Global Trends in Media and Communications

In the past decades global media and communication industry has developed into a rapidly expanding field with a large number of players. Communications across borders consist of flows of words images texts and data that move between and among individuals governments social movements and business organizations. Flows of world news are carried across the globe by the major printed news agencies and the leading agencies for visual news. Flows of entertainment and educational materials which include recorded music feature films textbooks and TV entertainment are provided by the world’s largest entertainment media companies. In addition to financial interests global media have an impact on media content politics and culture. Like the Internet global media are influenced by the culture and interests of the United States. In some ways global media could be considered an extension of the American system. As the Internet becomes a broadband medium it is increasingly taking on the characteristics of a mass medium rather than an interpersonal one. In the future mass media trends could be extended to the Internet. For instance a recent study of Dutch children’s Internet usage revealed that they primarily used the Internet as a leisure medium to play games watch video clips and visit entertainment sites. Research on Americans however shows people primarily use the Internet to maintain social relationships through e-mail. This book presents the information on some of the basic concept of this subject. Contents: • The Promise of Citizen Journalism • Freedom of Press and Responsible Journalism • Cyber Journalism: Legal and Ethical Issues • Theoretical Foundations of Communication Regulations Freedom • Intercultural Dimensions of Media Ethics • Media Accountability • State and Media Accountability System • History of Broadcasting • Radio Broadcasting