Media in the Providing Wartime Coverage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Media in the Providing Wartime Coverage - Essay Example For peace to exist among all nations, ideas and information should be freely disseminated both within frontiers and across them. This is because a free and independent media is essentially the lifeblood of well-founded, working societies, and a lifeline to progress itself (Shaw, 1996). In nations where censorship has been found to be imposed, both democracy and development have been big losers. It is also a known fact that most of the reporters who have died in the line of duty around the world have been mostly murdered for reasons such as revealing corruption or abuses of power, opposing entrenched interests, legal or illegal or simply for doing their jobs. Many hundreds more have faced harassment, intimidation and physical assault, with such acts resulting in chilling effects on society at large thereby stifling dissent and debate (Shaw, 1996). Such attacks must not be tolerated at all cost and as such legal mechanisms should be put in place to protect reporters. Journalistic work constantly involves difficult options, but wartime reporting raises the level of intensity, consequently forcing reporters to face myriad issues including separating objectivity from propaganda; uncertainty from prejudice and the need to convey the impact of conflict, particularly on civilians, without displaying images of death and suffering, which are insults to human dignity (Shaw, 1996). The issue of selectivity usually poses the biggest challenge in that some issues and situations attract undivided coverage, while others of seemingly equal importance fail to achieve matched attention. The problem of hate media is another outstanding outcome of reporting during wartime. A good example in real time is found in Rwanda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the world witnessed genocide and crimes against humanity, triggered, in part, by nationalistic and ethnocentric hate campaign, propagated through the mass media. In the same vein, many media outlets in Cte d'Ivoire and South Africa have in recent times used xenophobic messages through political manipulation, unsubstantiated claims, and incitement to violence against individuals and groups, especially of specific foreign origin, all emphasizing how misuse of information can have deadly consequences (Shaw, 1996). Finally, the media can do more than anything in wartime to help the world learn not only how a war is conducted, but also how it is affecting people. During this period, reporters can give voice to those who would otherwise remain unheard and also tell stories that otherwise would remain untold. Through this way therefore, reporters can create conduits between those trapped in a conflict zone and those outside it. Moreover, in times of conflicts and war, the presence of reporters can help prevent atrocities. This is simply because the reporters can effectively sense a conflict ahead and alert the world to the need for preventive measures to avoid tragedy (Shaw, 1996). The Supreme Court is crucial in deciding what issues are discussed and those that are classified. Foremost is any issue relating to the needless invasion of personal privacy. If a privacy interest exists, for instance, it should be weighed against the public

Cultural Differences and Their Effect on Strategic Planning Case Study

Cultural Differences and Their Effect on Strategic Planning - Case Study Example India is the prime destination for outsourcing of services as well as the destination of new firms. It is one of the emerging economies with great potential for the future. Although it will be a huge step for Telmarket to move into a market so diverse from the UK, the setting up and operating costs will be relatively low. India has an abundance of human resources and the environment will be conducive to success. The expansion of Telmarket into an international market such as India will have many strategic implications for the firm. Indian culture differs greatly from British culture and thus many cultural issues may emerge. Culture defines behavior, values, and ambitions; and especially for businesses involved in training, culture affects every aspect of operations. The target market of Telmarket includes individuals and firms that are involved in marketing and customer care and thus the language barrier may result in problems. Hindi is the national and other languages are prevalent as well. As a UK based training firm Telmarket would impart most training in English and with relevance to English speaking customers, however, if the customers of their clients are Indian it will be necessary to train them in Hindu and/or other languages as well. Thus Telmarket would have to hire trainers from India. This could turn out to be an advantage for Telmarket in the form of salaries. Pay scales in India are lower than those in the UK and to hire Indians would cost less than to bring English trainers. The strategic implication of the language barrier might be in training and hiring costs. Trainers recruited in India might not meet the requirement of the firm and may need to be sent to the UK to for further training themselves this will increase recruitment and hiring costs whereas employee salaries may remain low.