Globalisation is defined as being "growth to a global or worldwide scale," while localisation is defined as being "made local or oriented locally." With the rise of the internet and other forms of new technology, the argument of whether globalisation is positively or negatively influencing the world of journalism and society as a whole has arisen. There is no doubt that the answer is both, as a result of different factors.
The term globalisation, or "global village" is not a new one. As Rhonda Breit states, "it was first used in the 1960s to describe the linking of humanity in all parts of the world." This was done by the use of the printing press, radio, the invention of the television and telephones. This technology has since evolved into mobile phones and satellites, which according to Breit has "helped to break down borders to create a global media audience." The invention of the internet to the general public has sped up the process, and through its use, news can now reach citizens in a far off country. It is this process which makes it instantaneous, and it is one of the advantages of globalisation.
According to Michael D. Intriligator, Professor of Economics, Political Science, and Policy Studies at UCLA, "globalization has involved greater openness in the international economy, an integration of markets on a worldwide basis, and a movement toward a borderless world, all of which have led to increases in global flows." Globalisation has helped to shape economies in that transportation and communication is cheaper. It is now possible to send information through to the other side of the world at any time and receive a reply almost instantly. For more information on what Intriligator believes are the advantages of globalisation, visit www.sppsr.ucla.edu/cgpr/docs/workingpaper2.doc. He is not the only one who suggests advantages of globalisation though, as E.A. Eregarr and A.O. Afolabii use six examples. The first of these is rise in the volume of global market, which means there will always be an increase in trade regardless of the product. The second one is increase in competition, which provides more choices and lower prices. The third example relates to cultural diversity, which means the products will be available to everybody. Example number four is job creation and poverty eradication. This means that more events will take place, and thus more jobs will be created. Example number five is a check on bad government, in which foreign media outlets can criticise governments and end their reign. Finally, the pair suggests that globalisation can aid development, as there is instant access to local media coverage of activities.
Globalisation has also culminated in the deregulation of media institutions across the world. This has especially taken place in Nigeria, which since 1992 has not been in the hands of the government. Now, everybody who is willing to participate in the media can do so.
However, globalisation also has many negative effects. According to Breit, "the latest technological advances have taken place in an environment of commercialisation." This has seen the rise of 10 transnational corporations as well as a second tier, which are buying into the new technology, and thus limiting freedom of speech. As a result, this is having a huge influence on journalism. As we all know, newspapers set the agenda, but this is now going one step further, as Breit states, "media operators and others in the industry are setting the news agenda , as journalists put commercial interests before the public's right to know, traditionally seen as the motivation to break stories." Newspapers in the 21st Century are a business, where money is important to their survival. Journalists in this environment thus have the added pressure of deciding whether the information is in the public interest. It can also culminate in defamation cases being herd in a country where the article has not been published. An example of this is, Dow Jones & Company Inc Vs Joseph Gutnick (2002 at 25) where Joseph Gutnick sued Dow Jones for comments that were placed on the internet. Also, globalisation is effecting culture as a whole, especially Nigeria, where Nigeria films, T V and Records portray the dominant America culture. According to Eregarr and Afolabii, "this could be traced to factors like lack of funds to produce programs, proliferation of Hollywood culture, and dependency on foreign News Agencies of developed countries." It is a problem that faces a lot of third world countries, and thus is a huge negative of globalisation.
Overall though, there is no doubt that globalisation is having a positive effect on society. This is because more information is available than ever before. Thus, the idea of globalisation is not killing off localisation. Rather, it is strengthening it.
No comments:
Post a Comment