The media and communication have developed a lot in the past twenty years. Nowadays everybody could be practically a journalist. Not only that but one could bring the “studio” with him/her by bringing only a cell phone.
Many people were concerned about the media coverage around the Olympic Games in Beijing this year. First, it was announced by the International Olympic Committee that Chinese government would not filter communication. People were skeptic but may be many wanted for Chinese regime to change that is why they believed them. Later on, due to problems with the protesting Tibetans, Chinese government announced that they would filter communication due to their national safety and fear of criticism (Kahn, 2008). (One should wonder who should be more afraid the Tibetans or Chinese and is this a valuable reason to filter information that regards the whole world?) This made many people skeptic about “open” China. Many governments pulled their athletes back and many politicians refused to attend the opening and closing ceremony. There were only three big teams attending the games that were dominating the games – USA, Russia, and China. Most European teams were cut down in half. Government sponsored athletes were told to stay home or to find a sponsor. However, many of them chose to stay at home and miss the Games. That was a symbol of protest for human rights and freedom of speech. The Olympic Games this year did not feel this grandiose event as usual due to the fact that many refused to go.
On the other hand just because Chinese government filters and controls the media and communication does not mean that people could not go back home and broadcast interesting information about China and/or the Games. One could go as a tourist, pretend to be an Olympic fan (or not) use his/hers still cell phone to shoot a clip or picture, save it, go home, and “broadcast” it to millions. When Steve Garfield came in class as guest lecturer, he showed us many examples from his personal experience that showed, a man does not need a lot to be able to show the world the truth.
What is expected for the next Olympic Games in terms of media and communication? Considering the next Games would be in London, UK, it is expected that communication would be truly open. However, due to fear of terrorists’ attacks, the British government would still have to monitor the media. (Europe is constantly targeted by terrorists.) Television would be still the major way of showing the event because the Olympic Committee holds all rights to broadcasting the Games. Many public or government owned channels around the world have contracts with the Committee for many years to come. However, many more people would be involved in the new media technology. That is why I think people should expect much more quantitative information and much broader spectrum of opinion and/or judgment.
In conclusion, I would like to add the media would be handled more by the public and regular citizen and less by broadcasting companies. Television, press, and radio are becoming old medium of communication. Many people nowadays, do not read the newspaper and do not have time to watch the news. However, due to the mobile nature of technology, individuals could watch or read on a go through a cell phone or a lap top. And technology and mobility of technology will continue to develop...
Many people were concerned about the media coverage around the Olympic Games in Beijing this year. First, it was announced by the International Olympic Committee that Chinese government would not filter communication. People were skeptic but may be many wanted for Chinese regime to change that is why they believed them. Later on, due to problems with the protesting Tibetans, Chinese government announced that they would filter communication due to their national safety and fear of criticism (Kahn, 2008). (One should wonder who should be more afraid the Tibetans or Chinese and is this a valuable reason to filter information that regards the whole world?) This made many people skeptic about “open” China. Many governments pulled their athletes back and many politicians refused to attend the opening and closing ceremony. There were only three big teams attending the games that were dominating the games – USA, Russia, and China. Most European teams were cut down in half. Government sponsored athletes were told to stay home or to find a sponsor. However, many of them chose to stay at home and miss the Games. That was a symbol of protest for human rights and freedom of speech. The Olympic Games this year did not feel this grandiose event as usual due to the fact that many refused to go.
On the other hand just because Chinese government filters and controls the media and communication does not mean that people could not go back home and broadcast interesting information about China and/or the Games. One could go as a tourist, pretend to be an Olympic fan (or not) use his/hers still cell phone to shoot a clip or picture, save it, go home, and “broadcast” it to millions. When Steve Garfield came in class as guest lecturer, he showed us many examples from his personal experience that showed, a man does not need a lot to be able to show the world the truth.
What is expected for the next Olympic Games in terms of media and communication? Considering the next Games would be in London, UK, it is expected that communication would be truly open. However, due to fear of terrorists’ attacks, the British government would still have to monitor the media. (Europe is constantly targeted by terrorists.) Television would be still the major way of showing the event because the Olympic Committee holds all rights to broadcasting the Games. Many public or government owned channels around the world have contracts with the Committee for many years to come. However, many more people would be involved in the new media technology. That is why I think people should expect much more quantitative information and much broader spectrum of opinion and/or judgment.
In conclusion, I would like to add the media would be handled more by the public and regular citizen and less by broadcasting companies. Television, press, and radio are becoming old medium of communication. Many people nowadays, do not read the newspaper and do not have time to watch the news. However, due to the mobile nature of technology, individuals could watch or read on a go through a cell phone or a lap top. And technology and mobility of technology will continue to develop...
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