Media Globalisation

Link: http://www.articlesbase.com/outsourcing-articles/the-pros-and-cons-of-outsourcing-1342922.html

This article is dated 15th October 2009 and it discusses the pros and cons of outsourcing which is relatively common in our society today. However, the issue of outsourcing has brought me to the benefits and costs of media globalisation. This is due to the prominent similarity that both has, which is they are largely driven by profits.

From what we can observe today, the evolution of the mass media indeed allows it to be an important medium for transmitting information, creating awareness and discussion and generating revenue for the country. This might be an idealized perception that many people will subscribe to but there are always two sides to a coin and I believe that the other side exerts an equally large impact on us.

Due to the profit-motive of companies to acquire a larger share of profits in the international market, media companies engage in intensive competition to produce better media products. Consumers of media products will stand to benefit in terms of the wide variety of programmes available and the improvement in the quality of the product at a lower price. In addition, the production of such better programmes enables companies to compete in the long run. All these may seem perfect; however, this might not be true for all the media companies.

For the smaller media companies, they will face increased competition from the dominant firms and this can lead to the closing down of these small companies. Monopoly power can exist and the consumption of the media products might be more expensive. Consumers will be apparently at a disadvantage. On top of that, since the globalisation of mass media only benefits the larger firms, this can lead to an unequal distribution of wealth. For countries that depend heavily on the trading of media products for growth, their economy will be adversely affected.

Besides affecting us economically, media globalization can also affect us culturally. While the widespread of media products can educate many, the influx of media products can erode one’s culture and trigger cultural imperialism. This means that when a media company is unable to portray the correct elements of the culture to the public, there is a problem of misrepresentation of the culture. The diffusion of media products can also cause countries to lose their cultural identity and individuality. A very good example is the presence of MacDonald in many countries which result in the diminishing of one’s culture. In adopting the Western culture, countries which are unable to preserve their own culture will eventually lose their own cultural identity.

However, there are factors that limit the effects of media globalisation. Asia is not considered a major market as export of the media products to other regions is limited. Since the economic growth is not dependent on export of media products, the impact of the pros and cons cannot be felt. In addition, the intervention of the government in terms of controlling the information flow can also limit the effects of cultural imperialism as actions will be taken to protect one’s culture.

Thus, even though media globalisation can bring about benefits, we should also explore its costs and find methods to resolve the problems it has brought.

The Mass Media

Link: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17889-copycat-suicides-fuelled-by-media-reports.html #

This article is published 30th September 2009 and it discusses how the mass media can influence people in making decisions. In this case, the mass media is said to have escalated the number of people committing suicides through its reporting.

There are different forms of media but what they have in common is the ability to transmit information to large pool of audience. The information they bring about can be entertaining, interesting and at the same time, informative. The responsibility of analysing this information lies with the audiences and thus, it is not reasonable to conclude that the increasing number of people committing suicide is due to the media.

The characteristic of the mass media is that it is an institutional source and it is created at a great expense. It will not be logical to assume the source is created with the intention to encourage people to end their lives. In addition, the mass media has invisible receivers. This implied that the audiences have the power to control what they want to know from the mass media. The failure to censor themselves from these information might result in the above situation. Thus, to blame the mass media solely for perpetuating the problem would ignore its characteristics and other factors contributing to the social problem.

Next, by saying that the mass media is so influential and that audiences are passive is akin to assuming that the Powerful Effects Theory still applies to our society today. The Powerful Effects Theory assumes that the media’s intention will be achieved and that audiences lack the ability to analyze and internalise the information presented to them. This is not true as audiences have other sources of information like the internet, at their disposal and they can choose to believe in the source which is more credible and logical to them. In this case, I think that committing suicide is not something that most people will do after witnessing it through reports and to say that the copycat suicide phenomenon is fuelled by the media is a rather myopic view.

This brings me to the point about the Agenda setting function of the media. Having said that the media is not set up to increase social problems, they do have the ability to raise the importance of the issue by repeated coverage. A very good example will be the demise of singer Michael Jackson. Through the worldwide coverage of the news, many people view the issue as something that is of great significance. However, I think that the Agenda setting function is more applicable for advertisements and commercials rather than for other news coverage. This is because advertisements are shown at a higher frequency and it has the motive of enticing consumers to purchase the products. On the other hand, news is only reported at certain time of the day with the intention of transmitting information the public. I think that even though the media reports should not be held responsible for the above phenomenon, it should be more objective in the way information is presented to audiences.

