Lecture 06 16th October 2012

Media & Globalization

(Media & Globalisasi)

Lee Kuok Tiung, PhD

lee@ums.edu.my

Introduction practically no globalization without media & communications (Terhi Rantanen, 2004).

The electronic media & communication sector, which ranges from telecommunication networks & the Internet, through to radio, television & film, is itself among the most active in the current drive for the globalization of production, markets & trade.

process has been facilitated by a world-wide trend toward deregulation and privatization of the mass media.

Globalization – the growing integration of economies & societies around the world – has been one of the most hotly-debated topics in international economics over the past few years.

Information dissemination – fast (e.g. news for Steve Jobs dead)

Continues …. The social consequences of the globalization of the sector itself are comparable to those of many other sectors, & include the restructuring of employment relations & conditions, & international competition for footloose capital based on cheaper labor.

The media & communication industries are a leading sector in facilitating overall globalization.

For instance, the social consequences of facilitating the emergence of globalize financial transactions (e-commerce) & manufacturing industries open markets for “lifestyle” products (Valentine Day, Mothers Day, etc.), popular culture (k-pop culture), which includes fast food (KFC, McDonald, etc.) and cosmetics (SK-II, ), are a result of the growth of these sectors (softening up cultures for consumerism).

Globalization - Conceptualization The term globalization is linked to a variety of

different perspectives and ideas about what globalization is and how it affects people and communities around the world.

1. Encyclopedia Britannica says that globalization is the "process by which the experience of everyday life ... is becoming standardized around the world."

2. globalization stress convergence of patterns of production and consumption and a resulting homogenization of culture.

3. globalization has the potential to take many diverse forms.

4. Globalization (or Globalisation) refers to increasing global connectivity, integration and interdependence in the economic, social, technological, cultural, political, and ecological spheres. Globalization is an umbrella term and is perhaps best understood as a unitary process inclusive of many sub-processes (such as enhanced economic interdependence, increased cultural influence, rapid advances of information technology, and novel governance and geopolitical challenges) that are increasingly binding people and the biosphere more tightly into one global system (*From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Continues …. special characteristic of the globalization of

the media & communication sector is as a powerful agent in the transformation of social, cultural & political structures.

impact of the gradual commercialization of media & communications on critical social functions, such as the formation of individual & community identity, cultural & language diversity, the capacity to participate in the political process & the integrity of the public sphere, the availability of information & knowledge in the public domain, & the use of media for development, educational & human rights purposes.

Continues …. vital functions - respects democracy, human rights & economic, social & cultural needs.

Free flow of information also cause Media Imperialism (confusing the whole world concerning real fact)

“Global Village” concept by McLuhan (1964) & Meyrowitz (1985) – existent ICT has dense space & time enable societies around the globe living in borderless world.

United Nations itself has encouraged member countries to invest in digital technology as a way to achieve its millennium development goals (MDG).

The uneven development of ICT (digital divide) indicates that the benefits of new technology will be felt by the only few innovative adopters at the expense of a larger group of laggards.

SOCIAL CHANGE Transformation of traditional society into a modern society. Changing of attitudes and norms Adoption of innovation Urbanization Better income

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

End Poverty and Hunger

Universal Education Gender Equality Child Health Maternal Health Combat HIV/AIDS Environmental

Sustainability Global Partnership

3 QuestionsBy Professor Ang Peng HwaDirector, Singapore Internet Research CentreWee Kim Wee School of Communication and InformationNanyang Technological University1.What is the role of social media in social/political change?

2.If social media is so important, why should not governments simply cut it in times of crisis?

3.What happens if you cut communications?

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CURRENT ISSUES

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TELEVISION LANDSCAPE

Free-to-air TV Pay TV

7 channels Alhijrah Media Cprtn Satellite TV IPTV (TV alhijrah)Media prima GovtTV3 RTM1

ASTRO TELEKOM MalaysiaNTV 7 RTM2 110 Chnls

39 Chnls TV8 TV9

FINE TV

40 Chnls

Media Coverage Among Adults (%)

(2010 – 14,943) 75%

77%

56%

11% 9% 18% 48% 3% 26%

TelevisionRadio

NewspaperInternetCinemaMagazine

Pos adVision4Power Screen

Internet Usage as “social” technology as a capital-enhancing activity. as an ‘online shopping mall’ as recreational outlets

“Social change” – what the Internet can offer that mass media could not?

“Internet Literacy” - to effectively find, use, summarize, evaluate, create, and communicate information while using digital technologies

INTERNET – MALAYSIAN DATA

About 57% of Internet user are between the ages of 20 and 24 years.

About 71% said that their main online activities are keeping in touch with friends and family, instant messaging, and reading local news.

Mostly driven by people in: central region (54%). southern region (15%) northern region (15%) east coast states (4%) Sabah and Sarawak (12%)

People around the globe are more connected to each other than ever before. Information & money flow more quickly than ever.

Goods & services produced in one part of the world are increasingly available in all parts of the world. International travel is more frequent.

International communication is commonplace. Among factor which contributes to global

communication development is international news exposure by printed & electronics media. Printed media agencies like Associated Press, Reuter, and Agence France Press while electronic visual media likes Reuters and World Television Network (WTN) were among international media firm which play main roles in these process.

“Globalization" Characteristic:

Questions Do we need to regulate media at all?

Four of the main international organizations involved in regulating and governing the media at the global level are:

1.International Telecommunication Union (ITU);

2.United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO);

3.Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN); &

4.World Trade Organization (WTO) stand out.

