COM3715 Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026 - Due March 2026

COM3715
ASSIGNMENT 1
DUE DATE: MARCH 2026

,Table of Contents




1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 2

2. SECTION A: The Nature of Global Communication from an African and
Decolonial Perspective ..................................................................................................................... 5

2.1 Question 1.1: Analysis of Information Flows Through International Media
Organisations .......................................................................................................................................... 5

2.2 Question 1.2: Examples from the Global South Demonstrating These Dynamics .........
6

2.3 Question 2: Discussion of Cultural, Information, and Media Policies .......................... 7

3. SECTION B: International Flow of Information: Model and Theories ................... 8

3.1 Question 3.1: Description of the International Flow of Information ............................. 8

3.2 Question 4.1: Dissimilarities Between International Flow of Information and
International Communication in the Global South .................................................................... 9

3.3 Question 5.1: Personal Reflection on Social Media's Impact ......................................... 10

4. SECTION C: The Opportunities and Challenges of Information Flows on a Global
Scale ........................................................................................................................................................... 11

4.1 Question 6.1: Critical Discussion of Global Flow of Digital Innovations ................... 11

4.2 Question 6.2: Defining and Unpacking the New Global Communication Order ..........
12

4.3 Question 7: Discussion of Global Communication Flows and Dynamics in the (South)
African Context ....................................................................................................................................... 13

5. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 14

6. List of Sources Consulted .......................................................................................................... 15




1

, SECTION A: THE NATURE OF GLOBAL COMMUNICATION FROM AN AFRICAN
AND DECOLONIAL PERSPECTIVE




1. Introduction

Global communication today is a powerful force shaping how we see the world. It
involves the flow of information, ideas, and culture across international borders. For a
long time, this flow has been one-sided, with a few powerful countries in the West
controlling most of the world's media. However, the rise of digital technologies and the
increasing influence of countries in the Global South are changing this landscape. This
assignment will explore the nature of global communication, focusing on information
flows, media policies, and the emergence of a new, more multipolar global
communication order. It will draw on examples from the Global South, including the
BRICS Media Forum, to understand these complex dynamics and their impact on
regions like Africa.




2