Professional Identity and Ideology of Journalists Reconsidered - Essay Example

Personal Cultural Reflection Name Institution Name Date My cultural background is Chinese, and I have stayed in Australia for the last three years. The Chinese culture is segmented into 56-ethnicity groups (Deuze, 2005). These groups has different cultural components, which include morals, music, marriage, language, style, food and religion. I understand the cultural requirements of the different ethnicity because I have traveled and integrated extensively with these ethnicities. The Chinese heritage is unique, and the culture shares things, such as music and ideologies. For example, the Chinese culture embraces collectivism, in which the society and community take care of each other and support each other. The Chinese people and the community have influenced me extensively. It has shaped my thinking and viewing the world. It has helped me to appreciate different cultures, be patient, and withstand challenges that may be associated with a given culture. It has enabled me to embrace different cultures and to employ measures to prevent conflicts of misunderstanding with the different ethnicity and cultures exposed. Hence, my cultural background and heritage has shaped my thinking and appreciation of different cultures based on ideological views. China introduced me to different sub-cultures because of the numerous ethnicities available, even though they share some principles, some of the way sub-cultures accomplishes things, such as marriage and music are different. Moreover, I have traveled extensively in both Asian countries and Western countries. I realized the cultures across the divide were different. For example, the culture of Asians is completely different from Western cultures. For instance, the Chinese culture is of Eastern countries type compared to Australian culture, which is of Western countries type. The cultures hold some things more important than others do. For example, the Western culture champion individualism while the Eastern culture champions collectivism. It means that the Western culture are after self while the Eastern culture is ensuring the entire community benefit or involved in any activity or decision. In Australia, I embraced a different culture, and I continue changing my approach to accomplishing things. I think of self rather than the community. I aim to fulfill my requirements but sometimes, the collectivists principles directs me to assist the community and think about the community. When I visited the USA, I realized that people were minding their businesses rather than supporting others. At the workplace, the Western culture has dominated because the region understand the importance of cultural diversity since many people are moving to western countries to seek employment while a small percentage of Western people are moving to the Eastern countries to seek employment. The skewed movement of people means that the Western culture and its ideologies are influencing the world over because of movement of labor and globalization of multinationals (Stahl et al., 2010). Currently in Australia, I have seen the emergence of hotels and restaurants that specializes in foods from specific cultures. It means that it is the beginning in which Asian cultures and Western cultures come to meet and share the strengths of both cultures. Different cultures expand the thinking of an individual (Tung, 2008). It enables an individual to learn from the strengths of another culture and appreciate the uniqueness of the culture. Appreciation of other cultures is important, capitalizing on the strengths of the cultures is better, and addressing the weaknesses through constructive criticism is appropriate. Cultural difference is common because each individual has his or her unique principles, values, moral, ethics and traditional expectations, which are shaped by the community. For example, the Chinese community shaped me, and anything I do, I usually associate with my identity. Exploring different cultures and subcultures have enabled me to erase some ideologies and principles, which, initially I thought were inappropriate. I have come to understand the importance of democracy and the benefits associated with gender equality. Inequality across the cultures is common, and it is prudent to strategize against the negatives associated with the cultures. Therefore, it is important to appreciate other cultures and integrate the cultures based on the situational requirements. Cultural divergence and convergence are some of the components that determine the relations and aspects associated with different cultures (Jeffcutt & Pratt, 2002). Cultural divergence is one culture splits to too many while cultural convergence when different cultures become alike. It is important to note, we all are the same underneath because of the anatomy of an individual and the societal based activities that people participate. For example, people attend weddings but the ideology and approach of the weddings differ. People speak, but the languages and dialects are different but the communication is aimed at fulfilling a given requirement. Each culture has its traditions, norms, values, and ethics, which are crucial to the success of the society and community. Therefore, underneath, all the people are the same and share numerous things but viewed from different angles. Cultural divergence is also important in certain circumstances. For example, the workplace requires people with different skills and professionalism, and this can be achieved through appreciating employees from different cultural backgrounds. Cultural diversity in the workplace and within the communities is important because each culture has unique strengths, which can be used to advance the requirements of the society. It can be possible to embracing the different cultures, leaving the cultures operate based on their different ideologies, and principles provided the cultures are tolerant to each other. Therefore, cultural divergence and convergence are important towards driving the community and society forward. The problem with cultural diversity is the language and some of the characteristics and behaviors of people from other cultures (Dyson, 2000). I sometimes feel bad when I see some people thinking of themselves and profitability rather than, concentrating on the impact on the society of their respective actions. I think the society and environment are important, and it can be achieved through appreciating social responsibility such as dumping the waste materials rather than throwing to the streets or the environment. I like people who share the aspects of humanity and democracy. I like the approach of Western culture when it comes to human and democracy, and I dislike the approach in which my culture approaches the entirety of humanity and democracy. I understand each individual has an important role in the society, and the important requirement is to advance the uniqueness and use to benefit the society. Tolerance is another issue, which makes it difficult to work in an environment with a difference. It is appropriate for each culture and individuals to tolerate others, and appreciate their respective contributions to the society. In conclusion, I appreciate diversity, and I acknowledge the importance of diversity towards the advancement of the society. I am able to operate in global management because I have been exposed to different cultures, and I have lived in different cultures. I understand the importance of tolerance and appreciating, and embracing other cultures, with the purpose of advancing the requirements and objectives of the organization that I represent. I am aiming to become a leader within my relevant study area expertise because it involves the requirement of engaging with persons from different cultural backgrounds. Hence, I acknowledge the importance of divergence and convergence in advancing the requirements of the society and ensuring each culture appreciates the contribution of other cultures. References Deuze, M 2005, ‘What is journalism? Professional identity and ideology of journalists reconsidered’, Journalism, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 442-464. Dyson, K 2000, ‘EMU as Europeanization: convergence, diversity and contingency’, JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 645-666. Jeffcutt, P, & Pratt, AC 2002, ‘Managing creativity in the cultural industries’, Creativity and Innovation Management, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 225-233. Stahl, GK, Maznevski, ML, Voigt, A & Jonsen, K 2010, “Unraveling the effects of cultural diversity in teams: A meta-analysis of research on multicultural work groups’, Journal of International Business Studies, vol. 41, no. 4, pp. 690-709. Tung, RL 2008, ‘The cross-cultural research imperative: The need to balance cross-national and intra-national diversity’, Journal of International Business Studies, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 41-46. Read More