Impacts of Media Globalization in America - Essay Example

Impacts of Media Globalization in America For centuries, media has played a key role in the United s ofAmerica. In fact, a group of scholars led by Helen Kartz believe that the success of the many governments has been as a result of media globalization. In their publication, they assert that it would be unfair for people not to appreciate the impact of media globalization in the national sphere. Typically, those who pretend to be victims of media view it in a pessimistic light. Although media has grown without much support from governments, the public has considered it an essential factor in bringing the unknown to the world. It is due to this support that the impacts of media globalization have been inevitable. The constituent view of which media globalization extended its effect from seamless imperialism to increasing cultural, economic, and national identity is duly undeniable (Barlow, & Mills, 2009:57). Well, while there is lack of consensus as to whether media globalization is a vital concept to portray national identity, let us focus on growing interdependence between media and all other key players in a country’s globalization. Recently, because of expansion of modernization of media globalization on a national scale, growth at cultural, political, and social levels is changing the national identity making the study of media globalization an important topic of study in communication. Media globalization is a result of new and advanced mass media and communication technology. It is also a prerequisite and a catalyst for all other forms of national globalization. Most Americans express a feeling that, they ought to enjoy the benefits of media globalization like global communication, rather than terrifying and attempting to evade the consequences that ironically include deterrence to freedom of expression and speech. Media globalization impacts will never cease. Communicating from one corner of a country to another has never been simpler. Fortunately, currently America has these new media globalization platforms to appreciate. They now can have a video conversation with a loved one who is ten thousand miles away or keep updated on the trends taking place in the stock exchange market with a mobile phone. Mobile technology in this case is serving a great deal in moving the nation’s economy while reducing the cost of mobility and time at the same time. Media globalization has seen people use internet to improve their health or save lives. For example, a doctor in USA is able to send an x-ray to another more senior doctor in China or India for a second opinion and have it within a matter of hours. Therefore, media globalization is advancing health standards of American citizens. Increased global media interactions in America has and will continue assisting millions of American citizens to use Windows-powered PC in becoming authors of their own content in digital form meaning that they can share content widely and in far distances. Therefore, it is evident that media has the power to cross and bridge cultural gaps, bring people closer to one another and generally make our lives more convenient like never before. The presence of worldwide web provides us with endless quantities of information, knowledge, and ability to receive insights. Not before, accessing information readily does not imply that we are best informed! Media globalization has indeed positively influenced America as it has aided production and distribution. The rise of global media witnessed the formation of transnational corporations that led to effective cost and lucrative market force. This contributed to world trade that created market for media globalization through global capitalism using media to disburse messages to consumers globally. This helped America with money power through media globalization. While the interests of finance, most people regard media globalization in relation to culture and their systems. This has made it possible for United States to export media content composing entertainment to any willing nation hence accumulating revenues that help them in stabilizing their economy. As productive component of American economic growth, American citizens have aggressively founded several media stations and channels to help cope up or accommodate the rising demand for media globalization (Thussu, 2007:104). Internet has become a medium broadband. As a result, it is facilitating the increasing interpersonal character of mass media. Due to increased media globalization, positive impacts media globalization is on the verge. Students in America can do their homework through research in the internet hence upgrading their school performance and generally advance their knowledge. Furthermore, American citizens can access entertainment via a computer or television. This in return reduces boredom and monopoly, as consequences of idleness are impotent. American media globalization is, to some extent, reaping its benefits. Through media globalization, United States of America is radically promoting its cultural identity through entertainment that includes music, movies, and dress mode. It is the world’s leading entertainment product producer and exporter; thanks to increasing global media. American singers, actors, movie producers, and all the others in the mass media industry earn a great fortune out of what they do. It is with great concern that media globalization is improving the living standards of this great nation. In fact, it is evident even in other nations of the world embrace America’s media globalization through music recording as rock bands in other countries would rather sing in English than in their native language. In addition, teenagers in other countries would prefer American made jeans than locals hence aiding American production and distribution of commodities. This has led America reap huge amounts of revenues through exportation. Despite the virtues, there are also negative consequences of media globalization. While new and improved global media has helped Americans cross-cultural