| Abstrakt: |
This study looks into the concept of media, development and democratization as they are understood within the present context and the role played in promoting and sustaining them. I have tried to give a comprehensive and critical account of the theoretical changes in communication studies from the early theories. To most of the developing world, democratisation is transculturation - a process by which Western democracy is transformed for self-aggrandisement. In the age of globalisation, the media are potentially important sources of international and domestic referencing. Media and democratisation are mutually reinforcing, one being constituted by the other. The roles of the media in a society are very much defined by its mode of media control, which varies mainly with its power structure. With concentrated power, the media tend to demote democracy; the opposite is true when equity reigns. Media can perform both positive and negative functions in regard to democracy, depending on the prevailing mode of power distribution and specific social and organisational contexts. Each mode of media control and the corresponding media roles may shift as power is restructured. Media usually assume a more emancipatory role as the power structure becomes more decentralised or divisive. It examines two main currents of thought. The first: the ways in which the media can be used to effect change and development. It traces the evolution of thinking from attempts to spread 'modernity' by way of using the media through to alternative perspectives based on encouraging participation in development communication. There are many factors which can enhance the development and the democratization process in society and media education is one such factor. There is a crucial link between media, development and the democratization of society and their relevance must be seen in relation to the extent to which they promote the developmental and democratic aspirations of the majority of the people .This paper examines the validity of this assumption and explains how media education can enhance the democratization and development. [China Media Research. 2012; 8(3): 52-64] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
