Similarity of Global Media News - Essay Example

SIMILARITY OF GLOBAL MEDIA NEWS Introduction The paper will focus on answering the question of why most of the media outlets are more likely to disseminate similar information across the globe. In answering this question, the focus will be on globalization of media, convergence of news, news values, standardization of education and operation practices. The main assumption is that the Anglo-US ideologies on media have had a great influence on what kind of news is considered prominent and relevant. Through globalization, countries have been able to exchange cultural values, norms and beliefs. However, the discussion will show that the dominant culture has more influence, hence having a competitive edge. This supports the assumption why it is believed that the Anglo-US ideologies, especially those touching on objectivity have had an impact on news similarity across the globe. The standardization of the journalism code of ethics, will, for instance, explain why behavior and perception is similar across the world. The discussion will focus on the major forces that have contributed to news similarity. Similarity of news across the globe The Anglo-US media ideologies have played a significant role in influencing global media. The western media establishes the values, beliefs, and norms, which are considered ethical, hence defining a particular organization (Whyte, 2012). The organizational culture established by the western media play a significant role in news manufacturing process. In this case, they know the kind of news that should be disseminated to the target audience. They define what is relevant, urgent and more likely to attract more audience. The organizational culture is established for the purpose of protecting the interest of the media. The Anglo-US media has also established what is considered the values or the guiding principles to journalisms. For instance, an idea of objectivity has been established, where all practicing journalists are expected to adhere to. As a result, the western media has promoted cultural homogeneity and has continued to seek standardization of media values and norms. This, to certain extent may explain why similarity of news may appear in the western world. The Anglo-US objectivity ideology may explain why there has been uniformity in news selection and dissemination. 1. Objectivity ideology and news similarity The objectivity of the media, as envisioned by the western media, should reflect fairness, accuracy, advocacy and relevance. These objectives play a significant role in determining what is considered ‘news’ and what is not. To maintain this objectivity, journalists are expected to adhere to certain rituals and values that will make reported information to be considered objective. For instance, a journalist is not expected to express his/her own judgement. This will be considered to be taking sides, a situation that may lead to subjectivity of information. Secondly, the verification of information becomes imperative, explaining why journalists will seek to avoid any complex issues (Whyte, 2012). the source of information should be credible to support the information being disseminated. This increases the level of acceptability. The other factor that is affecting the local media is the invitation of experts that will assist in delivering the conflicting truth, hence supporting the interests of the media. The above goals of western journalists are used when determining the quality and credibility of news. For this reason, any journalist seeks to stick to these ideas. Different media organizations will ensure that these objectives form part of ethical principles, mission and vision. The western ideology of what is considered objective in the media industry has affected the new manufacturing. The psychological perspective also comes into play when determining what kind of news should be disseminated. In the western media, controversial and negative news is more likely to get more attention. The CNN and the BBC for instance, can focus on particular negative news for hours to keep audience engaged. For instance, the recent terrorist attacks in both France and Australia were widely covered by almost all the major media outlets. The similarities in news reporting have been influenced largely by the Anglo-US ideologies. It continues to affect what is considered news and what is considered irrelevant. Currently, globalization has enhanced the exchange of ideas, integration of business processes, and slowly leading to cultural homogeneity. Journalists throughout the world are expected to adhere to a certain code of conduct. Like in many professionals, the code of conduct is based on what is considered to reflect the international standards. One of the questions that arises from this notions is where these ‘international standards’ come from. From the neo-Marxism ideology, the most powerful nations in terms of economy will establish a dominant culture. For instance, the western culture has dominated the world through globalization, affecting local cultures. There is also an aspect of dependency, where the local media outlets look upon the international media for direction. With the local journalists adhering to the standards of the Anglo-US ideologies, they are expected to behave and act in almost similar way. For instance, most of the local news is also expected to show relevance, as well as focusing on the kind of news that the audience are likely to be attracted to. The local news, especially from many developing world, focus on western media as a role model. The western media is also vast in experience, and skills having been in operation for many years.as a result, the local news seek to reflect the ideologies of the western media. 