Comparing Media Systems through Politics - Book Report/Review Example

Hallin, Daniel C., and Paolo Mancini. “Comparing Media Systems.” Comparing Media Systems: Three Models of Media and Politic. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. 21–45. Print Political systems have had a fundamental influence upon the media system which are available within different regions of the world. Media systems can be compared through four different approaches in seeking to understand the media systems within Western Europe and North America (Hallin and Mancini, p22). Development of the media within the two regions has been characterised by the circulation and expansion of the mass press. The role of the mass circulation within many European markets can be characterised through the focus on the noble persons in the society while the circulation in North America focuses of the general public. The articles critically analyses the various elements which could be utilised in differentiating the media system within the two regions. Political parallelism presents a significant influence in modelling the media systems utilised within in these regions. The conduct of the media and the approaches utilised in undertaking the reporting activity have been the fundamental differences between the media system in North America and Western Europe. Hallin, Daniel C. “Not the End of Journalism History.” Journalism 10.3 (2009): 332–334. Print Convergence of hypothesis has been identified as one of the fundamental assumptions which can characterise the future of journalism. This has been described as the movement of information towards the media containing similar information around the world. Different approaches have been synchronised through media houses adoption global perspectives, which have enhanced the content of journalism towards becoming similar within the different global locations. Journalism has been fundamentally transformed towards utilisation of similar approaches in reporting, independence and objectivity of the media (Hallin, p332). Many of the liberal systems have been continuously imitated across the world and enhanced the similarity of different approaches in utilised across the world. Common journalistic conventions occurring across the world have been fundamental in driving the element of convergence of hypothesis within the media. Global consolidation of various social elements like political systems, capitalism among many others have been fundamental in making transformation towards convergence of hypothesis. Tumber, Howard. Media Power, Professionals and Policies. Ed. Howard Tumber. London: Routledge, 2013. Print Sociological theories which have been fundamental in defining the media are influenced by the conduct of journalists in regard to the information presented to the public. Many media houses have become focused on the presentation of a specific content in to the consumers. This has resulted in journalist media systems trying to make a niche for themselves within a highly crowded industry. The coverage of common social challenges like terrorism has presented significant differences within the media systems. The interests of the political class must become integrated within the media reporting of such elements. The normative approaches which define the social expectations from media reports have been significantly transformed, because of reporting which appears to be increasingly political (Tumber, p34). The perspectives of politicians and governments have become fundamental determinants of the information presented regarding terrorism within the Anglo-American media. Other contributory factors to the phenomenon include the existing ideological discrepancies between political parties and the reduced media regulation within the countries. Lowe, Gregory F., and Christian E. Berg. “The Funding of Public Service Media: A Matter of Value and Values.” International Journal on Media Management 15.2 (2013): 77–97. Print The public service media is faced by numerous challenges in seeking to ensure the provision of quality services to the public. Provision of funds to these media remains a challenge because of the external factors surrounding the funding schemes utilised within this segment of the media. Much of the PMS funding remains based on the political systems which desire to achieve significant gains through the media (Lowe and Berg, p78). While the funding should seek to provide value information to the consumers, the political interests of the funding organs become essential determinants of the approaches utilised by these media in presenting information to different consumers. Competing with commercial broadcasters becomes extremely difficult for PSMs because of the existing regulations which govern the operation of these media. A global model for marketing these organisations would involve the reduction of government control over the information published within these media. Curran, James. Media and Power. New York: Routledge, 2002. Print Understanding the media history remain essential in learning about the existing relationships between the media and the political systems. The role of politics in influencing the information contained and published within different media remains a significant determinant of the methodologies utilised in presenting the various media issues to the target audience. The power exerted by the media upon the political leadership can be significantly influential on the outcomes of various social settings (Curran, p58). Controlling this power remains fundamental towards ensuring effectiveness in the presentation of information without worrying about the influence of other factors. Media democracy is commonly determined through the control of the media power upon the political system, which defines the regulations governing media conduct. Despite the presence of limited media freedom, the political system still presents significant influence upon the information presented in the media. Through the power possessed by the media, the media has had fundamental influence upon the social setting of the modern societies. Parthasarathi, Vibodh. “Deciphering Chindia Two Accents of Media Governance.” Global Media and Communication 6.3 (2010): 329–336. Print Different media systems exist within various countries around the world. The similarities and discrepancies between the media systems are commonly influenced by the political system existing within the country. The large populations of India and China have been fundamental in determining the methodologies that are utilised within the media systems within these countries. The two Asian countries have become significant media giants because of the large populations that form the consumers of the media information. Comparison of the systems requires consideration of other similarities that include the economic and the political systems. economic liberalizations which have occurred within china and India form a fundamental component in initiating media systems within the country (Parthasarathi, p331). China is a socialist republic while India has a democratic government but the deregulation within the two systems presents significant discrepancies between the two media systems. The statutory regulation within china has however, been transformed in the recent past to enhance the development of an effective and functional media system. Zhao, Yuezhi. “Understanding China’s Media System in a World Historical Context.” Comparing Media Systems Beyond the Western World. Ed. Daniel C. Hallin and Paolo Mancini. