NEWS INFLUENCE AND THE GLOBAL MEDIA SPHERE: A CASE STUDY OF AL-JAZEERA ENGLISH

Abstract

News media have become an integral part in any discussion of globalization and global politics today. Since CNN’s coverage of the Gulf War in 1991, satellite news networks have sprung up across the globe at an incredible pace. In regions where the freedom of the press has not always been a privilege, satellite news networks have made waves, particularly in the Middle East. This chapter is a brief overview of the rise of global media, a summary of the debates surrounding the inuence of contemporary international news broadcasters, an introduction to a recent broadcast giant – Al-Jazeera English – and an examination of its influence amongst audiences across six countries. More specifically, we discuss the broad question of whether the news media, particularly global news networks, contribute to shaping public opinion about current events. In doing so, we present the various arguments surrounding the “CNN effect” and the relationship between today’s expanding global news media and the “global public sphere.” We also test the impact of Al-Jazeera English – whose mission and identity are different from its Western counterparts – on the global mediascape. Our ndings show that the broadcast news media are more likely to reinforce already existing opinions and attitudes regarding politically salient topics than to change opinions, but that viewing Al-Jazeera English may have a positive impact on facilitating less dogmatic and more open-minded thinking amongst its viewers.