Project 3A Assignment: Homogenization and Diversity

Project 3A: Homogenization and Diversity
Name
Institutional affiliation
Project 3A: Homogenization and Diversity
Ways in which media globalization contributes to both homogenization and diversity in the countries of the world
Lechner and Boli (2015) states that the modern media are a key factor in the globalization phenomenon. Developments in information technology have provided the infrastructure to enhance communication. Accessibility of the internet and satellite television have revolutionized how people share information and motivated increased travel and exchange of culture. Media globalization facilitates the production and distribution of information from one culture to another. Researchers show that as information communication technologies develop, the production of information is exceeding the consumption. Media globalization includes television, radio, film, music, the internet, and other forms of digital media. The intent of this review is to address ways media globalization contributes to homogenization and diversity.
Reviews of Lechner and Boli (2015) confirm that the US-led Western media has a global influence on people across the world. The content is available in both online and offline sources and in formats that can be accessed and used by the recipients. According to the authors, the influence emerging from the Western media can be attributed to their economic and political power. People in the world have in the past presented different ways of life, including dressing, food, language, medicine, and other aspects that made the communities unique. The aspect of globalization in the 21st century has popularized the notion that the world should become a global village. The impact of foreign media has been inevitable for most communities leading to the spread and adoption of Western cultures. Homogenization of cultures refers to a phenomenon where there is a loss of diversity, making people converge in an orientation to similar ways of life. Suggestively, globalization is the compression of the world as stated by Lechner and Boli (2015). From this perspective, it is evident that the globalization of the media has contributed to social globalization. People can exchange values and ideas more quickly when there are reliable means of communication and interaction through travel and migration (Kraidy, 2002). In this context, business ventures by international media players contribute to the impact of globalization. Major news and entertainment companies are seeking to expand their market by increasing viewership all over the world. Consequently, the dominance of the Western media has continued to proliferate in many areas
The Czech Republic is a country with a rich cultural heritage. The elements of this culture are evident in its theatres, cinemas, libraries, as well as galleries and museums. For long the country has had well-maintained cultural aspects, especially in the rural settings. Nevertheless, at least eighty percent of the newspaper and magazine operating in the country are owned by foreign operators with most from Swiss and German (Manyika, et al., 2016). According to Lyons (2010), media globalization can be perceived as a natural undertaking of corporate expansion at the international ...