COM3715
ASSIGNMENT 2
DUE DATE: AUGUST 2026
,SECTION A
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Globalisation and digital technology have changed how information is shared across the
world. International media organisations play an important role in the movement of
information between countries and regions. These information flows can influence how
people understand global issues and can have different effects on countries in the
Global South. Modernisation and media policies also shape how information is
produced, shared, and received. Scholars such as Tehranian (1991) and Thussu (2007)
provide useful ideas for understanding these changes in global communication. The
discussion focuses on international information flows, their effects on the Global South,
modernisation, and media policies.
1.2 INFORMATION FLOWS THROUGH INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ORGANISATIONS
Globalisation and digitalisation have changed how information moves around the world.
International media organisations like the BBC, CNN, and Reuters control much of the
news and information that people see. These organisations are based mostly in
Western countries, which means they often decide what stories are important and how
they are told (Thussu, 2007).
The flow of information is not equal. According to Mowlana (1997), most news and
content come from the industrialised North and go to the developing South. This creates
a one-way flow where Western perspectives dominate. Big media companies like
Disney, Netflix, and Google control a large part of the global information market. They
have the money and technology to produce content and share it worldwide (Dimitrova,
2025).
, Digital platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp have also changed how
information flows. Segev (2025) explains that these platforms allow anyone to share
information quickly. However, they are also controlled by big Western companies. This
means that even in the digital age, Western countries still have a lot of power over what
information people see.
The way information flows affects what people know and believe. When Western media
organisations control the news, they can shape how people think about other countries.
For example, Owens-Ibie and Ogwezzy (2008) point out that stories about Africa in
Western media often focus on problems like war and poverty. This gives people a
limited and sometimes wrong picture of the continent.
1.3 GLOBAL SOUTH EXAMPLES OF INFORMATION FLOWS
The Global South includes countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. These countries
often struggle to have their voices heard in the global media. Mowlana (1997) found that
information tends to stay within regions rather than flowing out to the rest of the world.
Research shows that nearly 100% of information flow in Latin America stays within that
region. The same is true for sub-Saharan Africa. This means that stories from these
regions do not reach a global audience very often.
There are some examples of countries in the Global South trying to change this. Thussu
(2007) gives the example of Al Jazeera, based in Qatar, which is a media organisation
from the Global South that has gained a global audience. It offers a different perspective
from Western media and covers stories that other news organisations might ignore.
Another example is the Union of African News Agencies (UANA), which was created in
1963 to help African countries share news among themselves. This was an attempt to
create a more balanced flow of information. However, Owens-Ibie and Ogwezzy (2008)
argue that these efforts have faced many challenges because Western media
organisations are so powerful.
ASSIGNMENT 2
DUE DATE: AUGUST 2026
,SECTION A
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Globalisation and digital technology have changed how information is shared across the
world. International media organisations play an important role in the movement of
information between countries and regions. These information flows can influence how
people understand global issues and can have different effects on countries in the
Global South. Modernisation and media policies also shape how information is
produced, shared, and received. Scholars such as Tehranian (1991) and Thussu (2007)
provide useful ideas for understanding these changes in global communication. The
discussion focuses on international information flows, their effects on the Global South,
modernisation, and media policies.
1.2 INFORMATION FLOWS THROUGH INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ORGANISATIONS
Globalisation and digitalisation have changed how information moves around the world.
International media organisations like the BBC, CNN, and Reuters control much of the
news and information that people see. These organisations are based mostly in
Western countries, which means they often decide what stories are important and how
they are told (Thussu, 2007).
The flow of information is not equal. According to Mowlana (1997), most news and
content come from the industrialised North and go to the developing South. This creates
a one-way flow where Western perspectives dominate. Big media companies like
Disney, Netflix, and Google control a large part of the global information market. They
have the money and technology to produce content and share it worldwide (Dimitrova,
2025).
, Digital platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp have also changed how
information flows. Segev (2025) explains that these platforms allow anyone to share
information quickly. However, they are also controlled by big Western companies. This
means that even in the digital age, Western countries still have a lot of power over what
information people see.
The way information flows affects what people know and believe. When Western media
organisations control the news, they can shape how people think about other countries.
For example, Owens-Ibie and Ogwezzy (2008) point out that stories about Africa in
Western media often focus on problems like war and poverty. This gives people a
limited and sometimes wrong picture of the continent.
1.3 GLOBAL SOUTH EXAMPLES OF INFORMATION FLOWS
The Global South includes countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. These countries
often struggle to have their voices heard in the global media. Mowlana (1997) found that
information tends to stay within regions rather than flowing out to the rest of the world.
Research shows that nearly 100% of information flow in Latin America stays within that
region. The same is true for sub-Saharan Africa. This means that stories from these
regions do not reach a global audience very often.
There are some examples of countries in the Global South trying to change this. Thussu
(2007) gives the example of Al Jazeera, based in Qatar, which is a media organisation
from the Global South that has gained a global audience. It offers a different perspective
from Western media and covers stories that other news organisations might ignore.
Another example is the Union of African News Agencies (UANA), which was created in
1963 to help African countries share news among themselves. This was an attempt to
create a more balanced flow of information. However, Owens-Ibie and Ogwezzy (2008)
argue that these efforts have faced many challenges because Western media
organisations are so powerful.