As for the issue of increase in number of people committing suicide, I think that other factors like increase in stress level, failure in relationship and having financial problems can contribute significantly to it.

Group Communication

Link:http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20090917-168304.html

This above article is about a suicide pact made by a group of teenagers and that only two of them abided by the pact and ended their lives in order to ‘save the world’.

I am certain that this piece of news caught everyone by surprise, for it is bizarre in nature and many will find it hard to believe that a suicide pact was actually planned and that no one opposed to it. From this article, we can draw many conclusions; including the power of peer influence and implications of being too obsessed with supernatural powers. While these issues are prominent in the article, I think that the main problem lies with the communication within the group and the rise of groupthink.

To begin with, I think that majority of the group did not oppose to the pact due to various reasons. One of which is the need for inclusion. According to the William Schutz, he discussed the interpersonal needs when people get into a group. Individuals will consider ideal group communication when the need is satisfied. In this case, in order to have the sense of belonging within the group, they will follow what is being proposed, regardless of whether it is logical. For some, they might not be on close terms with the group and hence, they join in the suicide pact to prove their commitment towards the group.

In addition, there might be the group pressure where they have to balance their individual (being accepted into the group) and group (to sacrifice themselves to ‘save’ the world) needs. This means that they conform to the idea of a suicide pact so as to earn idiosyncrasy credit. This allows them to strengthen their role in the group and gain support from other group members. The presence of a strong-headed leader might be one of the reasons why others subscribe to what is suggested and follow him blindly.I think that even though social acceptance is important, we must also consider the consequences of our actions and the rationale behind it before committing acts which we think can help us in gaining acceptance.

As mentioned in the article, one of the members left the group in 2007 when he was put off by the activities conducted and he was only invited back in 2008. This might be one of the unwritten norms that if one do not conform; he will have to leave the group. Thus, they follow and support what the group engages in so as to remain in the group.

Perhaps the rise of groupthink perpetuated the suicide pact as the group showed visible symptoms like believing in group’s mortality, collective rationalisation and self censorship. The regular gathering for various rituals and meditations, justifying the reason for their suicide and following what they think is required to ‘prevent World War III’ are evidences of groupthink in the group. I believe that this tragedy could be avoided if more attention was paid to these symptoms and appropriate actions are taken. Hopefully, this issue can highlight the importance of group communication and its impact.

Physical Appearance VS Personality

Link: http://www.onlinedatingmagazine.com/columns/datinginsideout/2007/03-physicalappearance.html

The article shows how important physical appearance is and people who are generally better looking will tend to have more advantages. The article also discusses about the societal prejudices and conformity to societal norms.

Nowadays, we have unknowingly placed much emphasis on our looks. The increased emphasis on having good looks can be due to mass media, peer influence and even societal conformity. Many tend to overlook that character is vital in establishing relationships and are pursuing beauty blindly. I think that while good looks can have positive impact on relational formation, it cannot be the sole factor that determines a person’s societal status.

Firstly, I agree that looks can exert a positive impact on relational formation as it allows one to have the confidence to communicate and hence, establish relationships with others. Physical appearance can have the biggest impact in the early stage of a relationship as both parties based their judgment on looks. It also determines whether a relationship can be formed. Someone who is better looking will be able to form a relationship faster than their counterparts as the first impression they give is stronger. According to the article, there is a correlation between self esteem and personality. This means that good looks can possibly lead to one’s increase in self esteem and in turn affect personality. Thus, the impact of looks is far reaching than it seems.

Good physical attributes can allow one to be socially accepted and provide one with more opportunities to interact with others. The reason for the increasing number of people going for plastic surgery has shown that people view good physical attributes as a prerequisite to be socially accepted. People tend to conform to the societal standard of beauty in order not to be discriminated and isolated. It is evident that people who are considered ugly will be discriminated upon; as, children start to pick whom they will like as playmates according to facial attractiveness. They have the tendency to form relationship with someone similar to them. Children who are less attractive would naturally have little or no playmates. This phenomenon is apparent in children and this goes to show that conformity to society is unanimous.