2. Education, training and similarities In the spirit of promoting globalization and market globalization, the media training and education is slowly becoming standardized (Pieterse, 2004). This is done with an aim of ensuring that journalists produced through the education system have the skills and experience needed to make them more versatile. This means that can work in place of the world. The standardization of media education is seem as a way of perpetuating the consumption of the Anglo-American ideologies, on what a true media should look like. However, the standardization should be viewed from both positive and negative perspectives. On one hand, for instance, many journalists, from the developing world, have been able to benefit from employment opportunities created by the integration of media industry. Trained with the international standards, and reflecting the Anglo-US ideologies, journalists have been able to report for major media corporations from different parts of the world (Rantanen, 2005). The globalization of media education and training, and exchange programs can also explain why the news is likely to be similar across the globe. Journalists have been trained to focus on a particular form of news that is likely to reflect the goals of an organization. For instance, a number of factors influences what passes for news. Firstly, it is dependent on economic benefit to an organization. It is imperative to note that media houses are commercial institutions that are out to make profits. As a result, they seek to have the kind of news that will draw the attention of many audiences. Secondly, what is considered news should be emanating from dominant culture and powerful political figures. All the journalisms around the world understand the importance of such news in serving the economic interest of a particular media house. While the standardization of training and education of journalists globally has been beneficial in terms of employment creation and exchange of experiences, it has also made journalists to be robot-like. They are rigid, and resistant to change, owing to the fact that they have to abide by certain values. In a view to pursue the organizational culture, the journalists are more likely to ignore other important matters that affect the society. For instance, the media deliberately ignores the positive developments that the government has achieved, and rather try to focus on negative issues, such as corruption in public institutions. This kind of reporting has, in most cases, been criticised for being bias and unbalanced in reporting. However, the goal is to serve the interests of any particular institution. 3. News values and similarity in reporting News values are another aspect that could be used to determine what passes for news, and in explaining the issue of similarity in reporting. News values can be conceptualized as the criteria that are used in the news manufacturing, in an effort to know what should be disseminated to audience (Grabe, 2011). As mentioned before, what passes for news must be able to reflect the values and interests of particular media institutions. Different factors are applied across the global media, when selecting the kind of news that is considered prominent. The practice of selection seems to be universal, owing to shared culture. Incidentally, media houses are more likely to report similar happenings across all cultures. There are a number of internationally recognized factors are used in determining the news values. Firstly, is the factor of negativity. According to the evolutionally perspective, people are emotionally attached to negative information (Grabe, 2011). according to this perspective, the negative news creates curiosity and mental engagement on what is being reported. As a result, the audience is likely to spend more time in their selected media outlets as they read, watch or listen to news. For instance, the 9/11 news was watched throughout the world, attracting huge audience, despite the fact that the report was on a horrendous happenings. Any news that is likely to appeal to the emotions of the audience is considered prominent. Hence, it is possible to find different media globally running in same negative news. Secondly, the personalization aspects play a huge role in determining what passes for news. Personalization refers to the events that are of human interest (Grabe, 2011). This may include news that touch on human rights, such as inequality in distribution of national resources. For instance, many media outlets are more likely to disseminate information on human abuses, such as prominent people battering their wives, or mistreating their children. Further, news of large corporations such as Apple Inc. exploiting workers will gain more coverage. Countries that are averse to democracy and continue to gag media freedom are also more likely to feature prominently in the news. For instance, the students’ demonstration in Hong Kong, China, to demand for democracy features in many media outlets for a couple of days. Further, other news about countries that contravene the international laws on respecting the sovereignty of other nations is also likely to feature more in the news. For instance, Russia has features more in the news. Many media outlets are more interested in knowing how the country has been affected by the current sanctions. In addition to this, news of brutality within the government-disciplined forces has also featured. This follows the issues of racial discrimination, experienced in the United States, where it is alleged that the blacks are being targeted by the police. This news is getting more coverage owing to the fact that it is considered of human interest. As a result, many media outlets are more likely to report on such similar issues. They do not only reflect on issue targeting the human rights, but also try to serve the interest of the media. Thirdly, stories that have reference to most powerful people and news is likely to attract huge coverage (Thussu, 2009). The international news is more concerned with the stories from the United States, Russia, China, India, among other powerful nations. The international media is more likely to ignore certain events that happen in countries considered less influential. For instance, as a powerful economy and a super power, any economic and political event happening in the United States is of great interests. This may include the live coverage of many precedential briefings touching on issues that affect the society. In Russia, the main aim has been to see how the country is prepared to overcome the economic and social impact of the current sanctions. Similarly, India has recently become of interest owing to its economic growth, and a potential market for international goods. Apart from the countries, powerful political figures are also likely to get media attention. This may include the leaders who have played a huge role in alleviating the living standards of the community. People, who have also performed exceptionally in the world of sport, will also feature frequently in the news. This means that different media outlets may report on similar issues. 