International and Comparative Media Systems Chapter 18 © 2009, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

CHAPTER OUTLINE International Media Systems World Media Online Comparative Media Systems Examples of Other Systems

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SYSTEMS Mass media can cross national boundaries Simple spillover of media Designed deliberately for other countries

Global Print Media Many major newspapers provide foreign-language or international editions General newspapers Financial newspapers Global wire services dominate the international flow of news International distribution of magazines

Global Broadcasting About 150 countries engage in international broadcasting Top five global broadcast leaders are World Service of the BBC; Voice of America (VOA); China Radio International; Deutsche Welle (DW; German Wave); Radio France International (RFI) Proliferation of global news, sports, and music channels

Film and TV American films dominate many foreign box offices Foreign box office accounts for more than half a film’s revenue International DVD revenue is important US dominates international TV program market Local programs provide strong competition, and dominate prime time in many countries Format licensing TV signals ignore international boundaries Lost international revenues; cultural domination

WORLD MEDIA ONLINE The Internet provides access to worldwide media Radio stations Streaming video Major newspapers & magazines Information also contained in e-mail, newsgroups, individual web sites Limited use of WWW: In 2006, about 16% of world’s population was online, mostly in developed countries

COMPARATIVE MEDIA SYSTEMS The political system of a country usually determines the relationship between the media, the government, and the people

Theories of the Press Authoritarian Theory Libertarian Theory Social Responsibility Theory Communist Theory Developmental Theory

Control and Ownership of the Media Media systems can be classified along dimensions of control and ownership. Public ownership, decentralized control Public ownership, centralized control Private ownership, decentralized control Private ownership, centralized control

Role of the Media in Various Countries The role of the mass media differs according to its ownership and control Biggest differences across the different levels of ownership/control are found in the interpretation, or editorial, function

Economic Differences US media largely supported by advertising Many Western European countries provide subsidies to media Developmental media systems get a mix of private and governmental funding Communist media get most of their funding from the government, but advertising revenue is welcomed

EXAMPLES OF OTHER SYSTEMS We will explore three media systems

Japan Literacy rate near 100% Strong print tradition: 10 papers exceed 1 million daily circulation Competition from new technology News and business magazines Broadcast system modeled after British Commercial networks started after WW II Pioneers in HDTV & DBS American films dominate box office Cell phone use high Internet use 71%

Mexico Striving to form indigenous media system Literacy rate 92% 300 daily newspapers, combined circulation about 9 million 200 magazines Government has controlled media; system is called “partly free” Broadcasting influenced by US system Top-rated TV shows are generally Mexican productions Significant media content flow to US

China With some exceptions, the trend has been toward less government control, and more diverse media landscape 200 newspapers; combined circulation about 200 million 10,000 magazines 650 radio stations reach 95% of population TV penetration 90% Limits on imports and foreign news Internet penetration 11%; controls over access to web sites Mobile media becoming popular