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Modern Communication Technologies and the New World

Information Order

Article  in  International Journal of Communication · January 2005

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 Mo.dern Communication
Technologies and the
New World Information Order
By
CIBOH RODNEY

Introduction satellites, compact disc-read-only

Developments taking place in the memory, laser discs, wireless cable
media industry are changing the systems, hand-held data banks,
newspaper reporter. Technologies multimedia computers, digital radio
available to him include banks of broadcasting, high definition television
computer terminals, fax machines, and the Internet.
video recorders and other computer- Initiated by the U .S. department
driven devices. Production and of defence and subsequently used by
distribution of information is scientists and academics, the Internet
expanding at an extraordinary speed has become the fastest growing
and offering challenging opportunities network in the world. It is spreading to

in the newer electronic media. The the general public by the interest of
evolving electronics-based media ordinary computer users of the World
environment promises more creative, Wide Web and other Internet features.
rewarding careers since Guttenberg's The Internet, says lbenta in Uwakwe
printing press was developed in the (2004), IS characterised by
fifteenth century. The impact of "computerised electronic industry,
technological change is well underwav computerised information storage and
now. People get the information they retrieval systems. computerised word
wan t from corn pu ters linked to vast processing, miniaturisation. the use ot
databases. orbiting earth sateliites have changed
Media industries are today the way individuals, business and
greatly influenced by computer countries communicate" (pA2). The
technology. Cable television, video- Internet is a network of iriteractivitv
cassette recorders and the Internet are and the notion of telepresence radical1~
good examples of technologies differentiates it from the !raclitjoll;~l
reshaping media patterns. The mass media. The mass media make up on lv
media are being transformed by new one small pan of an informaricu
wavs of assem bling, storing and industry that is increasingly dependent
transmitting information. In this new on Internet resources to deliver its
pattern IS a group of advanced products.
computer based services such as These characteristics qualify
videotele services, electronic the definition of Internet as "a
potentially powerful vehicle to
newspapers, consumer computer
mitigate and ultimately change
networks, \vireless telephones,
social dvnarnics. an empowering
facsimile machines, direct. broadcast
-111Interdisciplinurv Journul ofConunnnicution SlIilli,'\
 145 C1BOH RODNEY

and engaging means for millions of people are on line in

personal exploration and business, education, and the home --
expression, a medium that from children who are computer
enables one-to-one literate to students accessing
communications,
communication 'up' and
information for term papers and
'sideways', not just 'up' and reports, to professionals. Consumers
'down', and it offers the choose information they want and
opportunity for an improved obtain it by using a wide range of
means for people to identify and electronic communication media such
discuss amongst themselves the as desktop computers, Iaptop
concerns of interest to them" computers, interactive TV sets,
(Case, in Hall, 2001:209). personal digital assistants, etc. They
get news on demand, talk with others
The Internet is dramatically of similar interests, choose from a wide
expanding the range of resources 'range of available movies and watch
available to consumers. Advanced them when they want to; and generally
telecommunications networks relay shop, bank, go to, school, work, play
massive volumes of voice, video and games, do business send mail, and
print products along digital circuits at even vote without leaving home.
very high speeds. Today, companies specialising
But most of the world's data in providing online information and
networks connect countries of the entertainment have over eight million
North, fewer North with South. subscribers (Bittner, 1996). As at
According to Hall (2001), 1994, the Internet connected more
in many parts of the world, than 13,000 computer networks; and
especially in Africa. little
hooked to these networks are about 32
movement has been evident over
the past two decades. Africa million host computers, and the
has just 3% of world's TV sets, number is increasing daily. Experts
2% of world's daily newspapers, say every night, thousands of
and 6% of world's radio individuals log on to computerised chat
receivers. These proportions are lines, check bulletin boards, shop, read
scarcelv changing as the world's the news, play trivia and other games,
richer' countries push further engage in online conferences and
ahead in 'the technological race transfer information files (Koch, 1991).
(p.219).
The position of this paper is
that the existing structural inequalities
The emergence of personal computers
that characterise international
and improvements in telephone
communication, and relations between
technology have pushed the computer
the North and South are being
into the world of mass communication
accentuated by digital information
media and opened up the frontier of
technology. Countries of Africa, and
online communication services in what
elsewhere in the Third World, which
IS today metaphorically called the
continue to deny web access to their
"information superhighway". This is a
citizens, deprive them of their rights,
metaphor for a global network of
.and of the capability to understand
interconnected electronic pathways.
their world and to make choices within
that provide consumers with huge
it, would soon finel that digital
amounts of entertainment, information,
technology is making it more difficult
data and personal communication.
for any authority to control the pa~sage
We are on the brink of another
communications revolution as tens of
lntenuuionul Journul ofConnnunication So. 1 Junuarv lOOS
 MODERN COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AND THE NEW INFORMATION ORDERJ.46

