Globalised media

THE GLOBALIZATION OF NEWS: Oliver Boyd-Barrett and Terhi Rantan - Editors; Sage Publications India Pvt. Ltd., 32, M Block, Greater Kailash I, New Delhi-110048. œ. 15.99. (paperback).

THE ROLE of mass media in formulating and directing public opinion in a certain direction is the subject of debate at various fora. Print media has, all along, been having a lion's share in this respect. Even though electronic media has come to occupy the centre-stage, yet willy-nilly, the print media will continue to be the important medium of mass communication. A major portion of coverage in electronic media depends, to a large extent, on the information fed by the news agencies, having national and global network.

The UNESCO, in its document, New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO), describes the role of news agencies as ``agents of globalisation''. Besides, being appropriate, this is also true since the news agencies are the first international or, indeed, global media organisations which are also among the first of the world's transnational or multinational corporations.

The book under review, has, as one of its important themes, in- depth investigation of the role of news agencies in the globalisation and commodification of news. According to its editors, the news agencies demonstrate models of business practices, professional ethics and clientelism which are the heart of any study of the communications media.

The editors have done well in discussing, in detail, in the introduction itself, the globalisation of the media scene, particularly in the last two decades, i.e., since the publication of the McBride Commission report by the UNESCO in 1980.

The book contains a comprehensive overview of the news agencies which report and also film the news for the print and electronic media. It incorporates historical, political, economic and cultural studies by a panel of distinguished academics in mass communication worldwide - a wide range of different voices from different countries. The book also critically examines the impact of deregulation and globalisation of the news agency business. By way of information and examples, contributors to the volume have relied heavily on leading players like the Reuters, the Associated Press, the UPI, the Non-Aligned News Agencies Pool and the New World Information and Communication Order.

The book is extremely rich in information, analysis, references - all these add to the authenticity of the contributors' conclusions. In other words, the contributors' perception emerges after a detailed study of the opinion of specialist individuals and specialist bodies.

In all, there are 13 chapters in three parts which are captioned as follows: News agencies as agents of globalisation; News agencies in the furnace of political transition; and Defining news - contestation and construction. Unlike other books, this work contains, at the end of each chapter conclusion by the contributor. This is particularly welcome when we have time crunch.

There is a very interesting chapter on the mediascape of Africa which, according to Prof. Ullamija Kivikuru, has been influenced greatly by new information technology together with increased commercialisation. She adds ``the most drastic changes are man- made, not technological. The mediascape has altered because of political changes, but news agencies are, as they have always been, poorly resourced, badly run and commanding little respect.''

It is difficult to pinpoint the more interesting articles because each is on a subject which has been and is of great concern to both the academics and the practitioners of mass media. The book will be of particular interest to students, academics and practitioners of media and international communication.

C. K. SARDANA

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