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. 143–173. Print The western media systems can be characterised by increasingly similar systems applied within many countries, because of the regulation existing within the systems. A comparison of the western systems produces numerous similarities with few differences because of the existing similarities in the political system. the one-party political system of china has resulted in the combination of various elements of the western media systems in development of the Chinese media system (Zhao, p145). Analysing the western media involves the inclusion of the capitalism role in development of media markets, while the Chinese media operates within an anti-capitalist system. This presents a fundamental difficulty in understanding the various attributes of Chinese media system. While many systems within the western world remain governed by a single regulating authority, the provincialisation of the Chinese system has fundamentally influenced the regulation of media within the country. Voltmer, Katrin. “Comparing Media Systems in New Democracies: East Meets South Meets West.” Central European Journal of Communication 01 (2008): 23–40. Print The political systems within different regions have a fundamental effect upon the media systems established within those regions. Emerging media systems are commonly controlled through the autocratic political systems. The existence if the autocratic systems have been fundamental in influencing control of the media within different aspects. Many autocratic societies have experienced tremendous transformation towards becoming democratic systems, governed by existence of different political ideologies. Military dictatorship and other political dictatorships systems have significantly influenced the development of media market, political parallelism and journalistic professionalism within many developing third-wave democracies(Voltmer, p25). These systems have resorted in the development of hybrid political communication systems, which blend the current systems and the political systems existing within established democracies. Increased democratization of previously autocratic systems has fundamentally transformed the media system utilised within various countries around the world. Pan, Z, and Y Lu. “Localizing Professionalism: Discursive Practices in China’s Media Reforms.” Chinese Media, Global Contexts. Ed. Lee Chin-Chuan. London: Routledge, 2003. 211–231. Print The practice of professional journalism in China remains a difficult task because of the existing cultural values within the people’s Republic of China. Within the context of Chinese cultural beliefs, journalism lacks the defining elements of prototypical profession. This has been developed because of the increased association with politics, which are fundamental determinants of the functioning of journalists. In the process of gathering and disseminating information, journalists commonly find themselves entangled within different economic and political debates and the general public perceives journalism as part of these systems (Pan and Lu, p217). The profession lack an attribute that could define journalism as an independent profession. The increased involvement in political and economic elements of the society makes the many individuals to disregard the journalistic ethics which should govern their conduct. Journalists have become identified as individuals seeking to benefit from other established industries, and might be perceived as unprofessional individuals. Lo, Ven-hwei, Joseph Man Chan, and Zhongdang Pan. “Ethical Attitudes and Perceived Practice: A Comparative Study of Journalists in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.” Asian Journal of Communication 15.2 (2005): 154–172. Print A comparison of different media systems can effectively present an individual with sufficient understanding of the different attributes that define journalism. The element of journalistic ethics remains fundamental in determining the perspectives that individuals hold regarding the profession. While it is common practice for journalists to receive tip and freebies from different individuals, monetary gifts received are perceived to impose elements of unprofessionalism within China (Lo, Chan, and Pan, p159). Soliciting for these gifts however becomes an unethical practice that should be increasingly avoided by individuals seeking to become professional journalists. The elements of value among the journalists become disregarded when individuals engage in such practices. Ethical considerations should always be the guidelines that enhance the functional operation of individuals within the media, like journalists. Engaging in unethical practices commonly results in the entire profession becoming perceived as composed of highly corrupt and unethical individuals. References Curran, James. Media and Power. New York: Routledge, 2002. Print Hallin, Daniel C. “Not the End of Journalism History.” Journalism 10.3 (2009): 332–334. Print Hallin, Daniel C., and Paolo Mancini. “Comparing Media Systems.” Comparing Media Systems: Three Models of Media and Politic. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. 21–45. Print Lo, Ven-hwei, Joseph Man Chan, and Zhongdang Pan. “Ethical Attitudes and Perceived Practice: A Comparative Study of Journalists in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.” Asian Journal of Communication 15.2 (2005): 154–172. Print Lowe, Gregory F., and Christian E. Berg. “The Funding of Public Service Media: A Matter of Value and Values.” International Journal on Media Management 15.2 (2013): 77–97. Print Pan, Z, and Y Lu. “Localizing Professionalism: Discursive Practices in China’s Media Reforms.” Chinese Media, Global Contexts. Ed. Lee Chin-Chuan. London: Routledge, 2003. 211–231. Print Parthasarathi, Vibodh. “Deciphering Chindia Two Accents of Media Governance.” Global Media and Communication 6.3 (2010): 329–336. Print Tumber, Howard. Media Power, Professionals and Policies. Ed. Howard Tumber. London: Routledge, 2013. Print Voltmer, Katrin. “Comparing Media Systems in New Democracies: East Meets South Meets West.” Central European Journal of Communication 01 (2008): 23–40. Print Zhao, Yuezhi. “Understanding China’s Media System in a World Historical Context.” Comparing Media Systems Beyond the Western World. Ed. Daniel C. Hallin and Paolo Mancini. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. 143–173. Print  . . . .  Read More