4. Globalization Globalization has been one of the main forces that have affected culture of the mass media. Globalization is defined as the process through which cultures are transmitted and shared from one part of the world to another. In this sense, the local media have been affected by the penetration of foreign cultures. Unlike in the past, the mass media has not no longer homogenous, and independent. Through globalization, there has been transmission of values, beliefs and norms across the globe. The definition of mass media is depended on these shared values. However, there has been criticism that the western culture is considered superior, meaning that its culture dominates the global media. In this case, the western culture, especially the American values, norms and beliefs, have affected the national media. The leading newsrooms such as the CNN, has a great influence on the content. Sharing of news across the globe has been facilitated by technological development, which has made it transmission and dissemination of information easier. The social media, such as the Twitter, has been used to keep the audience informed about anything happening at any place in real time. One of the main aspects of globalization has been to seek for media freedom and fighting for various human rights. For many years, many countries, especially in the developing world, did not have the media freedom. The situation remains has not changed, especially in countries such as China, where the media is controlled by the state. The Western media believes that the government should not interfere with the freedom of the media, arguing that doing so affects the professionalism of the media. This view, that the media should be independent of the state has been shared across the globe. The media freedom has been viewed as the perpetuation of the western culture. The similarity of the news across the globe has therefore been associated with the flow of information from one part of the world to the other. However, despite this, the selection of the news is dependent on the values of a specific media organization in every country. The sharing of news, through the spirit of globalization, explains why news may tend to be similar from one country to another. 5. Homogeneity and hybridization While globalization has played an imperative role in the exchange of cultural values, norms and beliefs, it has also been accused of seeking to promote homogeneity. This is where the global media seek to establish universal values, norms and beliefs that provide the standard operating procedures. This has been said to be the promotion of the new-Marxism ideologies, where cultural dominance is common. The American culture, which is considered appealing, is more likely, therefore, to dominate the social media. According to the neo-Marxism perspective, the dominant culture has a competitive advantage, in the sense that it weakens other cultures. With the western culture being perceived to be more appealing, it has affected the global media in terms of the news value. The homogenization of global media culture has been attributed to the inequitable distribution of power and the dependency ideology. According to the neo-Marxism ideology, the American media culture is perceived to be superior owing to the wealth and power wielded by the nation. The assumption is that the more powerful and influential a given culture is, the more it is likely to have an effect on other cultures. There is also an aspect of power struggle, between the dominant culture and other cultures. The power struggle and influence has been observed in the competition for social media space to disseminate information. In this regard, the media-houses of the dominant cultures dominate the social media. Thus, it is argued that the dominant culture seeks to perpetuate the American capitalism ideology, and to place itself in the best position to influence other nations. The developing countries maintain the dependency position, where they look upon the dominant culture for direction. The Marxism ideology, therefore, argues that the kind of news that is perceived good is the one that reflects the values of the dominant culture. As a result, there has been increased similarity, between the news kind of news covered in the western developed countries, and in the developing world. The developing world has, and continues to be dependent on the dominant culture. They are assimilated to the culture of the dominant class. This has contributed to the homogenization, where a universal culture has been established. The neo-Marxism ideology in the current media has been criticised for lacking in objectivity. The critics indicate that globalization has not only affected media in the developing world, but the developed ones as well. As indicated before, globalization has ensured that there is cultural exchange, and dissemination of information from one country to another. As a result, while there is an aspect of dominance, there is also cultural tolerance, and promotion of local news. Cultural diversity in the media has prompted the need for hybridization instead of homogeneity. Hybridization is the interaction between the local cultures with the foreign cultures. Despite the argument by the critics that neo-Marxism ideology has erred in stating Anglo-US objectivity is being imposed on global media, it has been found to be true by studies that are more recent. Through the promotion of western culture, and the need to dominate the global media, the western media has gained economically. Its main aim is to increase the global viewership, through the market expansion. This has contributed to economic benefits for the American and European media, explaining why they have an added advantage over local media. The global media is also commercialized, targeting large corporations. With this kind of advantage, the western media has been able to accumulate more wealth, hence having the power of influence. With this kind of power, and market coverage, the western media also has political, social and economic effects. In this sense, the information provided by the international media is considered authentic. 