World TV

Alison Duguid University of Siena

World TVGetting up close globally and doing distance

locally

Alison Duguid University of Siena

In the beginning there was…BBC WorldCNNThese broadcast worldwide and were seen by

travellers in hotels and airports in all time zones at all hours

Rolling news was pioneered by CNNBBBC World had regular news bulletins and

other programmes of general interestAdvertisements aimed at travellers with an

income

Alison Duguid University of Siena

Not like National NewsNational News (e.g. BBC, ITV) means:A fairly geographically defined immagined

communityWe recognise consonance and relevance to

this communityLocal references, proximity news valuesPrime time synchrony, day-defined recency

new values

Alison Duguid University of Siena

Evening news plays a pivotal role in political communication, as it is involved in the construction of political meaning, the formation of the political agenda and public opinion (Hallin 1994: 10; see also GUMG 1993; Jensen 1998; Mc Combs, Einsiedel and Weaves 1996; Robinson and Levy 1986).

, “social constructionist” studies (Schudson 1991: 149) have drawn attention to the social function of news as a vehicle for the transmission and reproduction of dominant ideologies (GUMG 1976, 1993; Hallin 1994; Langer 1998; Manoff and Schudson 1986; Robinson and Levy 1986; Romano 1986; van Ginneken 1998

Alison Duguid University of Siena

World newsWorld news meant“ a different relationship between discourse

and the audience and discourse and the event” (Montgomery)

References to time and place changeE.g. specific day reference ‘early on Tuesday’

rather than deictic ‘yesterday’

Alison Duguid University of Siena

Like National NewsClaiming objectivity and neutrality but withGlobal reachAnti-parochialSensitivity

But these channels have been much criticised for bias, Western value system, cover up of real events in a war, a different kind of parochialism

Alison Duguid University of Siena

A response

New channels set up to give a different perspective

Al Jazeera EnglishRussia TodayCCTV NewsFrance 24 English

Alison Duguid University of Siena

Soft power

A vehicle for public and cultural diplomacy, or soft power, in world politics. - these channels appear to offer nation-states a means to project their voice, their policies and their interpretations of events in the global media – to assert and maintain a presence in the global Anglosphere.

Alison Duguid University of Siena

A sense of belongingA means to reach diasporic audiences - first

generation migrants often sustain close attachments to their country of origin through satellite television, but as the mother tongue becomes hard to maintain for second and third generations, so new ways are being found to reach them and create a sense of diasporic nationhood and belonging across geographical distance.

Alison Duguid University of Siena

The line between diplomacy and developmentA tool for development - arguably, the line

between diplomacy and development is becoming increasingly blurred in UK and US foreign policy. To what extent do transnational English language channels like Al Jazeera English and Press TV challenge UK/US foreign policy and development goals?

Alison Duguid University of Siena

Some questionsThese questions will become more important

in the coming years as these channels are used increasingly to shape world affairs.

Does the huge growth of channels mean that they are popular or that people are watching them? In their struggle for exposure, credibility and legitimacy, questions can also be raised about the independence of such channels from, and accountability to, home governments.

Alison Duguid University of Siena

, “Given that many of these English-language media channels are being funded by governments, we should be asking what these channels are for. Are they simply to attract audiences, or do governments expect to influence international affairs through TV stations? Given that France, Russia, Iran and China have all recently launched English-language TV stations, does this mean countries only feel they count as a ‘power’ if they have a voice alongside the BBC and CNN in the emerging ‘Anglosphere’?”

Alison Duguid University of Siena

Spin opportunitiesAssad emails: father-in-law gave advice

from UK during crackdownCardiologist told Bashar al-Assad how to spin

Syrian uprising, including rebuttal of apparent child torture footage

Guardian 15 March 2012

Alison Duguid University of Siena

On 16 January this year, as international pressure grew on Assad to stand down and the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, described the casualties as "unacceptable", Akhras urged Assad to launch an English language Syrian state news network "to enable us to address the world of our case in their own language and mentality". He told Assad it was "an extremely important project to be considered at the highest level".

Alison Duguid University of Siena

What are they for??? Self presentation

Verbless Slogans e.g “All the news all the time”“Your link to AsiaMission statements:CCTV: China’s contribution to greater diversity

and wider perspectives in the global information flow.

The target audience is foreigners both inside and outside China.

Alison Duguid University of Siena

Don't be so CNN!China: A Chinese website, has accused CNN and

western media in general of biased reporting against China, with the catch-phrase "Don't be so CNN" catching on in the Chinese mainstream as jokingly meaning "Don't be so biased". Pictures used by CNN are allegedly edited to have completely different meanings from the original ones.

AJ : “reversing the north to south flow of information”

So you can hear the voice …. and the other voice

Alison Duguid University of Siena

Even the secretary of state….Hilary Clinton:"viewership of Al Jazeera is going up in the United States because it’s real news. You may not agree with it, but you feel like you’re getting real news around the clock instead of a million commercials and—you know—arguments between talking heads and the kind of stuff that we do on our news which—you know—is not particularly informative to us, let alone foreigners."

Alison Duguid University of Siena

France 24France 24 intends to present a view of the

news different from that of the leading Anglophone international news channels CNN International and BBC World.

France 24 wants to put more emphasis on debate, dialogue and the role of cultural difference.

Alison Duguid University of Siena

New boys on the blockWith ‘attitude’Asserting a local slant while broadcasting globallyAl Jazeera mission statement: The network's stated

objective is "to give voice to untold stories, promote debate, and challenge established perceptions."

France 24: France 24's journalists have signed a mission statement "to cover international news with a French perspective... and to carry the values of France throughout the world".

But the channel insists it is independent and will not just follow the government line.

"Our mission is to cover worldwide news with French eyes," said the channel's head, Alain de Pouzilhac.

Alison Duguid University of Siena

Broadcast talkingHow do these Broadcasters talk the talk and

walk the walk?How is the pre-announced ‘attitude’ played

out?Comparative dataMethodological problems: representativity

and comparability

Alison Duguid University of Siena

Time and space3 days + 5 daysApproximately same time

Who covers whatCovering localCovering globalArea news

Alison Duguid University of Siena

France 24Cote d’IvoireMiddle EastBurqa law

Alison Duguid University of Siena

Al Jazeera EnglishMiddle EastCote d’IvoireBurqa law

Alison Duguid University of Siena

CCTV NewsMiddle East Cote d’Ivoire

Alison Duguid University of Siena

Omissions highlightedAJ with news about gas explosion in Beijing

not covered in CCTVChina with news about French arrests in

Pakistan not covered by France 24France 24 with item about protests in 12

cities in China not covered by CCTV

Alison Duguid University of Siena

Visuals and verbalsAJ has ‘in your face’ footage – very close up and

more post production tweakingCCTV has a lot of footage in a split screen which

doesn’t match with the verbalsFrance 24 doesn’t present its reporters verbally –

a banner does it. Most reports are done in voice over

They all use footage from each other and from a variety of sources

Acknowledgements often omittedNB The money factor

Alison Duguid University of Siena

Attitudes in headlinesThe Arab Awakening(AJ’s heading to all Middle East coverage)

Surprising evaluations