Strategically Communicating

I have chosen to enroll in a multimedia journalism program because I am aware and convinced of the power of media in shaping and constructing our society and global culture. Media allows me and millions of other people on the planet to learn, be entertained, stay connected, network, and stay engaged with the world we live in.

However, is it surprising to hear that the media maintain the status quo? When I watch or listen to certain news pieces, I feel that the producers are banking on the audience’s ignorance about how media is manipulated by political forces. As Noam Chomsky points out the makers of media make the decisions as to what get covered or not and how much coverage it gets.

On top of media being manipulated by the political and economic forces that own media producing companies, many people in the world are reached by media produced in the western world with very little relevance to their everyday lives. People in Kenya for example might be more familiar with Lil Wayne or Obama than with one of their activist and politician, Nobel Peace Prize recipient Wangari Maathai mainly because media procurers in this country struggle to “compete with the established, well-resourced American studio system.” (O’shaughnessy & Stadler, 2012: 23)

I know that I can produce media that will help challenge and even reverse the status quo. Will I get air time? That’s another story.

Connected to the topic above is the concept of “cultural imperialism”. I would love to hear thoughts on the positive and negative impacts of cultural imperialism on communities across the world.