Priorities for national communication policy in the third world

Abstract

Abstract The New International Information Order debate indicates the need for a profound restructuring of communication patterns at the international level and within developing countries. A key step in this process is the formulation of new more equitable patterns of national and international communication. New international policies must build on new national and regional policies being developed in the third world. Some of the priorities for these new policies are discussed, and four major tendencies indicating deep structural changes are considered. These are (1) new ideas of how more adequate communication systems develop; (2) moves to decentralize national communication systems; (3) policies of national self‐reliance and “delinking” from global communication structures; and (4) efforts to improve and extend regional cooperation in the third world.