of information or even know that it is occurs, interested parties immediately

being passed. post messages on the Internet for
others to read. This process represents
The Internet and Free Flow of a shift from traditional journalism
where editors decide what to cover and
Information send reporters to collect the facts.
The Internet has the potential to Computer owners do not have to
become one of the most powerful global depend only on the traditional mass
mass communication media. Each media for information, say, on the
medium of mss communication has Indian or Elsavador earthquake. They
been dramatically affected by growth could down load press releases,
and application of computer scientific reports, personal
technology. The Internet is a global observations and even photographs
and universal medium that is posted on the Internet. The real threat
converging all forms of electronically to traditional journalism ,.is that
based, computer-driven media into a anybody with a 'computer can now
single system. become a reporter, editor and
One major advantage of the publisher. The web is threatening to
Internet is that it appears to be the supplant other media, especially
largest, most uncensored newspapers, with Internet-based
communications environment that has information delivery systems.
existed in human history. For one Since there are no gatekeepers
thing, the Internet is just growing with on the net to evaluate information,
apparently no master plan : for its there is the risk of overloading the
expansion. This makes its navigation system with unwanted, trivial,
difficult. Unless you know how to get irrelevant and worthless material.
to vour destination, things are not easy Information that comes on the Internet
to ' find. Surfing the Internet is like also has no guarantee. Some of it are
tn'ing to find your way across a big citv accurate, some not, and this greatly
without a map. But this situation has erodes the credibility and authenticity
im proved tremendously as computer of news sources. As said earlier, the
experts and software developers are Internet is like a huge city without
hard at work, trying to make the net gatekeepers and censorship.
more user-fr iendlv. Another related b . h
Discussions about religion coexist WIt
problem is that of 'regulation. Since the pornography. Pornography and the
net is simply a collection of separate threat about indecent and extreme
networks. there seems no single person material has been a target of floods of
or organisation in charge .. The Internet legislation.
apparently has no gatekeeper, not even The Internet is also gradu allv
the online companies. diminishing the interpretative
As stated earlier, each medium functions of journalism. 0 senet
of mass. communication has been newsgroups and other computer
a tfected by the grO\nh and application bulletin boards exist for an arrax of
of the computer. The Internet is a topics. if you want to know whet her ,c
major [actor in redefining the meaning
new movie is am' good, you no lo::ge:-
uf 'Ihe mass media. Relying on the have to rely on vour local newspaper
,."O::iPUlC'l' dim inis he s. in the first movie critic. Several newsgrou ps are
;!1:-:1a!1(T ir.iporta nce of the devoted current cinema where \OU car:
;Si.·~r\·t~~j!~~!,-J_Cc" 1~i!lction of traditional sample a wide range of opinion Th,::-,:·
nia~;s 1:H--'dlA. When a news event
 147 CIBOH RODNEY

