Abstract

The practice of journalism is changing globally. From the beginning of the millennium, media education and practice have been transformed and its effects are noticeable in newsrooms across the world. That is why media interest has grown beyond the traditional practice to international standard resulting in media globalisation.

Consequently, there is a new way of practicing journalism. From the stage of information gathering to that of processing and dissemination, journalism practice has gone global. In the same vein, technology deployed for yesterday’s media has given way to more reliable, faster and modern equipment that makes news gathering and analysis easier faster especially in the developing world.  

This book has been prepared for communicators who wish to have a strong background in the field of communication across national frontiers. International communication is an emerging area and there are very few literatures addressing this area of communication. It is the belief of the authors that this book will complement the materials already available in this area of study.

The idea of this book originates for the authors’ experience of teaching this course at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels over the years, and their global media network and travels that have taken them to many countries of the world.

The early chapters of the book introduce communication using the opinion of different scholars and communication professionals. It also looks at the place of communication in global arena with focus on a brief history of the media. This book devotes attention to some of the theories of international communication, broadcasting, international organisations and issues relating to journalism in development communication.

The book gives an insight into issues of press freedom at the regional and international levels and also addresses the role of the United Nations especially the role of UNESCO in assisting the media in developing nations. The authors also focus their searchlight on the performance of the media in different continents with special focus on types and nature of media in countries in West Africa.

It is the desire of the authors that this book will give an insight to the theory and practice of international communication.