The Global Media

This text describes in detail the recent rapid growth and crossborder activities and linkages of an industry of large global media conglomerates. It also assesses the significance of the ongoing deregulation and convergence of the global media and telecommunications systems and the rise of the Internet. The authors argue that the most important features of this globalization process are the implantation, consolidation and concentration of an advertisement-based commercial media and parallel weakening of public broadcasting systems worldwide, with negative consequences on the "public sphere".