borders, that does not mean that it brings people together all the time. However, with improper regulation, it could deteriorate international ties or relations as media globalization breaks down all the cultural, social, and economic boundaries. Majority of all media stations are under ownership of a tiny percentage of wealthy individuals and corporations. Hence, the conglomerations swallow local media alive. These multi-corporate owners threaten the freedom of speech of local media by drowning their voices out through profit maximizing techniques (Bignall, 2000:75). Due to increased demand for quality media, media companies produce products that maximize in their profits while minimizing the cost of production. Increased globalization has made it easier to shift from high cost of production to low wage areas of the country in order to reduce labor force. Generally, this deprives America citizens’ jobs (Bertho, Crawford, & Fogarty, 2008:161). These statistics ought to appall and scare, yet they go hugely unnoted by the Americans. Most people tend to narrate the positive impacts of internet forgetting its trends that need consideration. Inter global media globalization includes demonstration of power which leads to “commercialized communication mode”. This changes the information into a selling commodity. Thereby, it ignores the purpose of information that should satisfy market needs. The results of global media may portray it hard for people to notice the subversive consequences of globalized media. Consequently, why should the media take the lead to report to us the negative impacts of their global dominance? Of course, by doing so, they do not support their key interest; that is, profit. They strive to build a particular kind of an audience that is obsessed with artificial needs or wants. The richest nations posses the sources and resources to make the most media; therefore, the information delivered to national audience develops the culture of the richest countries. It is the richest minority who determine media content, hence making it easier to influence the culture of most of the individuals in the United States of America (Curran, & Morley, 2006: 93). Although media globalization is duly helping Americans with employment through film action, production, casting, and the likes, some of the American based movies have explicit content. The relevant personnel depend on this expecting to head a daily life with money obtained through the sale of such products. These film industries depend on both domestic and international markets. However, some overseas countries protect their cultural identities against erosion by vogue language depicted in some of these films. Therefore, as a matter of protecting their culture they either censor the film content or ban its importation. As a result, America loses market, which, in return leads to low yields. In this case, media globalization if not controlled can lead to deteriorating revenue returns and loss of market for media content (Fortner, & Fackler, 2011:18). Media globalization has led to stiff competition in that line of business (Sparks, 2007:5). First, it can barely promote culture of a native community in United States. This implies that, any channel or station broadcasting in native language can receive little or no attention. Therefore, it is very clear that whoever is working in such a market will be in a position to display how best he or she can perform in that field. Such that a talent will go unnoticed, someone will earn less, and an indigenous language will fade. Thus, media globalization in America is contributing a lot in losing cultural identity and native language hence future generations will have nothing to identify themselves with, as culture erosion will have taken place long ago. Focusing far much on what the media should usually report, media globalization in America has not done it well. For instance, the way American media reported the September 11 tragedy was unimpeachable proof of biasness. The media reported the issue in a crusade manner, “Osama bin Laden: wanted, alive, or dead.” In this headline, American media reported with a notion of ensuing its citizens’ adequate protection against terrorism but in reality, its objective was submerging in a rhetoric form of wounded imperia. Even if the media is playing a key role in ensuring political awareness and stability, due to inadequate media regulation and politician’s influence, they tend to politicize media content in which some of whatever information they may give might not exactly conform to the reality. In conclusion, analysts will continue to acknowledge how increased global media is currently exhibiting profound results pertaining to the way Americans carry out their daily routines in live. Even though media globalization is itself greatly helpful than harmful, media in America is setting hazardous trends in its “production”. Given the examples of media globalization vices, if America assume them, the impacts are far very frightening: they will end up scaring democracy by depriving people of their voices. American visionary thinkers propose that, unless measures are found, the effects of detrimental individual and cooperate greed will continue to hamper media globalization in America. Hence, creativity and exchange of thoughts will remain bleak. Bibliography .Barlow, D. & Mills, B. 2009. Reading Media Theory. London: Pearson Longman. Bertho, M., Crawford, B. & Fogarty, E. 2008. The Impact of Globalization on the United States: Culture and society. Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. Bignall, Jonathan. 2000. Postmodern Media Culture, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Curran, J. & Morley, D. 2006. Media and Cultural Theory. London: Routledge. Fortner, R., & Fackler, P. 2011. The Handbook of Global Communication and Media Ethics. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons. Sparks, C. 2007. Globalization, development and the mass media. London: SAGE. Thussu, D. (2007). Media on the move: global flow and contra-flow. Oxford, Taylor & Francis. Read More