Media and Globalization. Different Cultures, Societies, Political Systems

Media and globalization – different cultures, societies, political systems, a publication edited by Ilona Biernacka-Ligięza, is a valuable read that is likely to be of interest to researchers and students exploring a variety of fields of study. The book addresses the most topical issues that are significant for the research on communication. The advancement of cable and satellite networks and, most of all, the Internet, has brought a substantial increase in the number of global communication users. And, as affirmed by Terry Flew, the author of Understanding Global Media, the special attention paid to global media today is not just a matter of global communication technologies, but, most importantly, it is related to the fact that global media are the key vehicles for symbolic and informative content allowing people to organise their world and their relationships with others. The book analyses various levels of the interrelationships between media policy and global politics. The authors of articles included in the publication recognise the significance of global media. It also encompasses issues related to language policy and contemporary identities. The book therefore discusses not only the basic concepts in the field of global communication, such as theories of global media, the relationships between the media and culture, and new media technologies, but also research findings – analyses of content, patterns of behaviour among users. [An excerpt from the review by Dr hab. Magdalena Ratajczak]