World TV

1. World TV Getting up closeglobally and doingdistancelocally Alison Duguid University of Siena

2. In the beginningtherewas… • BBC World • CNN • These broadcast worldwide and wereseenbytravellers in hotels and airports in alltimezones at allhours • Rolling news waspioneeredby CNN • BBBC World had regular news bulletins and otherprogrammesofgeneral interest • Advertisementsaimed at travellerswithanincome Alison Duguid University of Siena

3. Notlike National News • National News (e.g. BBC, ITV) means: • A fairlygeographicallydefinedimmagined community • Werecogniseconsonance and relevancetothis community • Localreferences, proximity news values • Prime timesynchrony, day-definedrecencynewvalues Alison Duguid University of Siena

4. 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

5. World news • World news meant • “ a differentrelationshipbetweendiscourse and the audience and discourse and the event” (Montgomery) • Referencestotime and placechange • E.g. specificdayreference ‘early on Tuesday’ ratherthandeictic ‘yesterday’ Alison Duguid University of Siena

6. Like National News • Claimingobjectivity and neutralitybutwith • Global reach • Anti-parochial • Sensitivity • Butthesechannelshavebeenmuchcriticisedforbias, Western value system, cover up ofrealevents in a war, a differentkindofparochialism Alison Duguid University of Siena

7. A response • New channels set up togive a differentperspective • Al Jazeera English • Russia Today • CCTV News • France 24 English Alison Duguid University of Siena

8. 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

9. A senseofbelonging • A 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

10. The linebetweendiplomacy and development • A 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

11. Some questions • These 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

12. , “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

13. Spinopportunities • Assad emails: father-in-law gave advice from UK during crackdown • Cardiologist told Bashar al-Assad how to spin Syrian uprising, including rebuttal of apparent child torture footage • Guardian15 March 2012 Alison Duguid University of Siena

14. 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

15. What are theyfor??? Selfpresentation VerblessSloganse.g “All the news all the time” “Your link to Asia Missionstatements: CCTV: China’s contributiontogreaterdiversityand widerperspectivesin the global information flow. The target audience isforeignersboth inside and outside China. Alison Duguid University of Siena

16. 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 northtosouth flow of information” • So you can hear the voice …. and the other voice Alison Duguid University of Siena

17. Even the secretaryofstate…. • 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

18. France 24 • France 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

19. New boys on the block • With ‘attitude’ • Asserting a localslantwhilebroadcastingglobally • Al Jazeeramission 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

20. Broadcast talking • How do theseBroadcasters talk the talk and walk the walk? • Howis the pre-announced ‘attitude’ played out? • Comparative data • Methodologicalproblems: representativity and comparability Alison Duguid University of Siena

21. Time and space • 3 days + 5 days • Approximatelysametime • Whocoverswhat • Coveringlocal • Covering global • Area news Alison Duguid University of Siena

22. France 24 • Cote d’Ivoire • Middle East • Burqa law Alison Duguid University of Siena

23. Al Jazeera English • Middle East • Cote d’Ivoire • Burqa law Alison Duguid University of Siena

24. CCTV News • Middle East • Cote d’Ivoire Alison Duguid University of Siena

25. Omissionshighlighted • AJ with news about gas explosion in Beijingnotcovered in CCTV • China with news aboutFrencharrests in Pakistan notcoveredby France 24 • France 24 with item aboutprotests in 12 cities in China notcoveredby CCTV Alison Duguid University of Siena

26. Visuals and verbals • AJ has ‘in your face’ footage – veryclose up and more post production tweaking • CCTV has a lotoffootage in a splitscreenwhichdoesn’t match with the verbals • France 24 doesn’t presentitsreportersverbally – a banner doesit. Mostreports are done in voice over • Theyallusefootagefromeachother and from a varietyofsources • Acknowledgementsoftenomitted • NB The moneyfactor Alison Duguid University of Siena

27. Attitudes in headlines • The ArabAwakening • (AJ’s headingtoall Middle East coverage) • Surprisingevaluations Alison Duguid University of Siena