Media Globalization: Myth vs. Fact

After completing this week's readings, I mostly see two things about media globalization. I don't know if I'm right.

* Myth: Media Globalization is about democratizing mass media?

No, because media conglomerates AND local governments are the ones who produce and really control mass media (McChesney, Parks). The masses of consumers have no actual control over the content, even though with the convergence in media industries, consumers might now have a little more opportunities to influence and affect the content of mass media (Jenkins).

* Fact: Media Globalization is essentially about the consolidation of a global media market dominated by US-based oligopolies & TNCs.

Indeed, media globalization is driven by the incentive of US-based media conglomerates to conquer and dominate, more and more of the cultural industry:

- through media convergence and synergy (McChesney, Jenkins),

- through penetration of other markets by acquisitions of local companies/firms (McChesney, Sparks)

- through standardization of media systems, and representations that position the West at the center of the "spider web". The West looks at the rest of the world, the West defines and characterizes the Other (Orient, Japan, Communism, etc) (Morley & Robbins, Sparks).

Consequences:

- Redefinition of the concept of media imperialism, with this US "colonization of communications space" (Boyd-Barrett).

- Europe tries to reduce this US-based cultural domination by trying to limit its penetration with taxes, quotas, and protectionism of the European space (the European community) and the European cultural identity (Morley and Robbins).

- Still the West (North America & Europe) agrees on preventing any cultural domination by "Others" such as Japan/Asia (Morley & Robins) or communists (Sparks).