are such newsgroups on virtually all in which communication media

topics. transcend the boundaries of nations
The information superhighway has become "virtual reality".
speeds up mass communication The Internet is a major
feedback. The web is interactive in opportunity to' improve exchanges of
nature. It is instantaneous and information and ideas throughout the
interactive, allowing users more control warld. The World Wide Web is an
in shaping their messages. E-mail and autonomous seamless global economic
bulletin boards can transmit messages zone which makes the nation-state
back to the source in a matter of redundant. Dempsey (2002:4) says the
seconds. Major TV networks now Internet
maintain sites on online companies is a technology that is used,
that viewers use to send feedback controlled, interactive and is a
about net shows, and these bulletin revolution in communications.
Business, governments,
boards are scanned regularly. Internet
individuals, human rights
increases the fldw of information. It organisations, all have flocked to
offers this technology because of its
a 24-hour non-stop global forum power and flexibility.
and communication system, an Governments recognise this
on line library and international power, wants the benefits of this
information system, a business power. ..bu t the same time they
and corporate communications fear the power of this medium,
medium, a distance and remote they fear its decentralised nature.
educational system, a commercial
transactions medium, a
Totalitarian and fundamentalist
multimedia delivery system for
news and entertainment, and all
states regard the Internet '"(ith
of the above simultaneously, in suspician, and acc.ess and cantent are
practical and functional terms deeply hedged and regulated. In same
(lrvine In Defleur & Dermis, cauntries, access to' the web is scarce
1998:220). and expensive. Far mast af the
papulation in countries like North
The superhighway technology Korea and Iraq, Defleur and Dermis
has outraced legislation. There seems (1998: 1998: 1861 say "the
to be no such thing as online copyright. infrastructure that would enable
If an article or book is placed an the access to' the web is effectively illegal".
Internet and the files are downloaded The Internet's growth,
by other people, it is hard to say sU'Ch papularity and integrity are based an
people have violated any copyright law. its can tent nat being regulated by
There seems a:Iso no explicit avenues governments or international
for holding someone liable far pasting a organisations. Defenders of a free and
libellous message an 'tN.e bulletin apen Internet hope to' resist any
board .. One case involving CompuServe changes that threaten the free flaw of
ruled that the service is like a information and ideas an the Internet.
bookstore and cannot be sued .for the Gavernance must not be allawed to'
comments of its users. become a cade ward for gavernment
Clearly, the Internet is set to regulation of Internet cantent.
violate the territorial integrity and Autharitarian gavernments which
. sovereignty of natians . mare than already censar their awn Internet
satellite and cable TV transmissians. traffic seek. cantent controls
That we are living in a borderless warld internatianally and or degitimisatian of

lnternationul Jnurnul of Communicutio» No. 2 January lOOS

 MODERN COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AND THE NEW INFORMATION ORDER} 48

