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Comparing Media from Around the World
Robert McKenzie, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

ISBN-10: 0205402429
ISBN-13: 9780205402427

Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
Copyright: 2006
Format: Paper; 384 pp
Published: 09/22/2005

Suggested retail price: $77.20
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Featuring an innovative organization and in-depth research, Comparing Media from Around the World discusses how media systems are similar and different across the globe.

 

Comparing Media from Around the World discusses the fundamental elements of media systems and shows how they are used in eight sample countries. Unlike other texts, it is organized according to media elements, with comparative discussions of all eight countries within each chapter. This helps students make connections and comparisons between the countries chapter by chapter, and allows them to apply the concepts to other countries not discussed in the text. The text also features exciting photographs from the sample countries showing not only the media but how they are experienced in context (for example, a newspaper from Ghana, an ornate newspaper kiosk in France, an internet phonebooth in the UK, radio listings in China, and TV screen shots from Sweden).

  • Each chapter discusses a single element of a media system (for example, financing of media) and compares it across media systems in eight countries, allowing students to make comparisons of countries within each chapter.
  • Photos of media from eight countries, most taken specifically for this text, provide examples of newspapers, radio listings, television shows, Web sites, and more, helping students see how media systems operate in other countries.
  • Five “Primer” questions begin each chapter, helping students establish their own baseline of knowledge about the subject of the chapter and prime their curiosity.
  • An accessible writing style with many clear examples makes the material comprehensible and interesting to students.

Preface.

 

1. Introduction.

Primer Questions

Media from Around the World

Eight Countries Selected for Comparing Media from Around the World

Limitations and Strengths of the Eight Selected Countries

Beyond Country as a Unit of Analysis

The Importance of Comparing

A Rhetorical Perspective

The Organization of Chapters in This Book

Summary

2. Climate of Globalization.

Primer Questions

Four Factors Stimulating Globalization

Criticisms of Globalization

Summary

3. Elements of a Media System.

Primer Questions

The Methodological Approach of a System

Centrality of Media Content

Using a Rhetorical Perspective to Generate Elements of a Media System

Elements of a Media System

Elements of a Media System as a Tree

Summary

4. Cultural Characteristics of the Eight Countries.

Primer Questions

Cultural Characteristics of France

Cultural Characteristics of Sweden (Sverige)

Cultural Characteristics of the UK (United Kingdom)

Cultural Characteristics of the United States of America (USA)

Cultural Characteristics of México (Estados Unidos México, or Mexican United States)

Cultural Characteristics of China (People's Republic of China, or )

Cultural Characteristics of Ghana (Republic of Ghana)

Cultural Characteristics of Lebanon (Republic of Lebanon, or )

Comparative Summary

5. Philosophies for Media Systems.

Primer Questions

Authoritarian Philosophy

Libertarian Philosophy

Communist Philosophy

Social Responsibility Philosophy

Developmental Philosophy

Democratic-Participant Philosophy

Comparative Summary

6. Regulation of Media.

Primer Questions

Categories of Regulatory Bodies

Regulation of Media in the EU (European Union)

Regulation of Media in France

Regulation of Media in Sweden

Regulation of Media in the UK

Regulation of Media in the USA

Regulation of Media in México

Regulation of Media in China

Regulation of Media in Ghana

Regulation of Media in Lebanon

Comparative Summary

7. Financing of Media.

Primer Questions

Methods of Financing

Financing of Media in France

Financing of Media in Sweden

Financing of Media in the UK

Financing of Media in the USA

Financing of Media in México

Financing of Media in China

Financing of Media in Ghana

Financing of Media in Lebanon

Comparative Summary

8. Accessibility of Media.

Primer Questions

Newspaper Distribution Terms

Radio and Television Terms

Source Citation for Statistical Data Presented

Newspaper Titles as Idioms

Accessibility of Media in France

Accessibility of Media in Sweden

Accessibility of Media in the UK

Accessibility of Media in the USA

Accessibility of Media in México

Accessibility of Media in China

Accessibility of Media in Ghana

Accessibility of Media in Lebanon

Comparative Summary

9. Media Content.

Primer Questions

Defining Media Content

Distinctive Themes in Media Content

Media Content in France

Media Content in Sweden

Media Content in the UK

Media Content in the USA

Media Content in México

Media Content in China

Media Content in Ghana

Media Content in Lebanon

Comparative Summary

10. News Reporting.

Primer Questions

Defining News Reporting

Bias versus Objectivity in News Reporting

Entertainment versus Serious News Reporting

Depth versus Brevity in News Reporting

News Reporting in France

News Reporting in Sweden

News Reporting in the UK

News Reporting in the USA

News Reporting in México

News Reporting in China

News Reporting in Ghana

News Reporting in Lebanon

Comparative Summary

11. Media Imports and Exports.

Primer Questions

Factors Influencing the Exporting of Media Content

France’s Media Imports

France’s Media Exports

Sweden’s Media Imports

Sweden’s Media Exports

The UK’s Media Imports

The UK’s Media Exports

The USA’s Media Imports

Media Exports from the USA

México’s Media Imports

México’s Media Exports

China’s Media Imports

Media Exports from China

Ghana’s Media Imports

Ghana’s Media Exports

Lebanon’s Media Imports

Lebanon’s Media Exports

Comparative Summary

12. Media Audiences.

Primer Questions

A Rhetorical Perspective on Media Audiences

Source Citations for Statistical Data

Internet Audiences

Media Audiences in France

Media Audiences in Sweden

Media Audiences in the UK

Media Audiences in the USA

Media Audiences in México

Media Audiences in China

Media Audiences in Ghana

Media Audiences in Lebanon

Comparative Summary

13. Conclusion.

Primer Questions

Summary of the Chapters

Unique Attributes of Each Country’s Media System

Final Thoughts about “The Forest” of Media Systems

References.

 

Index.

Comparing Media from Around the World discusses the fundamental elements of media systems and shows how they are used in eight sample countries (France, Sweden, the UK, the USA, México, China, Ghana, and Lebanon). Unlike other texts, it is organized according to media elements, with comparative discussions of all eight countries within each chapter. This helps students make connections and comparisons between the countries and allows them to apply the concepts to other countries not discussed in the text.

Features

  • Each chapter discusses a single element of a media system (for example, financing of media) and compares it across media systems in eight countries, allowing students to make comparisons of countries within each chapter.
  • Photos of media from eight countries, most taken specifically for this text, provide examples of newspapers, radio listings, television shows, Web sites, and more, helping students see how media systems operate in other countries.
  • Five “Primer” questions begin each chapter, helping students establish their own baseline of knowledge about the subject of the chapter and prime their curiosity.
  • An accessible writing style with many clear examples makes the material comprehensible and interesting to students.

Praise for Comparing Media from Around the World

“This book effectively combines comparative systems analysis and rhetorical understanding in a thoughtful and engaging examination of eight representative national media systems. It is clearly written, immediately engaging and especially relevant under conditions of globalization.”
—Harry W. Haines, Trinity University

“There is currently nothing like this kind of in-depth, cross-comparative analysis available in the textbook literature, and therefore the author’s work makes an important contribution. It’s clear this scholar has a nuanced and extensive knowledge of the field of global and international communication, and that he understands the complexities of global communication along its economic, political, and cultural dimensions.”
—John L. Sullivan, Muhlenberg College

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