The roles and function of mass media in the Caribbean region

What is mass media?

• Mass media refers to those media that are designed to be consumed by large audiences through the agencies of technology

• Mass media are channels of communication through which messages flow, produced by a few for consumption by many people. As the messages go through the channels, they are distorted. When people receive mass-media messages, they have no opportunity for immediate feedback with the producers of the messages.

Mass media

Occurring to waterman, mass media may be define as The institutions which use the increasingly sophisticated technological developments of industrialism for the communication of ideas, for the purpose of information, entertainment and persuasion, to large scale audiences

Mass media

Mass media can be presented in many different forms such as:

• Electronic ( radio, TV, films, internet/ computer, etc.)

• Print (newspaper, magazines, books, journals, periodicals, pamphlets, poster etc.)

They can be used to inform, entertain, persuade and manipulate.

Newspaper

This is the oldest means of mass communication, fundamental rights is to present news without slanting, distorting or suppressing and to express forthright views on any matter irrespective of personalities involved.

These objectives should be to ensure freedom of the press, freedom to publish news as true statement s, high standard of journalism and to advise government on matters relating to regulation and control of newspaper.

Radio

One of the important modern inventions.

Which sends information via electrical waves.

It is an effective means of controlling and molding public opinion.

It broadens our knowledge and understanding of people all over the world.

Also use as entertainment

Television

It communicates information by pictures which is converted into light rays into electrical waves.

It exerts a powerful influence on habits, attitudes economics and education due to twofold process (auditory and visual)

With television man can watch events taking place in distant locations at the moment they occur.

Regional Media Houses/Corporations

A news agency is an institution which employs reporters, journalists and photographers to collect information locally, regionally and internationally.

Some example which are in the Caribbean:

Caribbean Broadcasting union (CBU)-1970

Caribbean News Agency (CANA)-1976

CARIBVISION

Caribbean Broadcasting union (CBU)

With the view to contributing to regional integration, through the flow of broadcast material among radio and TV systems in the region. It represents public and private broadcasts systems in English, French, Spanish and Dutch-speaking Caribbean.

Caribbean News Agency (CANA)

It’s the only indigenous, independent regional news agency in CARICOM. Much of what’s read in Caribbean newspaper and heard on radio and TV in the region emanates from CANA’s HQ. It provides news and information on a daily basis for over 100 newspaper, radio and TV throughout the region and beyond.

CARIBVISION

They start television exchange in 1970 with Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT) as contributors. Television stations share news reports from one country to another.

Barbados External Communication (BET) and Telecommunication service of TT Facilitated exchange in the first 6 months.

Funding and training received from Friedrich Edert Stiftung (German Foundation) this expanded over time to include other countries such as Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas, Curacao Ran into Financial problems as many countries were unable to meet their financial obligations.

CARIBVISION

Roles of mass media

• The media informs, educates and entertains its audiences.

• The media also has the responsibility to provide accurate and reliable information to the public. Time is also a factor in this.

Functions of the mass media

Mass media has many function which can be highlighted under these headings:

1. Culture

2. Economic development

3. Political process

4. Social roles

Media and culture

• Helps develop our culture through regional programmes this sharing of programmes creates integration.

• Portrays life in Caribbean to the rest of the world such as sports, business, tourism, polities and music.

Media and Economic Development

• Private and public sector depend on media to facilitate flow information on programmes of economic nature.

• Advertise employment opportunities

• Govt. Uses media to inform public on economic policies and issues

Media and political process

• Carries political advertisements during election campaign.

• Provides feedback to government on its performance/popularity.

• High political achievement of parties/ government

Media and Changing Social Roles

• Portrays changing role of family member• Talk shows, articles about women and their

changing roles and rights• TV/computer becoming agent of socialization.• Used in formal education • Used in bringing religion to people • Less interaction with peers as TV/ computer

keeps children occupied • Early exposure of children to ‘facts of life” and

more awareness of the rights of the child