Despite acknowledging the fact that looks can have great impact on one socially, I think that personality is equally important. While looks can determine whether a relationship can be formed at the early stage, personality ultimately decides if the relationship can be maintained in the long run. In addition, even if one manages to become more beautiful, the personality remains the same. Personality is something that is rather permanent and cannot be changed overnight. The obsession in pursuing beauty to conform to societal standard of beauty can cause people to neglect their personality and even lose their identity. For example, many people go for plastic surgery to look like their favourite celebrity. At the end of the day, they are just one of the celebrity look-alikes and exhibit no individualism.

In conclusion, I think that both looks and personality are equally important and people should try to achieve a balance between them. While there are certain standards for us to conform to, we have the power to decide if it is reasonable and if there is a need to do so.

The Verbal and Non Verbal Communication

Link:http://a1preview.asia1.com.sg:90/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=b461788b9bbe3210VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=6e2629dcee322110VgnVCM100000bd0a0a0aRCRD

The above article is published in The Straits Times dated 24 September 2099. Due to the removal of the pedestrian crossing, people had to use the underpass to get to Paterson road. Signs proved to be a problem as they are not prominent enough to direct people.

Although the above issue seemed trivial, this incident can affect many, in particular, the way we communicate. Imagine going to a place that you are unfamiliar with and there is absolutely nothing to guide you. How will you feel? Thus, with regards to the above incident, I think that there is a compelling need for signs to be clear and prominent.

Signs, being a form of non verbal communication, are very important and are almost indispensable in our daily lives. Often, signs are perceived to be useful in communication as they are able to direct many. However, it might not seem so. In this case, the signs are not conspicuous by many and hence, communication cannot even take place.

In addition, people are often confused by them and they had to spend a great deal of time interpreting them. This can give rise to misinterpretation as the receiver of the message will attach a different meaning to them. Signs can appear confusing to some but clear to others. The fact that signs are extremely influential in communicating advocates the need for construction of clear signs.

The topic above brought me to another pertaining issue related to non verbal communication. Advertisements, like signs, are another form of non verbal communication. The purpose of advertisements is perceived to inform consumers of new products and for advertisers to promote their products. However, these advertisements might not serve their purpose and are misleading at times.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine_print

The above links provide explanations on how some advertisers mislead consumers into buying their product by using fine prints. Just like how signs are not prominent enough to direct people, these advertisements prevented consumers from making informed choices by using fine prints.

Having said that,  some may argue that the use of fine prints by advertisers is just a marketing strategy and that it does not necessary affect the consumers as they have the power to make the final decision. However, the method in which advertisers choose to present their products can mislead consumers and even deceive them. In cases where high priced items like insurance are involved, advertisers should present the related information in a clear and unbiased manner.

While information provided by advertisers should be clear, I recognize that consumers also play a very important role in interpreting data. Often, consumers are blinded by the deals offered and subscribe to the product without giving due consideration. Hence, I think that both the advertisers and consumers are obliged to be clear and rational.

These two cases prove the point that verbal and non verbal communications are part of the whole. In order to ensure that effective communication can take place, non verbal form of communication must be coupled by verbal form of communication. An example of that is news reporting. The news broadcaster (verbal communication) would  report the news in a neutral manner and the subtitles (non verbal communication) allows the clear transmission of information and prevent viewers from misinterpreting the information.

The Perception

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c_A7-7B7-w

Source: The video above shows an interview with the Miss Singapore World 2009, Miss Ris Low. The clip, extracted from Youtube is being edited and from the edited clip, Miss Low is being portrayed in a negative light due to the command of her English.

There is always an unchallenged belief that people who are chosen as representatives of an organization or country should possess a certain standard of English so as to communicate effectively. Hence, when some individuals do not communicate in the way we perceive, criticisms are directed to them. In my opinion, I think that it is reasonable to speak in a more casual manner but it all depends on the occasion (For example, speaking proper English in a presentation). Thus, in an interview, I still think that Miss Low should express herself in proper English.