such controls nationally. Such a foresees the technological merging of

system must not.i-be reorgnised to two familiar machines: computers and
permit this on an international level or television sets. Computers are
encourage it at the national level. becoming more like television sets, and
television sets are being computerised,
The Convergence of with the result that a new kind of
Technology electr~nic hybrid, the telecomputer, ij
Mass communication media in the emergmg. The New York Times, in
modern age are blurring and blending Dizard (2000:28-29), also believes the
together into what is really a single telecomputer may eventually replace
system or set of interrelated systems. old fashioned TV receivers, as well as
We are witnessing media convergence, personal computers, videocassette
"the condition signifying a united state recorders, game machines digital
of media wherein all media forms and record players and other electronic
instruments come together by virtue of gadgets. Both predict a situation
computers and digitisation" (Dermis in whereby television sets will be
Dizard, 2001:ix). From the transformed from passive receivers of
introduction of steam-powered printing distant pictures. into a multimedia
presses and cheap pulp paper to the interactive instruments, capable of
introduction of over-the-air handling all types of video, print, and
broadcasting of radio and television, we sound services delivered to homes and
are now experiencing a transition to other locations by wireless network,
computer-based production, storage, each with a capability of hundreds of
and distribution of information and interactive video channels and
entertainment. thousands of two-way data links.
We are living in the world of The building block of the
multimedia computers, compact discs, information age is the semi-conductor
hand held data banks, national fibre chip, a fingernail-sized device shared
optic networks, advanced facsimile by computers and communications
messaging, Internet Web pages, and machines. Computers and networks
other services. Computerisation is are connected by the semi-conductor
now the module for all forms of chips. Advanced chip technology has
electronic information: sound video' changed computers from room-sized
and print. Computers are f~rcing ~ boxes into hand held devices which
massive restructuring of media services place enormous amounts of media and
and creating a new set of competing other information resources into the
services. Technology is shaping the hands of consumers. Chip-based
scope of the mass media and all media technologies are transforming the
now share a common base. Fax media In the computerisation cif
machines are now newspapers, compaq information and in the distribution of
discs are books, satellites are television media I?r0ct.ucts. over high-capac}ty
cornmurucation s circurts. '
transmitters.
As new information Computers, regarded in earlier
technologies "expand to supply years by media organisations orirnarilv
electronic services to homes and other as tools to improve their' intern~l
consumer locations" (Broadcasting operations, are being put to use
1991 :66-67), and media industries extensively in media oroduction.
adjust to new operational and product Conventional word ' processing
opportunities, Dizard (2000:28) terminals, introduced in newsrooms so
that stories could be written and edited
,·111 t nterdiscipiinary Journal of Communication Studies
 149 ClBOH R.ODNEt'

more quickly, then sent electronically sound, video and print on a single
. to production facilities as part of a multimedia DVD (digital video disc) .
c9t'itinuous computer-given process, Multimedia disc technology allow the
has become more sophisticated with discs to be connected online to
electronic mail and Internet data. information and entertainment
Increased use .of portable computers by networks to ~ive the individual an
reporters has enabled transmission of exciting or fun experience, through
stories as they happen directly via interaction with the computer.
telephone, lines to news organisations Interaction adds a whole new
round the world. dimension to multimedia by allowing
~owpermits people to send mail and chat.
Journalists to use the minicomputer, The chip technology has
an omnidirectional aerial, and a telex advanced rapidly to meet the storage
printer to cover and send live video needs of advanced multimedia devices.
reports of events as they happen to While analogue signals can llandle only
their home offices via satellites one application of a music recording or
stationed above the earth's surface. TV show or a phone call at a time,
Editorial computerisation has been digital signals, "based on binary digits
expanded with the introduction of make no distinction between video,
desk-top publishing (DTP), the editing sound, and print transmission" and
and making up of newspapers and "can handle all of them in a single
other publications on small computers. stream, originating, storing, editing,
. DTP involves the assemblage of text, transmitting, and receiving message at
photos, and graphics electronically in a increasingly faster speeds" (New York
variety of page layouts for final Times in Dizard, 2000:37).
prin ting. Desktop pu blishing is now The world's telephone,
routinely used by newspaper, magazine broadcasting and data networks are
and book pu blishers. Video being digitised and are exploiting the
composing, a newer high-tech variation Internet's new multimedia capabilities.
on desktop publishing, goes beyond High-tech telecommunications
ordinary desktop manipulation of print revolution and advanced facilities are
and graphics by incorporating sound critical elements in the operations of
and video. today's media from product production
In the same way as a print to final delivery to consumers. As
reporter can arrange sentences and Norman Macrae, in Dizard (2000:45)
paragraphs on a word processor, a says, "telecommunications has made
video communicator can assemble information into a weightless
sight, sound and print materials in any commodity and information now
combination, creating different versions travels at the speed of light as digitised
and storing them on compact disc, and binary digits that can represent anv
selecting the best combination for the combination of voice, video, or print
finished film or videotape product. information", The semi-conductor
Capabilities of the compact disc chip, a product of the fiber-optic cable,
have been vastly expanded and new which connects computers and the
generation of discs can store huge. networks, is perfecting the converging,
amounts of print data as well as technologically, of all med ia into a
graphics and video programmmg. single machine, into "an integrated
Greater promise for the media information utility that can deliver
industries lies in a more advanced disc media services electronically to mass
format that can supply a full range of audiences".

