PART I

INTRODUCTORY CONCEPTS AND KEY ISSUES

 

What is International Communication

nthe study of trans-border communication

nthe study of public and private institutions involved in media systems of other countries

nthe study of the key issues involved

 

What We Will Examine

nMultinational Media and Media Colonization

nMedia Systems of Different Countries

•Internal

•External

 

Why Study International Communication

nWorld Population Explosion

nNew Global Problems

nIncreased Cross-Cultural Communication

nChanging Conception of Community

 

Major Changes in International Communication

nTechnological

•Satellite, computers/Internet

•Increase in number of media options

nPolitical

•Demise of Soviet Union

•Rise of nationalism

•Rise of terrorism

nEconomic

•Emergence/acceptance of capitalism/privatization

•Continued growth of multinational media conglomerates

 

The Technologies of International Communication

nTelegraph – mid 1800’s

nTelephone – early 1900’s

nNews agencies – late 1800’s

nFilm – early 1900’s

nRecords – early 1900’s

nRadio – early/mid 1900’s

nTV – mid/late 1900’s

nInternet – late 1900’s/early 2000

 

New Technology

nSatellites

nInternet

ncellular telephone

 

Computer Use by Country

 

Communication and Culture

 

What is Culture?

„Us” vs. „Them”

nLanguage

nValues

nBehavior

 

Culture Today

nCultural Values

nCultural Variety

nGlobal Culture

 

Components of Language

nVerbal

nWritten

nNon-Verbal

 

Language and Culture

nHigh Context culture – rely on non-verbal communication

 

nLow Context culture – rely on written language

 

Anglo-American Dominance

nEnglish as a world language

nPopular culture

nCommunication technology

nNews

 

Reasons for English as a World Language

nInfluence of British empire from 1700’s until World War II

nEmergence of the U.S. as an economic and political power after World War II

nCurrent economic and political environment that needs a common language

 

Free Flow of Information versus National Identity

 

The Primary Controversies
Inequity of News Flow

n75% of non-local news comes from Western agencies

nnews flows from developed to developing countries

ncoverage of developing countries is stereotyped

ncultural imperialism

 

Examples of Imbalance

nMultinational Media Companies

•Of the top 10, 5 US, 3 WE, 1 each Australia and Japan

nMajor News Agencies

•AP (US), AFP (France), Reuters (UK)

nMajor International Radio and TV

•CNN, BBC, Euronews

 

The Basic Arguments

Free Flow

nAny country or media organization that wants to should be able to send media information to the people of any other country.

National Identity

nEach country should decide for itself what information should be allowed to enter its borders.

 

UN Calls for a “New International Information Order”

nIncrease two-way flow of information

npromote control by developing countries over their communication assets

ntransmit more news about developing countries to the world

ngive developing countries control over production technology

ngive developing countries more control over global communication systems

 

What is Information

The West

nInformation is a commodity

Socialist and Developing Countries

nInformation is a social good

 

1980 UNESCO NWIO Resolutions

•Elimination of imbalances and inequalities which characterize the present situation

•Elimination of the negative effects of certain monopolies (public or private) and excessive concentration

•Removal of internal and external obstacles to a free flow and wider and better balanced dissemination of information and ideas

•Plurality of sources and channels of information

•Freedom of the press and information; freedom of journalists and all professionals in the communication media; a freedom inseparable from responsibility

•The capacity of developing countries to achieve improvement of their own communication systems through new equipment, training, and improving their infrastructure by making information and media suitable to all their needs

•The sincere will of developed countries to help them attain these objectives

•Respect for each people’s cultural identity and the right of each nation to inform the world about its interests, aspirations, social and cultural values

•Respect for the right of all people to participate in international exchange of information

•Respect for the right of the public, of ethnic and social groups, and of individuals to have access to information sources and to participate actively in the communication process

 

 Differing Philosophies

Mass media should be independent of state control and should ensure that each individual citizen receives information needed in a democracy.

Mass media should serve the interests of the state and ensure the people as a whole that media remain free of particular interests and serve peace and national development.

 

Other Global Agencies Involved

nInternational Telecommunications Union (ITU)

nIntelsat/Comsat

nWorld Trade Organization (WTO)

nEuropean Union

 

The Internet and Flow of Information

Same Problems

nMost users in west

nComputer still too expensive for many

Reversal of Flow

nContent producers unrestricted

 

Entertainment Program Exchange

nLocal production vs. imported programming

nfranchising

nuse of consultants

ncoproduction

 

Glucksrad
Franchised Wheel of Fortune

 

Global Advertising

The “Big 3” Global Advertising Agencies

nWPP Group (Great Britain)

nOmnicom (U.S.)

nInterpublic (U.S.)

 

“Second” Tier

nDentsu (Japan)

nTrue North Comm. (U.S.)

nPublicis (France)

nHavas (France)

nBCom3 (U.S.)

nCordiant (Great Britain)

 

Global Advertising Strategies

nStandardized

nAdaptive

nCountry specific

 

Trends in Global Advertising

nincrease in advertising expenditures

•Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe

nconsolidation of advertising organizations

nconsolidation of advertising accounts

nexpansion of services by international agencies – especially PR

nIncrease in university programs

 

Barriers to Media Development

nPhysical barriers

nSocial/psychological barriers

nPolitical/legal barriers

nEconomic barriers