summary -- The effects of media globalization (editted final)

Media globalization, the foundation for globalization in general, is inevitable, which is due to the advancement in communications technology. Thus, communicating globally is much easier, benefiting us in many ways. Although people can access plenty of information via the internet, it does not imply that they are better informed. In addition, instead of bringing people with different cultures together, media globalization may worsen relations with other countries. Furthermore, the decrease in governmental regulations for media leads to the merging of different corporations, resulting in oligopolies. The richest minority of the richest countries control what appears in the media. Hence, the opinions of the people and the local media are threatened. The main objective of those multinational media corporations is to maximize the profit not the truth by increasing advertisements and decreasing the quality of the contents. Since advertising agencies sponsor the media heavily, they have a powerful influence over the contents as well. In conclusion, media globalization is an imperialistic effort on the part of media mergers.

Reader response - The effects of media globalization

In Mary Hickman’s article, The Effects of Media Globalization, she illustrated the benefits and drawbacks of media globalization with extensive examples and references. However, she emphasized more on the negative consequences caused. 

One point raised in the article is that “media will get more and more advertiser-oriented”. She used Coca-Cola memo as a supporting point. I agree with this argument and it indeed can be seen in many real life examples. Media corporations receive funds directly or indirectly from companies willing to promote some of their products. In return, the contents covered in the media have to be adjusted to cater the needs of the sponsors. For examples, food companies manufacturing relatively unhealthy food prefer information on healthy diet to be excluded. Companies that have adverse effects on the environment are not willing to see contents related to pollution and climate change be shown. Prior to the release of a new type of supplement, pharmaceutical companies will sponsor some researchers to conduct a research on the active ingredient of the supplement. Generally, to the interests of the sponsors, negative results are omitted in the published research paper. Research journal is usually portrayed as a more reliable source of information. Hence, when the general public have a chance to read it, they tend to form a belief in its beneficial effects more easily, which in turn will help to boost the sale of the supplement. It thus can be seen that instead of getting “neutral” information, the readers are forced to be exposed to “biased” materials. Their values and ways of thinking will then be directed in a way designed by those advertisers.

However, it should not be implied that we are fully surrounded by biased information. With the boom of social media, people globally are able to share information more easily. They simply use their smart phones to take a photo or shoot a video whenever they find something which is worth of sharing. Hence, with the help of these “civilian journalists”, people may be able to access certain news that governments or some companies wish to hide originally. 

In conclusion, although the argument is well-illustrated, she should probably include the contrasting views mentioned above in the article as well.

summary - The Effects of Media Globalization

Media globalization is inevitable, which is due to the advancement in communications technology. It is also the foundation for globalization in general. Communicating globally is much easier, benefiting us in many ways. Although we can access plenty of information via the internet, it does not imply that we are better informed. Instead of bringing people with different cultures together, media globalization may worsen relations with other countries. The decrease in governmental regulations for media leads to the merging of different corporations, resulting in oligopoly. The opinions of the people and the local media are threatened. The richest minority of the richest countries control what appears in the media. The main objective of those multinational media corporations is to maximize the profit not the truth by increasing advertisements and decreasing the quality of the contents. Since advertising agencies sponsor the media heavily, they have a large influence over the content as well. Differing from other consumer goods, media should be regulated in a different way. Media globalization is an imperialistic effort on the part of media mergers.

summary exercise

Soaring oil price is the most serious risk factor to the global economy. It is due to the military tension in the Middle East region. The global recessions were worsened by rising oil prices if not caused by them. The recent conflict between Israel, US and Iran may further exacerbate the situation. Owing to the fact that tensions in the Middle East region may intensify, even though economic growth is weak, the oil prices may be pushed up even further.

summarising practice 1

When sociologists conduct research on people at extreme ends of the income spectrum, they usually analyze data collected by the World Bank and the United Nations.

paraphrasing exercise 2:

According to Declan Butler, the new reactors should be ones that can function at high temperature to improve efficiency.  They can try to fix themselves with little human involvement should any accident occur. In addition, they need to cost less to operate and generate less waste.