tntcrnationul Journal ofConnnunication /'10. 1 JIIIIIIII/)' lOO"

 MODERN COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AND THE NEW INFORMATION ORDER150

The world media are adapting atmosphere or outer space as in

their operations to the new satellites. A "communications satellite
telecommunications structures which is, in effect, a microwave switch-in
are, essentially an expanded, higher-
,~
space, capable of handling tens-Of
performance extension of the telephone thousands . of telephone and data
network. An explosive growth of mobile circuits plus many video
telephone services and mobile phones transmissions" [Forbes in Dizard,
can now be found in shirt pockets and 2000:49). The most dramatic change
handbags. Phone systems' primary in telecommunications circuits involves
use of facilitating conversation between fiber-optic cables. Fiber circuits
two people now provides other services transmits information in optical form,
such as computer data banks, fax that is, in light waves along silicon wire
messages and video conferencing. and can transmit tens of thousands of
Phones "are now routinely equipped phone .calls , or dozens of television
with sophisticated semi-conductor programmes simultaneously. With
chip-technology that makes them, in competitive technologies such as cable
effect, limited computer terminals" television and satellites, it is possible
(New York Times in Dizard: 2000:46). that- -fiber-optic cable will create new
The facsimile machine, or fax, another opportunities for the delivery of
telephone- based technology affecting advanced information and :
media operations, has become an entertainment services to consumers.
important operational tool within the Telephone and cable TV
media industry and a competitive industries are competing with one
device fast yeplacing post office another to determine what new high-
delivery. capacity consumer networks can be
Newspapers and' magazines built and media organisations are
have tested the use of network deciding which are best suited for
computers as a replacement for paper marketing of advanced information and
editions and most electronic delivery of entertainment services directlv to
news is now by Internet and other homes on one common digitised
online networks. The improvement channel. Communications satellites.
from analogue to digital transmission used by media organisations [or news
are, extensions in modern computer and entertainment, are microwave
technology. World communications technology challenging broadcasting
networks are being rapidly digitised, and cable delivery of advanced media
permitting a compatible standard for services into homes. Satellites are part
linking digital based computers, of the advanced wireless systems which
telephones· and other electronic transmit signals over the airwave s, the
machines with one another. Dizard . most familiar of which are mobile
(2000:48) says "uncounted trillions of telephone networks. A new generation
symbolic binary digits flow through of satellites, sent into orbit since the
communications networks, each a mid 1960s, is demonstrating its ability
coded part of a message that may to compete in delivering multimedia
'involve a phone call, a credit card services, including the Internet. from
transaction, a TV programme or the space into homes.
contents of a newspaper". Direct broadcasting sarel.ite,
Today's advanced DBS, technology, is the fastest growing
communications circuits are the sector. A profitable satellite delivery
wireless microwave or the wire cable. service is now being exploited bv radio ,
Microv vave circuits travel, through the stations to deliver "paging messages,
An Interdisriplinary Journal of Communication Studtes
 lSrC1BOH RODNEY

