Media globalization: Final essay

Due to media globalization, wealthy corporations in the United States are able to promote consumerist values across the world. It is thus necessary for governments and international authorities like the United Nations to intervene in order to ameliorate this issue.

Through media globalization, multinational and affluent organizations in the US constantly threaten freedom of speech and spread consumerist values worldwide. A majority of all media is dominated by a very small percentage of wealthy corporations in the US, which cover the voices of the majority and smaller organizations. Their main interests are profits and to build an audience that is obsessed with a certain lifestyle with artificial wants. The US, which is a wealthy country, has the resources to produce the most media that promotes its consumerist culture to the world (Hickman, 2007). Herman and McChesney (2004) argue that global media is still dominated by US interests. Hence, a frightening scenario of cultural homogenization can be foreseen; with a world giving way to media dominated by Western values of greed and consumerism (United Nations Development Programme, 2004).

In response to these negative effects, other governments outside of US can intervene by providing contrasting sources of information from the mainstream media. Former American politician Howard Dean stated, “I think democracy fails when people don't have the ability to get the kind of information they need to make up their mind. Ideologically, I don't care much for FOX News. But the truth is that, as long as there are countervailing points of view available on the spectrum, it doesn't matter." (Third World Traveler, 2004). It is therefore a valid suggestion for governments to consider creating platforms that emphasize contentment and dissuade materialism. For example, governments can organize awareness campaigns that highlight the real definition of happiness as having good health and quality relationships, instead of the pursuing high standards of living. Governments of other countries can therefore alleviate the impact of media globalization by giving people knowledge that is opposite from the American media.

Another way to alleviate the negative effects of media globalization is for the governments around the world to collaborate with each other and intervene internationally. This is because addressing the concerns of media will require global and corporate policies. According to United Nations Development Programme (2004), all cultures share a commonality of basic values that are the foundation of global ethics. This refers to the desire to relieve the suffering and promote the belief in the basic moral equality of every individual. Its core elements include equity, human rights and responsibilities, and democracy. These find explicit mention in Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Taoism, and other faiths. Thus, human development aims at expanding an individual’s choices within a democratic framework that protects liberties, such as preventing minds from being unconsciously molded by the American media. Based on these global ethics, states have come together to endorse the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1995. It puts forward some significant proposals regarding media, such as raising the idea of a tax on the use of media, with the proceeds to be utilized for non-commercial programming for international distribution, and questioning the growing concentration of media ownership (Siochrú, 2004). Hence, international authorities can step in to systemize the globalization of media through legal policies.

In conclusion, multinational and wealthy corporations in US promote values of greed through media globalization. Governments therefore need to intervene by regulating media globalization and cooperating with other nations to mediate internationally. In view of the widespread effects of media globalization, one needs to reconsider whether economic development and social advancement have to mean the adoption of prevailing Western values.

References

Herman, E.S., & McChesney, R.W. (2004). The Global Media – the New Missionaries of Corporate Capitalism. London: Continuum

Hickman, Mary. (2007). The effects of media globalization. Radford University. Retrieved from http://www.radford.edu/mahickman/portfolio/The Effects of Media Globalization.doc

Siochrú, S.O. (2004, May). Social consequences of the globalization of the media and communication sector: some strategic considerations. Paper presented at the International Labour Office Conference, Geneva. Retrieved from http://www.researchgate.net/publication/228176793_Social_Consequences_of_the_Globalization_of_the_Media_and_Communication_Sector_Some_Strategic_Considerations/file/9c960519f6fad3d9fe.pdf

Third World Traveler. (2004). Media control. Retrieved from http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Media_control_propaganda/Media_Control.html

United Nations Development Programme. (2004). Human Development Report 2004 (Information series No. 5). New York: United Nations Development Programme.