Development issues as covered by different media
Introduction
International development issues feature prominently among policymakers, media and in the general public. Various scholars argue that the complexities brought about by internalization, coupled with the continuing challenges faced internationally necessitate creating new approaches for addressing international development issues in media and general public. These challenges are intensified by the need to embrace new strategies and techniques of addressing international issues by the media. All Canadian and international media are looking for the most effective and efficient ways of addressing these issues. It is evident that each country’s media address a particular issue and leave out the other based on their interests and information availability. Among the international development issues are foreign aid, good governance, improved healthcare, good education, poverty reduction in various countries, human rights and gender equality, disaster preparedness, infrastructure developments, and environment among other related issues. This paper, therefore, identifies what international development issues Canadian Sources cover and the issues they do not address. This paper also explains the issues covered by majority of sources and the common factor. The differences between Canadian and other sources in the way they cover international development issues are highlighted and differences critically analyzed.
The international development issues covered and uncovered by Canadian Sources
On the top most international development issue covered by Canadian sources is foreign aid. In determining the widely covered issues, I have made close references to CBC news (www.cbc.ca), Canada’s parliament websites (www.parl.gc.ca), and discussions on Canada business (www.canadianbusiness.com). Among the three international development issues covered by the three selected sources and other Canadian larger media are foreign aid, poverty reduction and disaster preparedness.
In foreign aid, Canadian sources are seen covering various assistances offered to different countries. For instance, on the same accord, Canadian business, CBS news, and Canadian parliament news cover various sanctions imposed on North Korea and the implications for the sanctions, Egypt’s support and supporters and how the country tends to solve its problems with the help of foreign aid, and even how despite the foreign assistance, Afghanistan cannot provide employments. In essence, the three major reliable media cover nearly the entire globe for both countries offering assistance and countries being helped. The Canadian parliament also covers how various aid programs are designed to help sub-Saharan Africa.
The three selected source also heavily cover poverty reduction in various countries across the globe. The Parliament of Canada for instance covers various poverty reduction techniques that are used or ought to be used in various countries like Ireland and United Kingdom. Poverty reduction techniques are also extensively covered by CBC news and Canadian business and other major media. The three sources have a common denominator in that they cover poverty reduction from empowering women and youths to designing strategies (Canadian Business, 2013).
The three sources and other media also cover the various disaster preparedness strategies and techniques employed in Canada and various countries. In so doing, Canadian sources create awareness to various government and countries on the effective way to deal with disasters. The Canadian sources however do not entirely cover all international development issues. Though slightly covered, Canadian sources only touches few aspects of good governance, improvements in the healthcare, good education and human rights. However, some sources cover some while others do not.
Canada being a developed country covers less of infrastructure developments in developing countries. However, the few sources that touch on this do not elaborate or emphasize the importance and the way of improving infrastructure in the developing countries (Allfrica, 2013). For instance, allafrica extensively covers various investment schemes by different countries aimed at improving the infrastructure in different developing countries. This is not covered in major Canadian sources.
The other development issue with little information in Canadian sources is governance. The sources from Canada do not emphasize the importance of good government in various developing countries. Unlike Allafrica that covers this development issue, Canadian sources do not elaborate on the effects of poor governance on developing and developed countries.
Issues covered by almost all of your sources and common factors
Two common issues and important role played by media is highlighting the challenges of reducing poverty and foreign aid. Canadian sources and media as well as other sources run various programs aimed at presenting various strategies of reducing poverty and helping the poor. As evident in the three sources and other materials, Canadian and other media have been responsible for developing stronger understanding of various strategies that can be used to reduce poverty. Among the media’s potential roles include informing the public on poverty reduction issues, media has also provided forums where public opinions are aired including the marginalized individuals. The other important role played by media is dissecting and holding actors to account. Additionally, as evident in Canadian Business, CBC, and other sources’ forums, there have been various debates and stories on poverty reduction techniques and critics. In this case, it can be noted that media has been responsible for creating awareness on the ways to reduce poverty and help the marginalized community members. Media in Canada and other regions are essential in international development issues and agendas.
The other issue covered by almost all the sources is disaster preparedness. The various sources make it clear that media and other print sources have been responsible in educating people about disaster management practices, warn the public of the impending disasters and transmitting information about disaster-hit areas. The sources have also facilitated discussions about disaster response and preparedness. The sources have majored on the significance of creating awareness and various prevention disaster strategies. Majority of the sources state that regular interaction, prior to disaster is an important factor to be considered.
Environment is another issue covered my majority of sources both from Canada and other sources. In the past few decades there have been various sources covering growing public engagement in sciences and calls for improved scientific literacy. There have been various articles covering health, and various technologies used in homes and at work places. Various sources have been responsible in reaching the public and educating the public on key debates and developments which will have impacts on audience’s lives.