Continues …. Globalization has various aspects which affect the world in several

different ways such as:1. Industrial (alias trans nationalization) - emergence of worldwide production

markets and broader access to a range of goods for consumers and companies

2. Financial - emergence of worldwide financial markets and better access to external financing for corporate, national and sub-national borrowers

3. Economic - realization of a global common market, based on the freedom of exchange of goods and capital.

4. Political - Political globalization is the creation of a world government which regulates the relationships among nations and guarantees the rights arising from social and economic globalization.

5. Informational - increase in information flows between geographically remote locations

6. Cultural - growth of cross-cultural contacts; advent of new categories of consciousness and identities such as Globalism - which embodies cultural diffusion, the desire to consume and enjoy foreign products and ideas, adopt new technology and practices, and participate in a "world culture".

7. Ecological- the advent of global environmental challenges that can not be solved without international cooperation, such as climate change, cross-boundary water and air pollution, over-fishing of the ocean, and the spread of invasive species.

8. Social - the achievement of free circulation by people of all nations. 9. Transportation - Fewer and fewer American cars on American roads each year.

Continues …. Greater international cultural exchange 1. Spreading of multiculturalism, and better individual

access to cultural diversity (e.g. through the export of Hollywood and Bollywood movies). However, the imported culture can easily supplant the local culture, causing reduction in diversity through hybridization or even assimilation. The most prominent form of this is Westernization, but Sinicization of cultures has taken place over most of Asia for many centuries.

2. Greater international travel and tourism 3. Greater immigration, including illegal immigration 4. Spread of local consumer products (e.g. food) to other

countries (often adapted to their culture) 5. World-wide fads and pop culture such as Pokemon, Idol

series, YouTube, Black Mental, Hip-Hop, and etc. 6. World-wide sporting events such as FIFA World Cup and

the English Premier League (EPL), Olympics Games & etc.

7. Formation or development of a set of universal values.

Continues …. Impact of Globalizations on

Developing Countries:1. Trade 2. Capital movements 3. Movement of people 4. Spread of knowledge (and

technology)

Debate Debate abounds over whether globalization is good or bad for the self, the family, the nation, and the world. Some pessimists see increased interdependence as a terribly destructive trend, while optimists see a more diverse, better life for all. Some people argue that the world is no more globalize than it was in the waning days of the British Empire, but some see an information revolution that is unparalleled in history and widespread in its implications.

Continues …. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad dalam Kongres

Pembangunan ekonomi Sedunia & Forum Kepimpinan Asia di Kuala Lumpur pada 28 Jun 2001 pernah berkata “sekarang lebih banyak syarikat datang …….. mereka datang sebagai entiti yang bergitu besar selepas bergabung sesama sendiri.’ Intipati keseluruhan teks ucapan beliau bertujuan mengingatkan negara-negara Asia khususnya negara-negara membangun lebih berwaspada dengan firma transnasional gergasi dari luar berikutan kesukaran untuk bersaing dengan mereka yang beroperasi di seluruh dunia dan ada di kalangan mereka yang cuba mendominasi sesuatu bidang industri.

Continues …. Globalisasi merupakan proses-proses di mana

hubungan sosial mencapai tahap yang bersifat tanpa jarak dan sempadan.

Globalisasi juga akan menimbulkan keadaan saling bergantungan yang semakin tinggi antara satu lokasi ekonomi dengan lokasi ekonomi di benua yang lain, bukan lagi sekadar antara satu negara dengan negara yang lain.

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad menafikan tanggapan sesetengah pihak yang beranggapan Malaysia menentang globalisasi sebaliknya beliau dengan tegas mengulangi pendirian Malaysia menyokong globalisasi tetapi tidak seperti ditakrifkan negara-negara maju iaitu pelaburan dari negara luar ke negara membangun tanpa sebarang sekatan (Nizam Yatim. Berita Harian. 28 Ogos: hlm. 2).

Transformation of Traditional Society Into A Modern SocietySocial Change:

Changing of attitudes and norms Adoption of innovation Urbanization Better income

Communication & Change: Top-down Strategy Mass Media As ‘Magic Multiplier’

Continues ….Rethinking of the Dominant Paradigm” stressing popular participation, self-reliance, and the empowerment of people involved in social change.

requires a communication model that describes the process of dialogue, horizontal information sharing, mutual understanding, agreement, and collective action.

requires a model of social change based on community dialogue and collective action that specifies social as well as individual outcomes.

Continues ….The Process (How it can Happen?): First level – accessibility Second level – usage Third level – outcomes

Issues: End Poverty and Hunger Universal Education Gender Equality Child Health Maternal Health Combat HIV/AIDS Environmental Sustainability Global Partnership

Continues ….Communication as Dialogue:

Dialogue cannot occur between those who deny other men the right to speak their word and those whose right to speak has been denied them.

Dialogue cannot be carried in a climate of hopelessness.

Without dialogue there is no communication, and without communication there can be no true education (change).

Strength of Weak Ties The emergence of the Internet and its extensive global networks has given traditional, interpersonal face-to-face horizontal communication a sizable boost.

The masses who find it difficult to make themselves heard can now depend on the Internet as a method of expressing their views and initiating change.

Summary Globalization is much like fire. Fire itself is neither good nor bad (kecil jadi kawan, besar jadi lawan).

ICT as alternatives enhance national development, national unity, .

While some people think of globalization as primarily a synonym for global business, it is much more than that.

As Friedman says: "[Globalization] can be incredibly empowering and incredibly coercive. It can democratize opportunity and democratize panic. It makes the whales bigger and the minnows stronger. It leaves you behind faster and faster, and it catches up to you faster and faster. While it is homogenizing cultures, it is also enabling people to share their unique individuality farther and wider."

Tutorial Task 1. Give an accessible overview of

globalization & the pivotal role of the media.

2. Find the concepts & theories of globalization.

3. What are the consequences of the globalization of communications?