Horvath Post #1

The biggest ramification of the media content being controlled by a few transnational conglomerates is the lack of diversity and the smaller companies being over run. While the media content being controlled by the “Big 5” leads to more diversity than if it was only controlled by one conglomerate, but being under all Western influence it leaves out for example, the Eastern view. I believe it is fair to say that Western media shapes the global news media, take for example CNN. CNN played a major part in integrating the media systems in former socialist countries, bringing them into the Western fold. With all the bureau’s CNN opened around the world it gave them the ability to report on the spot thus giving CNN the ability to influence international public opinion and even contribute to the influence the actions of people involved in the events being covered. CNN was the first station to be able to report straight from the “battlefield.” Without CNN doing so in 1991 most of the people would go about their business with little news about what was happening during the wars. It was inevitable that CNN would have major influence over international viewers when they were the only ones doing so. Today, CNN is not the only international media source but it lead the way for Western news media to invade the international markets. With the Big 5 influencing being primarily Western, the Western news media has shaped the global news agenda.