The differences between Canadian and other sources in terms of how “development” is presented and critical analysis
To explain the differences between how Canadian and sources present development, there is a need to outline guidelines or concepts applicable to media. The concepts are the major tools to be used in critically analyzing the differences on how development is presented in various sources.
One factor and common difference is that Canadian media and sources are constructive. The Canadian media fails to present the information of what surrounds the community rather they present crafted production that are outcome of various decisions and determining factors. Technically, Canadian sources’ productions are awesome, and this, added to the fact that audience is already familiar with these production types, makes it hard for the audience to consider such productions as anything rather a seamless extension of the actual thing. This practice is evident but not common to all sources where information is relayed the way it happened or in its original form. However, one common practice among the sources is reality construction. The sources construct a given representation of reality. It is a fact that everyone has his or her own view of reality and the public has been building reality for itself. The Canadian media creates the truth to the audience and they remain responsible for various perceptions and form which the audience built its understandings.
In analyzing the way Canadian sources and other sources present development, it is clear in Canadian sources that audience are left to negotiate meaning for themselves. The second main deference comes from the way Canadian sources contribute to construction of reality. However, the audience has to realize that perceptions and contribution to the information differ and so the way one analyses information presented by Canadian sources. Unlike other sources, the Canadian sources provide the audience with materials upon which one builds his or her reality. In some other sources the information and inner meanings are open to the audience. An example is seen when Canadian sources do not present the actual stories or information rather provide their analysis. Canadian sources have been keen on audience’s perception of what one watches in television or reads in newspapers. Owing to the fact that each one has a different perception and view about an idea or information, different people will perceive information differently. The sources form India however presents the information s it is it, disturbing or not (IPC-IG news).
One factor common with Canadian sources is that they are majorly produced for commercial purposes. Majority of Canadian media are for business, and they are thus profit-oriented. Majority of the information on developments are thus tailored to attract investors and their audiences. The Canadian sources are very keen on the type and kind of information presented to the public. Though the various differences as aforementioned, it is important to note that media has a distinct aesthetic form. It is not only about understanding information as relayed by media and their implications but one should understand the current and past trends in the community. Just as one realizes the soothing rhythms and impacts of media’s information and presentation, one should realize that at times the actual information is masked to avoid creating given conditions.
The other factor that makes the difference is how information is presented. Unlike Canadian sources which are primary aimed at informing, Australian sources move a step further to provide recommendations and strategies to be used. An example is seen with Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) which takes part in finding solution to International Development.
Analysis of my experience
The examination and critical analysis of how Canada and other sources cover developments is different. Each and every source selects what it has to cover and how to cover it. Furthermore, due to various media laws in different countries, what a source presents actually different form one country to the other. The Canadian sources tend to be restrictive on the information they provide and they do so indirectly unlike other sources like Allfrica. It is also evident from the analysis that some development issues for instance poverty reduction and foreign aid are covered more by Canadian sources compared to other sources. However, developments issues like infrastructure development is covered my by Africa sources. Also to note, the various media cover different areas and so cannot explain similar information and this creates the differences between the types of development issue each source covers.
Comparing Canadian sources to other sources explaining the various development issues, it can be noted that Canada covers an issue keenly and carefully. Canadian sources are prepared with special attention to various audiences and their perceived perceptions and reactions to given clips. On judging the success or failure of a source, it is important to have various factors like media restriction, coverage area, and development issues among other factors to consider. Comparing a source with another source covering the same topic and covering similar area is a better method for determining the effectiveness of a source.
References
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved from http://www.abcinternationaldevelopment.net.au/ on 12th, Nov, 2013.
Allfrica. www.allafrica.com. Retrieved on 12th, Nov, 2013.
Canadian Business. Foreign aid. Retrieved from http://www.canadianbusiness.com on 12th, Nov, 2013.
Parliament of Canada. Overcoming 40 Years Of Failure: A New Road Map For Sub-Saharan Africa. Retrieved from http://www.parl.gc.ca/ on 10th, Nov, 2013.
CBC news. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca on 12th, Nov, 2013.
IPC-IG in the news: The Hindu newspaper on Human Development in India. Retrieved from http://pressroom.ipc-undp.org/the-hindu-kerala-example-draws-u-n-praise/ on 12th, Nov, 2013.
Name language Frequency Place of publication
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) English Daily http://www.abcinternationaldevelopment.net.au/
Allfrica English Daily www.allafrica.com
Canadian Business English Daily www.canadianbusiness.com
Parliament of Canada English Weekly http://www.parl.gc.ca/
IPC-IG Hindu Monthly India