stock quotations, and other consumer Internet technology embraces three

information through the station to local domains of communication in
subscribers by telephone lines for a interpersonal one-to-one
fee" (DeSonne in Dizard 2000:54). communication, broadcasting to a
Another parallel possibility is the mass audience and documents that
expansion of high definition television, allow people to retrieve material of
HDTV. The film industry is also personal interest. Two delivery
looking for ways to deliver HDTV systems for information superhighway
entertainment programmes, that are are cyberspace and various digital
broadcast from satellites and terrestrial services and cable TV which allows
broadcast television and cable TV, from multiple channels of information for
a central point to theatres and homes. viewers.
The, ultimate mix of technologies will The Internet is a global network
I •
provide the largest share of video, of computer networks, that IS, a
sound and print products through community of people and a globally
advanced networks, offering new distributed system of information. The
services and interactive products, and Internet's power lies in its ability to cut
giving consumers a wide choice of across barriers that have limited access
how, when, and what information and to vast amounts of information for
entertainment resources will be ordinary consumers. The new order
delivered to their homes. seeks to order communications and
information round communities,
New Informatfon and prioritising needs of the people over
corporations .and polities (Hall,
Communication Order
2001:208). The WWW is a new
Computers have the capacity to gather,
"technological corporation that political
process and retneve all information,
hierarchies can no longer control, the
entertainment fare' and other human
conduit for new power configurations
communication. Modern computers
and relations predicated upon a new
are the communications revolution in
corporate ideology" (Hall, 2001: 1). The
the information age that challenge time
electronic superhighway is imposing a
and distance. At the heart of new
new order by leveraging its
media is the Internet, the World Wide
technological advantages which no
Web and cable channels. The Interrtet
nation has jurisdiction over. The
and its World Wide Web is a worldwide
Internet is designed to resist attempts
computer system using common
to interrupt the flow of information.
means of linking hardware and
The new electronic
transmitting digital information and a
superhighway "is increasingly
globally distribu ted system of
interactive, allowing consumers to
information that is spearheading a new
choose what information and
world information order of electronic
entertainment resources they wani,
super-highway.
when they want it, and in what form"
The information superhighway
(Dizard, 2000: 16-17). New
is an infrastructure that potentially
technological platforms are used to
allows people everywhere to
deliver messages to audiences in an
communicate with one another. The
interactive fashion. People on' WWW
superhighway allows alJ people
talk back directly to those who bring
everywhere to connect with all
news and information, entertainment,
information everywhere. and lets
opinion and advertising, and can even
communication companies offer
initiate the rnmmunication process
services on television or computer. The

lnternationul jOUTll1I1 of Communication No. 2 Januury 2005

 MODERN COMMUNICA TlON TECHNOLOGIES AND THE NEW INFORMATWI\ ORDER} 52
,~

themselves. It is on the basis of this globalisation of cultures partly as

reality that Dertouzos in Defleur and referring
Dermis (1998), defines the Internet as to a transnational and transethnic
"the interactive trafficking of people, a set of attitudes and practices and
communication market place where all partly to the global cultural
kinds of media companies and other supermarket that is said to result
from it... as a distinct global
interests bargain with and for
culture grows, the particular and
information" (p. 232). Consumer online practices that distinguish a
interactive services such as America culture become artefacts to be self
on line (AOL), Prodigy arid CompuServe consciously identified with rather
offer information on demand and on e- than determinants of identity ..
mail. cultural dissolution in an onlir.e
New media technologies provide occurs when these are no longer
the potential for more democratic inventors of a culture, not on:y
mere self consciously willing
communication opportunities for
possessors of lifestyles, attitudes
people to communicate with, and
and practices (p 37).
through media, to get information,
debate issues, solve problems and
Standardisation of media products
forecast the future. As the basis of a
has taken place wit:; the
sustainable information order, Hall
"homogenisations effect 0:- cefining
(2001:207) says the Internet provides
values by a universalisat.cr, 0:- the
"the global framework open enough to
human condition and witr; c. col.ateral
allow people to express their different
flattening of cultural spec:::::::.- (Hall
cultures freely". It contributes
2001:220).
towards preserving cultural diversity
and offering protection against the
over-dominant control of new media by
The Old Order of Dependency
a small number of multinational and Domination
distribu tors", The globalising qualities of the >", ~-'O:-::.e:
As Johnathan Friday in Hall are responsible for produc.r.; :-,e'.'.
(2001:222) observes, "the convergence formulations of governance a: ::-,-'0 .: ..:::.:
of the telecommunications, media and level which are expressed t}-_:-~_§:::--. ~::--,e
information technological services is notions of enhanced Da:'~:::
. ~=:-c.
-::::'

