ordered all radio Earlier, the military leaders had ordered all radio stations to stations to cancel phone-in news programscancel phone-in news programs, and , and television stations to television stations to stop displaying telephone stop displaying telephone text messages from viewerstext messages from viewers. .

It also ordered It also ordered Web-based chat rooms to screen and Web-based chat rooms to screen and censor any comments censor any comments viewed as provocative to the viewed as provocative to the coup-makers. coup-makers. www.cpj.org/censored/censored_06.htmlwww.cpj.org/censored/censored_06.html

Commonly censored websitesCommonly censored websites• Pornographic websites (some countries and schools)Pornographic websites (some countries and schools)• MySpace.com— in the Middle East MySpace.com— in the Middle East • Wikipedia.org— in the mainland ChinaWikipedia.org— in the mainland China• Political blogs and websites Political blogs and websites • Religious websites Religious websites • GoogleGoogle• YouTubeYouTube• Censorship-circumvention websitesCensorship-circumvention websites

• Photos of censored mediaPhotos of censored media• http://jturn.qem.se/2006/more-pictures-of-iranian-http://jturn.qem.se/2006/more-pictures-of-iranian-

censorship/censorship/

• http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2006-01-27-n42.htmlhttp://blogoscoped.com/archive/2006-01-27-n42.html

The Economist in IranThe Economist in Iran

• The Economist, 2005The Economist, 2005

• National Geographic, 2006National Geographic, 2006

Cover of a couple Cover of a couple embracingembracing

Google Images Censored in Google Images Censored in ChinaChina

• http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2006-01-27-n42.htmlhttp://blogoscoped.com/archive/2006-01-27-n42.html

• In China, the system that restricts online In China, the system that restricts online access is call The Golden Shield.access is call The Golden Shield.

Arab Media SystemsArab Media Systems

• Media systems in Middle Eastern countries are quite Media systems in Middle Eastern countries are quite diverse, reflecting a variety of cultures and values.diverse, reflecting a variety of cultures and values.

• Based on CNN, Based on CNN, Al-Jazeera is a 24-hour satellite news Al-Jazeera is a 24-hour satellite news channel that originates from Quatarchannel that originates from Quatar. Many shows are . Many shows are uncensored and include commentaries on government uncensored and include commentaries on government officials. officials.

• Dubai Media Incorporated, a quasi-government agency, Dubai Media Incorporated, a quasi-government agency, operates four television channels.operates four television channels.

• Saudi-owned Middle East Broadcast Center owns the Al Saudi-owned Middle East Broadcast Center owns the Al Arabiya satellite network, the main rival to Al Arabiya satellite network, the main rival to Al Jazeera.Jazeera.

Media SystemsMedia Systems

• India’s movie industryIndia’s movie industry• Bollywood (in Mumbai-was Bombay)Bollywood (in Mumbai-was Bombay)

• Model for extending the mass media into Model for extending the mass media into isolated areasisolated areas

• Government supporting program to build wi-Government supporting program to build wi-fi centers.fi centers.

• These wi-fi centers link remote villages These wi-fi centers link remote villages with the rest of the world.with the rest of the world.

Online videosOnline videos

• A PBS video on a software program designed for A PBS video on a software program designed for Chinese citizens to circumvent their government's Chinese citizens to circumvent their government's Internet censorship:Internet censorship:

• http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/jan-june06/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/jan-june06/china_4-18.htmlchina_4-18.html

• Google has agreed to censor its search engine in Google has agreed to censor its search engine in China. In return for blocking politically sensitive China. In return for blocking politically sensitive terms, Google gains access to the world's No. 2 terms, Google gains access to the world's No. 2 Internet market. Following a background report, an Internet market. Following a background report, an expert discusses censorship for business interests expert discusses censorship for business interests and the implications this decision may have on the and the implications this decision may have on the Internet.Internet.

• http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/cyberspace/jan-http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/cyberspace/jan-june06/google_1-25.htmljune06/google_1-25.html

Mass Media QuestionsMass Media Questions• What ideology do most global media companies What ideology do most global media companies

export?export?• American media products dominate the global American media products dominate the global

scene for several reasons. Explain why.scene for several reasons. Explain why.• American media products are easily available American media products are easily available

in other countries. What media products from in other countries. What media products from other countries are easily available here? other countries are easily available here? Why is there such a difference?Why is there such a difference?

• What can be expected if global consolidation What can be expected if global consolidation of mass media companies continues?of mass media companies continues?

• How has the ability of nations to control How has the ability of nations to control media content changed with new technologies?media content changed with new technologies?

• Why has MTV become such an international Why has MTV become such an international phenomenon? What factors influence the phenomenon? What factors influence the international success of television international success of television programming?programming?

• Discuss examples of media content that have Discuss examples of media content that have international reach.international reach.