COSC 7311 : Global Communication Theories

Question 1

List all 6 normative theories

Answer 1

1/Authoritatrian  theory
2/Libertarian theory
3/Soviet theory
4/Social Responsibility theory
5/Developmental Media thoery
6/ Participatory Media theory

Question 2

Describe the Authoritarian theory in more detail 3 marks + example

Answer 2

*Justified censorship
*Found in dictatorships
*Aims to protct social order
eg SABC 8

Question 3

Describe Libertarian Theory 3 marks and example

Answer 3

/Press are a free market of ideas
/Truth and free expression valued
/Media are allowed to have different opinions

eg Carte Blanche

Question 4

Describe the Soviet theory for 3 marks with example

Answer 4

/Media serve to push Soviet agenda
/Media submit to the ruling party
/Free expression barred
eg Soviet Russia , the apartheid era

Question 5

Describe the Social Responsibility theory 2 marks and example

Answer 5

/Media has a responsibility to serve as a watchdog over private business , corporations and government .
/Helps aid flow of info in a democracy
/Example : Special Assignment

Question 6

Describe the Social developmental theory 3 marks plus examples

Answer 6

/Acknowledges time of transition (eg apartheid to democracy)
/Focuses on issues like education , sanitation , health etc
/Aims to build nationhood
/eg Matric pass rate

Question 7

Desribe the participatory media theory plus examples

Answer 7

/Local media invites readers/consumers to engage it via influencing editorial policy .
/Allows local media to serve the community
/eg GetOut magazine .

Question 8

Discuss 3 shortcomings of the normative theories

Answer 8

/Theories don’t allow for the fluidity of human behaviour
/Line between developmental , Soviet and social responsibility can sometimes be blurred
/Don’t factor in that media is primarily a form of entertainment .

Question 9

Explain the role of Soviet media had on understanding of international media

Answer 9

/Firstly , its underpinnings can be found in many intl systems(India , Taiwan etc)
/Secondly , teaches us about important issues and delves beyond superficial content as Western Media sometimes does .

Question 10

List 4 issues relevant to mainstream media

Answer 10

/Political power
/Economic crisis
/Dramatic social transformation
/Smallscale alternative media

Question 11

Define globalisation for 3 marks

Answer 11

/Intergration of cultures,economies,policies into one global mixture
/Process via which intl cultures blend together . (give any South African context)
/+ves= increased foreign investment and tech advances
/-ves= increased isolation and animosity

Question 12

Describe media imperialism 2 marks

Answer 12

Domination of one culture over another , via specific use of media(music, TV,etc)

Question 13

Describe effects of media imperialism 2 marks

Answer 13

/Dissolution of smaller culture

/Imbalance of info flow between submissive and dominant country .

Question 14

Explain the term hybridisation via eg’s

Answer 14

Process via which a culture adopts global aspects whilst mainaintaing its core identity eg: Spanglish