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COM3705 Assignment 3 Semester 2 2025 (Answer Guide) - Due 29 October 2025
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2025
Contents
Question 1 ...................................................................................................................................2
1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................2
1.2 Definition of social media and an example of US policy messaging .........................2
1.3 Appropriate uses of social media by governments and the evaluation of Trump’s
tariff announcement ...............................................................................................................3
1.4 Formal channels of communication between states: definition, types, and critical
discussion ...............................................................................................................................5
1.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................8
Question 2 ...................................................................................................................................8
2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................8
2.2 Developments in international radio broadcasting and their influence today .........9
2.3 Prominent international radio broadcasters and their impact.................................. 10
2.4 How film has transformed the entertainment industry .............................................. 11
2.5 The impact of Nollywood on Nigeria ............................................................................ 12
2.6 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 13
References ................................................................................................................................ 14
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Question 1
1.1 Introduction
The article provided highlights renewed efforts by South Africa and the United States to
strengthen diplomatic relations through direct, formal talks. It reflects a wider trend in
international relations where social media communication, once viewed as a tool of
diplomacy, is now balanced by the need for structured diplomatic engagement. The
discussion that follows examines the concept of social media, explains situations where
governments can legitimately use it, evaluates whether it was appropriate for President
Donald Trump to announce tariffs through social media, and finally analyses the formal
channels of communication used when states negotiate and manage their relations. The
purpose is to explore the tension between immediacy and institutional procedure in
modern diplomacy and to show that, while social media have transformed
communication, traditional diplomatic mechanisms remain essential for international
legitimacy and stability.
1.2 Definition of social media and an example of US policy messaging
Social media refer to web-based platforms and applications that enable users to create,
share, and exchange information, ideas, and multimedia content within virtual
communities and networks (Kaplan and Haenlein 2010). In political communication,
social media provide an interactive space for both governments and citizens to engage
in two-way exchanges that were previously limited to traditional media. They function
through participatory technologies that allow rapid dissemination of messages,
personalised engagement, and immediate feedback.
In the context of international relations, social media have become instruments of
digital diplomacy the use of digital technologies by states to communicate, build
networks, and influence foreign publics (Bjola and Holmes 2015). They allow leaders to
bypass bureaucratic hierarchies and reach domestic and international audiences
directly. One of the most widely studied examples is the case of former United States
President Donald Trump, who used Twitter as his primary communication tool
COM3705 Assignment 3 Semester 2 2025 (Answer Guide) - Due 29 October 2025
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2025
Contents
Question 1 ...................................................................................................................................2
1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................2
1.2 Definition of social media and an example of US policy messaging .........................2
1.3 Appropriate uses of social media by governments and the evaluation of Trump’s
tariff announcement ...............................................................................................................3
1.4 Formal channels of communication between states: definition, types, and critical
discussion ...............................................................................................................................5
1.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................8
Question 2 ...................................................................................................................................8
2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................8
2.2 Developments in international radio broadcasting and their influence today .........9
2.3 Prominent international radio broadcasters and their impact.................................. 10
2.4 How film has transformed the entertainment industry .............................................. 11
2.5 The impact of Nollywood on Nigeria ............................................................................ 12
2.6 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 13
References ................................................................................................................................ 14
, 2|Page
Question 1
1.1 Introduction
The article provided highlights renewed efforts by South Africa and the United States to
strengthen diplomatic relations through direct, formal talks. It reflects a wider trend in
international relations where social media communication, once viewed as a tool of
diplomacy, is now balanced by the need for structured diplomatic engagement. The
discussion that follows examines the concept of social media, explains situations where
governments can legitimately use it, evaluates whether it was appropriate for President
Donald Trump to announce tariffs through social media, and finally analyses the formal
channels of communication used when states negotiate and manage their relations. The
purpose is to explore the tension between immediacy and institutional procedure in
modern diplomacy and to show that, while social media have transformed
communication, traditional diplomatic mechanisms remain essential for international
legitimacy and stability.
1.2 Definition of social media and an example of US policy messaging
Social media refer to web-based platforms and applications that enable users to create,
share, and exchange information, ideas, and multimedia content within virtual
communities and networks (Kaplan and Haenlein 2010). In political communication,
social media provide an interactive space for both governments and citizens to engage
in two-way exchanges that were previously limited to traditional media. They function
through participatory technologies that allow rapid dissemination of messages,
personalised engagement, and immediate feedback.
In the context of international relations, social media have become instruments of
digital diplomacy the use of digital technologies by states to communicate, build
networks, and influence foreign publics (Bjola and Holmes 2015). They allow leaders to
bypass bureaucratic hierarchies and reach domestic and international audiences
directly. One of the most widely studied examples is the case of former United States
President Donald Trump, who used Twitter as his primary communication tool
