Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
the nation-state system is no longer a useful perspective to understand
their functioning and dynamics. Or, in Appadurai's words: the media-
scape is no longer a national mediascape, no matter how relevant the
state still is in political constraints, regulations, competition rules and
broadcasting rights. Although no longer contained in the nation-state,
of course there are huge differences with regard to access to these
global media throughout the world, as Figures
9.1
and
9.2
illustrate.
Second, the globalisation of the media industry further enhanced a
process that was already on its way: the privatisation of once public
media and the subsequent concentration of ownership in the hands
of a few monopolists. There are a few multimedia transnationals that
have a major influence on the global mediascape, Time-Warner, Disney,
Viacom, Bertelsmann, News Corporation and Sony among the lead-
ers. This is not only true for television (where, for instance, CNN, Fox
News and the BBC are currently leading global news bringers, often
strongly influencing whether politicians act or not
4
), but also for news-
papers, magazines and, increasingly, topic publishers. Only cable tele-
vision and the Internet seem to have avoided such tendencies of concen-
tration and monopolisation. This makes news increasingly financially
driven and controlled. According to Tumber (
2001
), the business of
news organisation and the product are now joined, greatly affecting
the substantial part of news, as well as the positioning of news among
all other kind and forms of information (advertisements, scandals,
intrusion and the like). The commercialisation of news has enhanced
significantly over the past two decades. At the same time, especially
in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, the
role of public news agencies and media is shrinking. In parts of main-
land Europe, with a different media culture and historic background,
publishing and broadcasting in different localities around the globe; the
language barriers; and the role of states in constraining a truly free global media.
In addition, one also should point at the monopolisation of these global media.
Also the Internet, with its limited access through the digital divide and political
constraints in various states, does not qualify for a truly global public sphere.
4
See, for instance, Robinson (
2002
)onthe so-called CNN effect, which is
especially felt strongly in the United States. It refers to the effect that when an
item of foreign development is covered by CNN, it becomes a primary concern
for the audience and it forces (the U.S.) government to act. CNN is
agenda-setting for U.S. foreign policy. “In terms of foreign affairs, if it is not on
CNN, it does not exist” (McPhail,
2006
: 157). That is, of course, also true for
foreign or global environmental issues.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search