Modern Communications Infrastructure

Both the Thussu and Siochru and Girard’s readings assigned for the week address the changing structure of the media and how it has moved towards the process of privatization, liberalization, convergence, and globalization. Siochru and Girard’s chapters were important because they covered different forms of media regulation which include both societal and industry regulation. Thussu mentions that the liberalization and privatization of the communications industry has benefited transnational corporations the most and as a result of the privatization of the media there has been a surge in both poverty and unemployment in developing nations.
Raboy’s chapter on the World Summit on the Information Society deals with the development of the WSIS in 1998, but also mentions some of the weaknesses of it which above all includes its lack of funding mechanisms. An interesting point Raboy mentions surrounds the meaning of the word governance and how its definition alters depending on the organization that is using it and of course its objectives. Nevertheless, what is most important about the WSIS is that it is the first United Nations summit in which civil society was actively involved which of course is incredibly vital towards the strengthening of the communications industry.