Globalization and International News

Characteristics of the global news system

• Not a unified system, but a multilayered, differentiated and only partly interconnected system
• Global or transnational news services have extensive reach, a certain reputation (brand name) and occasional political influence
• National media continue to play the most important role in public political discourse
• Both business and technical developments tend to integrate actors and services across borders
• Promotes both outward and inward looking

Two questions - exercises

• Go to BBC news on the internet (news.bbc.co.uk) and look at the discussion forum ”Have your say”
• How is this discussion forum organized and to what extent can it be said to constitute a kind of transnational or global public sphere for public deliberation?
• Go to Al Jazeera’s English website (english.aljazeera.net) and look at their section on global news. To what extent is their global news different from other international news providers (for instance BBC or CNN)– if at all?

News in a Globalized Society

• Stig Hjarvard University of Copenhagen