one part of the wider processes of democratic activity and -=:::-. = :-:-.:::
globalisation which is increasingly regeneration. But the dis:'_~:-~,:-,:: 3:=::-.5
becoming a key economic driver of are that the new ::-.:::--:-:-,_-:,~:=:~
those processes creating a global technologies show "a grO\\'::-.:;: ::.: :'0:=:-.
information society'" Information between the information :-:::-. :::-= ~::--,-'O
society has become "an open and information poor" [Dizarr;
multicultural society which will Equitable access
eliminate rather than dilute the information resources :5
expression of different cultures". The urgent issue we face in the
globalismg qualities of the Internet are pattern. A strong likelin ; = ::
responsible for re-emergence of local online technologies will :'_::.~:, ..
cultural identities which tend to the world into informar.c.:
comprise consumers who have become information poor, and as ::-.~
decidedly global ID orientation, continues to dominate the ir..
accessmg broadcast networks and resources needed by all of u s .
aspiring to alien lifestyles, Johnson and thrive, there is the tende.. .
(1997) defines the new order of
~ 11 lnterdisciptinnrv JOII mal of Communication Studies
 153 C1BOH RODI¥EY

latter becoming relegate to mindlessa corporations... employ satellites

entertainment and other trivia. to bombard our villages and
Peter Golding in Hall (2001:208) towns. We receive what they
want us to receive but they
argues that "the Internet as a whole
refuse to report what we want
. merely widens an already entrenched the world to know about· our
technological gap between the North plight. The new gospel of
and the South". The situation of electronic elitism, in .theory,
unequal relations between the North promises freedom for all, but in
and South is being aggravated by new practice, is under-developing
information technologies. The Internet Africa faster, faster than direct
and other technologies offer an colonisation.
expanded range of domination of
information and entertainment services Communications In the age of
and heighten the incidence of cultural information society seems firmly
domination and economic dependency anchored on telecommunications, the
in the free exchange of information. driving force of Western economies
.The industrialised North retains which portends a growing Western
absolute monopoly of the invention, influence in the Third World. The new
ownership and control of new technologies impose greater foreign
communication media. But the domination and control of economic,
developing countries of the South are social, political and cultural thinking
not advanced in the development of and orientation in the developing
technology. countries. A new global order of
The Internet at once raises the information and exchange of knowledge
hope of neu tralising the global is important for the balance of power in
imbalance in the flow of information today's world of information economy.
but the fear of the imperialistic posture But convergence of telephone and
in the new information technology computer technology has created new
lingers. Countries of the south have opportunities for national
remained the worst losers. They have administration and monopolies and
neither the technology to withstand, has caused the globalisation of these
compete with, nor neutralise the facilities and services in the hands of a
cultural onslaught the technology of few. Globalisation is bringing a new
the North has evoked in its diffusion. media monopoly, the new
And one latent dysfunction of the communication cartel in America
coming ofthe new communication and Online, Time Warmer, and EM! which
information technology, Uche (1996) opt for a monolithic structure that will
says, has been the political economic become evermore homogenised.
and cultural recolonisation of the The Internet is increasingly in the
South. Robert Zaibe in Uche hands of large media monopolies and
(1996:313) expresses this reality most this fact threatens the very democratic
dramatically existence of the system. Free market
... the declining African economy, vital for monopoly capital,
countries are today under the offers the basis for the growth of
electronic seize... struggling to modern technologies in a few countries.
main tain ... sovereign ties and Free market approach advocates for an
... right LO existence. The very end of government control for a fully
fabric of our societies ... are private market. National polities are
rewoven or ripped apart as a liberalising telecommunications sectors
result of technology ID
information... multinational
and deregulation and privatisation are

lnternatiunal Journal ofCommunication No. 1January 2005

/' MODERN COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AND THE NEW INFORMATION ORDERJ.54

dominant features of developing West, particularly the USA, will remain,

economies. The trend is towards a essentially, a medium for the
global free market economy in which propagation of western cultures and
the major producers and users will values.
play the dominant role.
World trends in digitisation and
globalisation provide such as
interlocking of national and
international economies that it is
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