Globalisation vs. Localisation

This week Michelle, Pippa and I presented a seminar on the topic of Globalisation vs. Localisation. I focused on the effects of globalisation and subsequent localisation on journalists. I talked about the way that new technologies (that are both a cause and effect of globalisation, commercialisation of the media and problems with reporting local news on a global scale have all affected the integrity of journalism, structure of news gathering procedures and resulted in the continuing change of journalists’ roles in society. I have two main concerns with the effects of globalisation, including the commercialisation of the media and the use of the internet by journalists. The commercialisation of the media is probably what worries me the most, with the concentration of ownership by a few major TNC's who then have the ability to choose what is on the news agenda. As Christina said in class, if we are told that we have to write a certain article in a certain way in order to make the company we work for look good, or to make an advertiser or supporter look good, are we going to say that we will quit our jobs in order to maintain the integrity of journalism? With the economy the way it is I highly doubt this will happen. It seems that in this age of globalisation it will be difficult to trust what we read in the media anymore. The other main issue that concerns me is the ease in which journalists can fall back on the media for their news stories, without accurately verifying their sources.