The Myth of Media Globalization

The ongoing interconnection of the world through modern mass media is generally considered to be one of the major developments underpinning globalization. This important book considers anew the globalization phenomenon in the media sphere. Rather than heralding globalization or warning of its dangers, as in many other books, Kai Hafez analyses the degree to which media globalization is really taking place. Do we have enough evidence to show that there is a linear and accelerated move towards transnationalization in the media? All too often the empirical data presented seems rather more anecdotal than representative. Many transborder media phenomena are overestimated and taken out of the context of locally and nationally oriented mainstream media processes all over the world. The inherent danger is that a central paradigm of the social sciences, rather than bearing scholarly substance, will turn out to be a myth and even a sometimes dangerously ideological tool. Based on a theoretical debate of media globalization, the work discusses most major fields of media development, including foreign reporting, satellite TV, film, internet, foreign broadcasting, media and migration, media policy and media economy. As an important new contribution to timely debates, The Myth of Media Globalization will be essential and provocative reading for students and scholars alike.

The ongoing interconnection of the world through modern mass mediais generally considered to be one of the major developmentsunderpinning globalization. This important book considers anew theglobalization phenomenon in the media sphere.Rather than heralding globalization or warning of its dangersas in many other books, Kai Hafez analyses the degree to whichmedia globalization is really taking place. Do we have enoughevidence to show that there is a linear and accelerated movetowards transnationalization in the media?All too often the empirical data presented seems rather moreanecdotal than representative. Many transborder media phenomena areoverestimated and taken out of the context of locally andnationally oriented mainstream media processes all over the world.The inherent danger is that a central paradigm of the socialsciences, rather than bearing scholarly substance, will turn out tobe a myth and even a sometimes dangerously ideological tool.Based on a theoretical debate of media globalization, the workdiscusses most major fields of media development, including foreignreporting, satellite TV, film, internet, foreign broadcastingmedia and migration, media policy and media economy. As animportant new contribution to timely debates, The Myth of MediaGlobalization will be essential and provocative reading forstudents and scholars alike.

List of Figures and Tables viiIntroduction 11 Theory - Structural Transformation of the Global PublicSphere? 72 International Reporting - 'No Further thanColumbus . . .' 243 Satellite Television - the Renaissance of World Regions564 Film and Programme Imports - Entertainment Culture asthe Core of Media Globalization 825 The Internet - the Information Revolution Which Came TooLate for the 'Third Wave of Democratization' 1006 International Broadcasting - from National Propaganda toGlobal Dialogue and Back Again 1187 Media and Immigration - Ethnicity and Transculturalismin the Media Age 1288 Media Policy - why the State Continues to Play a Role1429 Media Capital - the Limits of Transnationalization158Conclusion: Globalization - a Necessary Myth 167Notes 175Bibliography 197Internet Sources 214Index 217