6. Media convergence Media convergence has become a common global phenomenon, which has been attributed to globalization. Media convergence has been defined as the flow of information across different media platform. This information is shared with the target audience, who are also able to make comments. There is an exchange of information between the news producers and the consumers. The media convergence has been attributed by the development in technology, and digitization. As countries move from analogue to digital world, they are able to get access to more media options. The development of the social media has also enhanced the media convergence. For instance, it is estimated that the number of the people using the social media has been on the increase. More than one billion people are currently using Facebook and Twitter. The Yahoo and Gmail have also developed platforms allowing their clients have access to news taking place throughout the world. The News convergence is also another aspect of globalization, which can explain the similarity in the news sold across the globe. One of the main advantages of the media convergence is that it has been able to give the audience the chance of sharing their ideas from different media platforms. It is also possible for the people from any place to connect with any media. For instance, technological advancement has made it possible for audience to connect through Skype or video conferencing. The media convergence has also made it possible for audience to receive information in real time. However, one of the main aspects of media convergence has been the elimination of boundaries that prevent the integration of the global media. Currently, for instance, it is expected that the whole world will have migrated to the digital platform. This development will ensure that people have freedom to access any channels they want. Through digitalization, global media will unite, in a view to promote socioeconomic development. While the media convergence is imperative in connecting audience and for cultural development, is has been viewed as another form of development that seeks to create dependency and unequal distribution of information. There is criticism that the it creates participation gap in the media industry. The success of media convergence depends of capital, technological advancement, skills and experience. Majority of the media owners in the developing world lack these essential elements, hence not able to compete favourably with the more established international media. The convergence of media, therefore, promotes the culture of inequality, despite the fact that it seeks to break the barriers of media integration. As a result, it has only continued to expand the market for the Anglo-US content and culture. In a view to maintain their relevance, the local media seek to replicate the values and beliefs of the western media. This includes the kind of news selected, and broadcasted. The control of information by the private companies in media convergence has been an issue that seek to promote inequality, and biasness. Companies such as Warner Bros. have a great influence on the media, especially in the entertainment industry. They regulate the kind of information and content that is provided by the audience. Further, they seek to protect certain values and interests, explaining the main reason why conformity is imperative. It has also been observed that information from more economically stable countries is given more weight than that from others. The convergence media, therefore, seeks to open more market for western media, which has more resources and experience to compete favourably. The media convergence also indicates why news is expected to be similar from one country to another. 7. Standardized operating procedures The use of standardized operating procedures in reporting has also been common in the globe, explaining why there is a lot of similarity. There has been lack of development and innovation in reporting, as media choses to perpetuate the traditional methods. As a result, any media that does not conform to the values that have been internationally recognized is considered unprofessional and unethical. As mentioned before, the standardization of the media operations can be explained by the fact that learning has been globalized, with a goal of establishing global journalists. A set of values that reflect the internationally recognized objectives, values and norms are adhered to in many media institutions. This, coupled with other factors may explain the main reason why news appears to be similar across the globe. In conclusion, news across the globe is likely to be similar. Factors such as globalization, news values, standardized procedures, objectives and media convergence are some of the main factors explaining the similarity of news across the globe. The Anglo-US ideologies on media have been observed to be the main determinant and influence on media coverage. The western media has established universal values that form part of the ethical principles guiding different media outlets globally. Negative news, as well as that touching on prominent countries, figures and of human interest is more likely to be covered. In essence, the main aim of news selection is the fact that every organization is out to protect is commercial interests. References Grabe, M. 2011 Evolutionary perspectives on sport and competition. In Roberts, S. C. (2011). Roberts, S. Craig, ed. "Applied Evolutionary Psychology". Oxford University Press. Pieterse, Jan Nederveen 2004 “Globalization as Hybridization” in Globalization and Culture – Global Melange, Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield, 59-85 Rantanen, Terhi 2005 The Media and Globalization, London: Sage Thussu, D. 2009 (Ed) International Communications – continuity and change, London: Hodder Education Whyte-Venables J. 2012 What is News? Amazon (Kindle) ASIN: B008HOADC6 Read More