This is because language is a very important form of verbal communication and it has a far reaching effect of shaping one’s perception and thoughts. It inevitably represents the user of the language and people are being judged based on that. As a representative of Singapore, Miss Low should present herself in proper English as the impression that she gives to others might not be a good one. On the national level, people would perceive that the country does not put much emphasis on encouraging their citizens to speak proper English. On the individual level, people would associate her with the notion of a ‘bimbo’. Hence, in situations where impressions play a very vital role, she should practice proper English.

Moreover, language is a primary tool for communication and hence, there is a need for clarity. Due to our perception from past experience, we tend to interpret messages differently and this can lead to misunderstandings. It is necessary to communicate on common grounds, in this case, proper English. The use of language in the video might be misinterpreted by different groups of people. In addition, due to the fact that words can have multiple meanings attached to it, others might not understand what she is trying to put across and people may think that her words are offensive. Therefore, taking into consideration the fact that communication is highly affected by one’s perception and interpretation, proper languages should be used.

However, having said that, I recognize the fact that a person’s command of English cannot be changed overnight and the process requires time. While I think that Miss Low should be conversing in proper English during an interview, the criticisms came down too harsh on her. This is because there are many instances where people do not practice proper English and they are spared from all the subjective comments. Thus, I attribute this to the tendencies in perception as people are more tolerant of themselves than towards others. It is ironic that they tend to find reasons to account for their mistakes but they fail to do so for others.

Hence, in conclusion, I think that language is a very important component in communicating with others and appropriate language should be used in different events to minimize the chances of miscommunication. Even though the criticisms are harsh, I think that it is understandable for the critics to react in this manner as the reputation of the country is involved.

Haven’t heard enough?

Visit: http://comment.straitstimes.com/showthread.php?t=24545

The Internet

Source: The Straits Times, 6 September 2009

Link:http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/world/36988-rise-in-teen-sex-blame-the-internet-say-experts

This article reports a rise in the occurrence of teenage sexual activities and many experts interviewed attributed the phenomenon to the internet. Hence, the internet is inevitably placed in a negative light. While the internet allows for the easy transmission of information and communication, it cannot be faulted for the social phenomenon. This can be further supported by the psychological and social constructionist perspective. In addition, by placing all the blame on the internet negates all the benefits it has brought to us. Thus, it is unfair to attribute the blame solely to the internet and ignore the other factors that might have caused the social problem.

The three models of communication adopt the psychological perspective of communication and the communication via the internet is best represented by the interactive model (as shown in Figure 1) . While the internet provides an avenue for exchange of information, it has no control over what the decoder does after the message is transmitted, whether it is socially desirable or not. Similarly, while the noise element can affect communication, it cannot be eliminated. This is due to the fact that the noise can be psychological or physical and that it comes both from the decoder and the environment. 

The social constructionist perspective assumes that communication uses tools provided by the culture to create collective representations of reality and that we view things through the communication practices in our cultural traditions. Hence, when technology gradually dominates our society, people tend to perceive the internet as a tool which brings about negative effects. This is due to the reason that the internet had replaced our traditional communication practices such as letter writing, and people are communicating differently. It is this perception that caused us to be prejudiced towards the internet and conveniently blaming the internet when social problem arises. Therefore, we should be more objective in forming our opinion towards the internet.

Having said that the internet should not be blamed for the social problem, it is still necessary to improve communication socially. As the social constructionist perspective suggest, communicators must be willing to follow cultural norms and rules. This means that communicators should not be accessing information with illicit contents and practice self censorship as far as possible. In this way, the possibility of any social problem arising will be significantly minimised. Communicators should also be cautious in the transmission of information as well as receiving these messages. They should exercise responsibility toward their actions upon communicating with others.

 In conclusion, my opinion towards the internet remains neutral as it is just a tool of communication and is not intrinsically good or bad in nature. Eliminating the internet will not solve the root of the problem as the fault lies with the communicators. The internet is just one of the avenues for communicating and it depends solely on the communicator to shun away from the illicit contents. The fact that the internet allows for greater communication cannot be denied and there should be more emphasis on how it can bring about merits like creating greater understanding between people.