International news contraflow in the United States and Canada: struggles over North American media markets and regulation of Al Jazeera and China Central Television (original) (raw)

In this dissertation, I examine news media contraflow, flows of news and information from historically underrepresented parts of the globe into advanced media systems. I assess North American governance of news media flows in light of increased availability of nonwestern news organizations. The research in the following chapters examines the cases of the Al Jazeera Network (AJ) and China Central Television (CCTV) to more fully account for transformations in the gatekeeper roles of regulatory bodies, media distribution industries and communication norms that govern North America's engagement with these emergent news providers. The proliferation of foreign news broadcasters makes examining institutions of reception-state regulators, public activist groups and distribution industries-increasingly important. Through case studies, I look, first, to recent changes in the production of international news in the neoliberal landscape of global communication. I examine significant new news content creators and identify what I call a hybrid media production model. State media enterprises are becoming savvy users of communication networks transformed by neoliberalism. In the second part of the dissertation, I outline the inchoate "foreign media policies" of the United States and Canada by analyzing the complex of law, norms and market conditions that influenced the reception of AJ and CCTV. guidance of my committee members helped at every step. John Nerone is a rare advisor, providing intellectual and personal support through tough times. Tabe Bergman, Rich Potter and a long list of other colleagues at the Institute improved the project in too many ways to note. Will Youmans, Paula Chakravartty, Arlene Luck at IJoC and a number of anonymous reviewers for the ICA, NCA, UDC and the SIU/Texas Global Fusion conferences helped refine drafts of chapters. The Association for Canadian Studies in the United States provided funding for travel to Washington, DC and Ottawa where archives and interviews expanded my understanding immeasurably. The Canadian regulatory officials, Peter Foster and Tandy Yull in particular, were giving of time and resources. I also extend gratitude to the media activists who voluntarily met with me and enriched the research. The consistent kindness I experienced during my time in Ottawa has confirmed my love of Canadians. I would also like to offer deep thanks to my father, stepmother , sister and beloved Sarah Colvert for putting up with the "diss moments" when I alternated between frantic and apathetic. When work took me away, I could trust the love of family to support me and provide childcare. Without the personal touch and understanding of family I would have lost my way. The insights of Martin Srajek also made this possible by keeping my head and soul together. In the process of my graduate studies, I was lucky to have a son. The hours we spent together huddled around apartment heat vents enabled me to dive back into research with renewed vigor. Because of that time together, I emerge from graduate student life a better person. v